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New York Post
9 hours ago
- General
- New York Post
Sinkhole in fashionable part of historic city uncovers massive medieval building
Archaeologists in a historic city recently came across the remnants of an expansive medieval hospital. The discovery was announced by the City of York Council on June 9. The ancient remains were found in a 'void,' or sinkhole, that had recently opened on the street of St Leonard's Place in York in the United Kingdom. 'The archaeological find was discovered as work was taking place to repair the sinkhole on St Leonard's Place,' the council said in a statement. 'The void, which is in the middle of the road outside York Theatre Royal, was made safe before contractors and archaeology teams began investigation works.' The find is believed to be the remnants of St. Leonard's Hospital — built between the 12th and 13th centuries. Pictures show ancient bricks hiding several inches beneath the street. 4 'The archaeological find was discovered as work was taking place to repair the sinkhole on St Leonard's Place,' the council said in a statement. Stephen – The hospital was 'one of the largest' in Northern England during the Middle Ages, the council said. The property originally stretched from York's Museum Gardens to the city's Theatre Royal, the council's statement noted. After the English Reformation, the area was used as a royal mint – earning the name 'Mint Yard.' 4 The find is believed to be the remnants of St. Leonard's Hospital — built between the 12th and 13th centuries. City of York Council 'Mint Yard [was] demolished several hundred years ago and a road made on top of it,' the statement added. By the 19th century, the city council said, the Mint Yard buildings were 'a warren of residencies, yards and stables and were demolished to make way [for] the new Georgian streetscape in 1836, as it became one of the most fashionable parts of the city at the time.' The council added, 'The demolished parts of the city walls were then used to create a base for their new road, which we now know as St Leonard's Place.' 4 The hospital was 'one of the largest' in Northern England during the Middle Ages, the council said. City of York Council Kate Ravilious, a member of the City of York Council, thanked the public for their patience during the archaeological work. 'We knew that there is a lot of complex archaeology in the area dating back to the Roman legionary fortress,' Ravilious said in a statement. 'Throughout the works, we have been [alert] to this while doing all we can to get off site as quickly as possible. However, these finds, while fascinating, have set our timescales back a bit.' 4 The council added, 'The demolished parts of the city walls were then used to create a base for their new road, which we now know as St Leonard's Place.' City of York Council The discovery comes over a month after experts found proof of a gladiatorial fight with a lion in the same English city. The findings came after experts analyzed a skeleton from a Roman cemetery outside of York. Experts said that gladiators' remains presented 'unusual lesions.' Fox News Digital reached out to the City of York Council, but did not immediately hear back.
Scottish Sun
25-06-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
England's largest medieval hospital is unearthed inside a SINKHOLE in huge breakthrough – and no one knew it was there
The historic site was uncovered unexpectedly during emergency repairs BREAKING GROUND England's largest medieval hospital is unearthed inside a SINKHOLE in huge breakthrough – and no one knew it was there A ROAD in the heart of York gave way to a sinkhole and exposed a vital part of the city's past. Archaeologists have found the remains of one of England's largest medieval hospitals buried beneath a bustling street. Advertisement 3 A sinkhole opened up in the road outside the 18th-century York Theatre Royal Credit: Getty 3 Buried beneath the road, archaeologists uncovered remains of the 11th-century St Leonard's Hospital Credit: YouTube/York City Council The remains - dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries - are thought to belong to St Leonard's Hospital. The huge healthcare facility is said to have once stretched from the Museum Gardens to the Theatre Royal site. Though built shortly after the Norman Conquest in the late 11th century, the site sits on top of even older Roman remains - at a time when York was a major Roman city and military base called Eboracum. St Leonard's Hospital played a vital role in the community of medieval York - not only as a healthcare centre but also as a charitable institution. Advertisement It ran an orphanage and provided food for prisoners at York Castle. The hospital was destroyed during the 16th-century English Reformation, when Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church. This brought an end to countless religious institutions across England. The site then became home to the Royal Mint, earning the name Mint Yard. Advertisement It later transformed into the Georgian street that stands there today. Incredibly, the hospital was excavated by chance earlier this month during emergency repairs to the road on St Leonard's Place. Danish archaeologists unearth 50 Viking skeletons City of York Council officials said the sinkhole in the road outside the 18th-century theatre was made safe by contractors before archaeologists were called in. Structural and stone masonry remains were unearthed by a team of archaeologists. Advertisement While the discovery has temporarily halted roadworks, city officials expect repairs to resume shortly. The archaeological team has carefully documented every find, following the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists' standards. Further analysis of the remains is being conducted. It comes as abandoned medieval villages were uncovered during roadworks on the A47. Advertisement The settlements are thought to have been abandoned after the Black Death - the bubonic plague that swept through the UK between 1348 and 1350, killing an estimated 35 to 40 percent of the population. Archaeologists made the discoveries during work to convert 5.5 miles of road between Easton and North Tuddenham into a dual carriageway. Headland Archaeology also found 31kg of pottery. 3 A metal spearhead, once used in hunting and battles, was discovered during roadworks on the A47 Credit: Headland Archaeology
The Irish Sun
25-06-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
England's largest medieval hospital is unearthed inside a SINKHOLE in huge breakthrough – and no one knew it was there
A ROAD in the heart of York gave way to a sinkhole and exposed a vital part of the city's past. Archaeologists have found the remains of one of England's largest medieval hospitals buried beneath a bustling street. 3 A sinkhole opened up in the road outside the 18th-century York Theatre Royal Credit: Getty 3 Buried beneath the road, archaeologists uncovered remains of the 11th-century St Leonard's Hospital Credit: YouTube/York City Council The remains - dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries - are thought to belong to St Leonard's Hospital. The huge healthcare facility is said to have once stretched from the Museum Gardens to the Theatre Royal site. Though built shortly after the Norman Conquest in the late 11th century, the site sits on top of even older Roman remains - at a time when York was a major Roman city and military base called Eboracum. St Leonard's Hospital played a vital role in the community of medieval York - not only as a healthcare centre but also as a charitable institution. Read more UK news It ran an orphanage and provided food for prisoners at York Castle. The hospital was destroyed during the 16th-century English Reformation, when Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church. This brought an end to countless religious institutions across England. The site then became home to the Royal Mint, earning the name Mint Yard. Most read in The Sun It later transformed into the Georgian street that stands there today. Incredibly, the hospital was excavated by chance earlier this month during emergency repairs to the road on St Leonard's Place. Danish archaeologists unearth 50 Viking skeletons City of York Council officials said the sinkhole in the road outside the 18th-century theatre was made safe by contractors before archaeologists were called in. Structural and stone masonry remains were unearthed by a team of archaeologists. While the discovery has temporarily halted roadworks, city officials expect repairs to resume shortly. The archaeological team has carefully documented every find, following the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists' standards. Further analysis of the remains is being conducted. It comes as The settlements are thought to have been abandoned after the Black Death - the bubonic plague that swept through the UK between 1348 and 1350, killing an estimated 35 to 40 percent of the population. Archaeologists made the discoveries during work to convert 5.5 miles of road between Easton and North Tuddenham into a dual carriageway. Headland Archaeology also found 31kg of pottery. 3 A metal spearhead, once used in hunting and battles, was discovered during roadworks on the A47 Credit: Headland Archaeology
Daily Record
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Netflix latest 'must-watch' film for royal fans with star-studded cast
The Other Boleyn Girl, which is currently available to stream on Netflix, stars two of Hollywood's biggest actresses and has been praised by viewers for its 'very good' acting. The understated period drama The Other Boleyn Girl, released in 2008 and featuring Scarlett Johansson alongside other top-tier talent, has been praised for its "very good" performances. Set in the 16th century, it tells the story of royal affairs. At the heart of the film is Mary Boleyn, once a consort of King Henry VIII, and her sister Anne, whose ultimate fate was to face execution by the same king. It is now currently available to stream on Netflix. A critic from Rotten Tomatoes observed: "With all of the dukes, earls, counts, viscounts, countesses, and whatnot to keep track of, The Other Boleyn Girl will probably appeal primarily to fans of British royalty and all of the associated hoopla that goes along with it." Dipping into an era thick with scandal, the storyline delves into the dramatic episodes that culminate in Anne Boleyn's harrowing downfall, depicting her union with the monarch as fraught with treachery and anguish. The beheading of Anne Boleyn in 1536 on charges of treason marked a pivotal moment, setting alight the sparks of the English Reformation, as reported by the Mirror. Natalie Portman plays the ill-starred Anne Boleyn, Scarlett Johansson embodies Mary, while Eric Bana takes on the role of King Henry VIII. Following her celebrated performance in the memorable V for Vendetta, Portman embraces the bygone epoch with hair extensions for her role. Commentators have remarked: "Very good acting from both Portman and Johansson. An overall good watch. Not periodically sound, but the execution was very good." The Other Boleyn Girl compellingly recasts a family entrenched in political machinations, vying for influence over the king. The film not only offers a window into the alleged off-stage drama within the Royal Family, but also sets itself against a pivotal chapter in British history, marking the era when Henry VIII made divorce part of the country's narrative. Despite the consensus that the performances are a highlight, the movie has encountered its fair share of critics. A spectator remarked: "I found the movie to be very entertaining. I don't know what happened in the past history for the events that occurred, but the movie itself was quite good." Upon its release, The Guardian awarded the production a respectable three stars out of five, dubbing it a "flashy, silly, undeniably entertaining Tudor romp". Someone in the audience noted the film as a "routinely narrated story". They added: "Here it is told well with a great cast delivering performances that are trying to keep pace given the squeezing of so much into such a relatively short time frame. Yes, it takes liberties with the original how else do you retell it? Certainly worth a watch."
Daily Record
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Pop Idol star makes same British royal discovery as Danny Dyer after nine years
Another famous face delves into their family history on Who Do You Think You Are? and the results are shocking EastEnders icon Danny Dyer left viewers gobsmacked when he found out his bloodline had been linked to English Royalty, and now a Pop Idol celebrity has stumbled upon a similarly astonishing discovery. Will Young is set to appear on Who Do You Think You Are? where he's poised to uncover a bombshell that promises to shake his world to its core. The 46-year-old chart-topper delves into historical records to trace any hidden secrets within his family tree. In an episode that promises to drop jaws, the Pop Idol winner discovers a connection to Hugh Le Despenser, a one-time confidant of King Edward II. Hugh Le Despenser, a name etched in history, had amassed great wealth by acquiring lands in South Wales, becoming one of the wealthiest men of his era, reports Surrey Live. But the revelations didn't stop there, Will was astounded to learn that he is a direct descendant of King Edward I, not once but twenty times over. Known as the Hammer of the Scots, Edward I reigned as King of England from 1272 until 1307. Overwhelmed by the magnitude of his lineage, Will described the revelation as "soul nourishing" and expressed his astonishment: "I didn't expect it, my 20 times great-grandfather was Edward I, that's just bonkers, and then we move to the man, the myth, the legend, the horror that is Hugh Le Despenser, who's just an absolute monster of a man." The episode took a poignant turn as the artist learnt his late grandfather Digby Young had been a bomber pilot and prisoner of war during WWII, a fact previously unknown to him. Digby was detained in a German-occupied prison in Poland until he talked his way out and earned the role of Squadron Leader, piloting jets. Will shared poignantly: "It's completely not how I saw him at all. I didn't know he went on to do any of this. Now I feel like I've got another grandfather. I didn't feel like I had a right, really, to claim another grandfather, because I didn't know him." To honour his grandfather's memory, the pop star had a tattoo done with Digby's squadron number. Will's revelation shares similarities with actor Danny Dyer's discovery that he descends from William the Conqueror and King Edward III, uncovered on the 2016 series of Who Do You Think You Are? Like Will, Danny also found out he was related to Thomas Cromwell, the counsellor to Henry VIII and protagonist of the English Reformation. Will Young's royal discovery will air on June 3, at 9pm on BBC One.
