Pontefract & District Archaeological
Society
Newsletter No. 3
Summer excavation of St. Richards
Dominican Friary Pontefract
We are now nearly half way through our excavation of the
north aspect of the Friary site. The dig is really alive with
people both experienced, graduates and new members digging
for the first time. There is a real positive buzz on the site with
everybody really enjoying what is becoming a most interesting
dig. Most days we are averaging around 17 diggers. From next
week we will be digging from Monday to Saturday and having
Sunday as a day of rest.
Janet McNaught and my wife Anne with help from some new
members have begun washing our finds in the cottage on
Southgate. We have made the big front room and side room
available and it is a hive of activity with find trays lined up in
rows with a range of medieval pottery, clay pipe stems and
bowls as well as metal objects, fragments of floor tiles,
ecclesiastical glass and other finds yet to be unravelled!
Simon Tomson our Site Director commented that;
‘Within the rubble we have recovered architectural carved
stone, a collonete (small column) section, whitewashed wall
stone, stone mouldings (probably from windows)’
In respect of the other finds he commented further saying;
‘We have also found plain and painted window glass, a number
of glazed floor tile fragments of both black and white finish. It
is tempting to imagine a chequerboard black and white church
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floor reflecting the black and white habit and cowl worn by the
Blackfriars!!’
Ecclesiastical glass fragment
‘We have also identified local sandstone and imported
limestone roofing slabs, all drilled for fixing pegs.’
Breaking News Today.....
As the excavation progresses Simon believes we may well have
identified a substantial robbed out wall. Its orientation
northward suggests that this may be the north wall of the
church. Given its proximity to the back street which is now
Southgate this is entirely likely as it gives access for the public
to attend friary services.
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Some of our diggers on site last week
On the next page you can see the extent of the dig which is
nearly 30metres in length and 6 metres in width.
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