Standing on the edge of the bustling Shambles Market, 12 Newgate is easy to overlook. Its narrow white frontage sits quietly opposite the colourful market stalls, giving little hint of the remarkable building concealed within. Inside, however, medieval timber framing survives beneath the exterior render, preserving evidence of centuries of change and occupation.
The building was constructed in 1337 on the churchyard of St Sampson’s parish church as part of a row of medieval timber-framed shops and houses. Built only around 20 years after the famous Lady Row on Goodramgate (built c.1316), it is among the oldest surviving domestic buildings in York.
Originally, the row contained ten or twelve separate properties, though only numbers 12 and 15 Newgate still retain their original narrow, single room per floor layout. The building was first constructed as two storeys, with a shop or workshop on the ground floor and first floor living quarters open to the roof above. In the early 19th century, the roof was raised to create an additional attic floor, giving the building its present appearance.
Owned by the York Conservation Trust and until recently occupied by Sandwitches Café, the property is currently vacant ahead of its next phase of use. Before the building is re-let, students from the University of York’s Department of Archaeology were invited to create a detailed record of the site as part of their postgraduate training.
The project formed part of the ‘Buildings Recording’ module, taught by the Trust’s Heritage Manager, Dr Dav Smith. During the course, students have been learning a range of techniques used to investigate historic buildings, including visual analysis, photography, measured survey and laser scanning. The visit to 12 Newgate gave them the chance to apply those skills in a real-world setting on a Grade II* listed medieval building.
Nicole Seda, from Puerto Rico, who is studying for an MA in Cultural Heritage Management, described the experience as both educational and eye-opening.
“Having never previously undertaken a visual analysis of a building of this style, this recording project was an excellent opportunity to learn new concepts while putting our academic learning into practice outside of the classroom. In particular, it reinforced Dr Smith’s emphasis on analysing and critically thinking about a space, rather than simply documenting it.”
Students worked in groups to carry out different types of recording. One group used a laser scanner to produce a detailed point cloud of the building, which will be used by the Trust to make accurate floor plans and other architectural drawings. Other students documented and photographed the archaeological evidence within the historic building, including evidence of how it has changed over time.
Among the most intriguing discoveries was the large numbers of apotrapaic (protective ritual) marks found carved into the medieval timbers. These include over 50 taper burn marks as well as 15 assembly marks or carpenters’ marks.
Dane Thurgar, who is studying for an MA in Material Culture and Experimental Archaeology, worked as part of the team responsible for the building’s photographic survey.
“While two members of the group drew room plans and labelled each timber, the rest of us worked together to capture scaled photographs of important features and construction details. We discovered carpenters’ marks and other details hidden on the historic timbers. It was extremely satisfying to put the skills we had developed over the semester into practice on a building of such historical significance.”
“The process of recording a building completely changes the way you see it. In everyday life, it is easy to walk through a space and glance over its details without really taking them in. But when you are surveying, you are fully present within the space, and the building reveals things you would normally otherwise miss. It is a very special experience to see the marks left by the craftspeople who constructed the building centuries ago. This was an invaluable experience and a great way to end the module.”
Nicole added:
“This experience was not only highly educational but also provided valuable practical insight into the skills and methods required within the professional heritage sector.”
The students’ work will now form part of the long-term record of one of the earliest buildings in the Trust’s estate, helping to support its future conservation and care. For the York Conservation Trust, projects like this not only help preserve the city’s historic buildings but also provide invaluable hands-on experience for the next generation of heritage professionals. As part of its 10-year plan, the Trust is investing £17 million in the conservation of its historic estate.
Article by Dav Smith, Heritage Manager - May 2026
Laser scanned point cloud model of 12 Newgate. This is accurate to around 1mm across the property and will be used by the Conservation Trust to produce architectural drawings of the building, including floor plans.
Example of an assembly mark found on the original roof timbers on the second floor, captured using a raking light source. The different timbers making up each frame would be labelled with matching assembly marks (in this case III with a spur, known as a tag or differ mark). Being labelled as the third frame reveals that the row of 1337 originally had two more bays to the north-east, where Shambles Korner Cafe now sits on the corner of Patrick Pool.
Multiple taper burn marks above an infilled peg hole on the first floor. Once thought to be accidental, these distinctive teardrop marks were made by deliberately holding a flame at a particular angle against the timbers. Often found around chimneys and on roof timbers, they are thought to be associated with ritual protection from fire and lightning.
12 Newgate prior to its restoration, copyright Historic England.
