A recent sinkhole in the centre of York has led to the discovery of what archaeologists believe are the remains of one of the largest medieval hospitals in northern England. The unexpected find was made during repair works on St Leonard’s Place which took place earlier this month.

York, a historic city in North Yorkshire, is known for its deep archaeological layers stretching from the Roman period through the Middle Ages. When a void opened in the road, emergency crews made the area safe and called in archaeologists to investigate. Inside the exposed ground, they uncovered masonry believed to be part of the 12th–13th century St Leonard’s Hospital.

The hospital once extended from what is now the Museum Gardens to the site of the Theatre Royal, and played a central role in caring for the poor and infirm during the Middle Ages. After the English Reformation, the site became the Royal Mint—later known as Mint Yard. By the 19th century, this area had become a dense maze of houses, stables, and alleys, before being demolished in 1836 to create the Georgian-era streetscape now seen along St Leonard’s Place.

“These finds, while fascinating, have set our timescales back a bit,” said Councillor Kate Ravilious, Executive Member for Transport. “We knew that there is a lot of complex archaeology in the area dating back to the Roman legionary fortress. Throughout the works we have been live to this while doing all we can to get off site as quickly as possible.”

The discovery adds another chapter to York’s long and layered history, reinforcing its reputation as one of England’s richest archaeological cities.

Top Image: The City of York – Photo by Richard Szwejkowski / Flickr