Rare medieval artefacts uncovered beneath Richmond Market Place during roadworks are to go on public display just metres from where they lay hidden for centuries.
The discoveries were made last year when North Yorkshire Council highways officers unearthed a series of medieval pits while resurfacing the town’s market place. Archaeologists were called in to investigate, revealing a remarkable collection of well-preserved finds dating back hundreds of years.
Following conservation work, the artefacts have now been donated to Richmondshire Museum in Ryders Wynd, where they will go on display from September.
The excavation uncovered at least 36 medieval pits, providing evidence that the area was a hive of activity between the 13th and 15th centuries after it ceased to form the Outer Bailey of Richmond Castle and became part of the expanding town.
Archaeologists found waterlogged deposits containing plant remains, the bones of sheep and pigs, and large quantities of leather, indicating that leather working once took place in this part of the market place, which is thought to have hosted a leather market.
Among the most significant discoveries were a bail pin and the remains of an almost complete medieval shoe. Their exceptional state of preservation, thanks to the waterlogged conditions, has given experts a rare insight into medieval craftsmanship and daily life in Richmond.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for culture, Councillor Simon Myers, said the discoveries offered “a valuable insight into the history of Richmond”, adding that displaying them in the museum would help residents and visitors understand the lives of people who lived in the town centuries ago.
The council’s principal archaeologist, Peter Rowe, described the preservation of the organic material as exceptional.
“It is fantastic to see the medieval items from the market place finding their way back to the town as a resource for local people and visitors,” he said.
“What sets these finds apart is the preservation of organic material that does not normally survive, so we are getting a rare glimpse of a medieval leather industry and some of the products that were manufactured right here in the heart of the town.”
Richmond councillor Stuart Parsons said the discoveries also raised intriguing questions about what else may remain buried beneath the market place.
“Seeing these finds brings us closer to our medieval past and some of our ancestors,” he said. “I hope people will visit and appreciate this new chapter in Richmond’s history.”
