A sinkhole that appeared outside York Theatre Royal revealed what archaeologists believe are the remains of the medieval St Leonard’s Hospital, which was one of northern England’s largest medieval hospitals. The site was excavated early this month during emergency repairs to the road on St Leonard’s Place in the heart of the historic city of York.

A sinkhole near York Theatre Royal has exposed the remains of the medieval St Leonard’s Hospital. Credit: General George Marshall / CC BY-SA 4.0

City of York Council officials explained that the void, which emerged in the street outside the 18th-century theatre, was secured by contractors prior to bringing in archaeologists. Following the securing of the area, excavation revealed traces of the 12th–13th century hospital, believed to have stretched from the Museum Gardens to the Theatre Royal. The hospital had been built shortly after the Norman Conquest, replacing the earlier St Peter’s Hospital, founded by the Anglo-Saxon King Athelstan in the 10th century.

St Leonard’s Hospital was a fundamental component of medieval society in York. Strongly linked to York Minster, it cared for the sick, the elderly, the poor, and the condemned. It also ran an orphanage and fed prisoners in York Castle, and was one of the city’s main charitable insтιтutions until the English Reformation of the 16th century. Like many other religious establishments, it was largely destroyed during this period, with the Church of England breaking with Catholicism under Henry VIII.

After the Reformation, the site was used for the Royal Mint and became known as Mint Yard. The site gradually evolved into a warren of buildings, stables, and alleys that were later cleared in 1836 to make way for the elegant Georgian streetscape that characterizes St Leonard’s Place today. The foundations of these developments were built using materials from sections of the old city walls, which were demolished.

Saint Elizabeth of Hungary bringing food for the inmates of a hospital, by Adam Elsheimer (1578–1610). public domain

The evidence, which includes structural and stone masonry remains, has been fully recorded in line with the Chartered Insтιтute for Archaeologists (CIfA) standards. PH๏τographic documentation and further analysis are being undertaken.

While the discovery has temporarily delayed the completion of roadworks, city officials expect repairs to resume shortly. The lane closure and traffic management are expected to remain in place until the road is fully restored, with hopes to reopen by mid-June.

Although the discovery has temporarily delayed the completion of the roadworks, city officials expect repairs to progress in the coming weeks.

St Leonard’s Hospital’s rediscovery offers a rare glimpse into York’s layered past—from its Roman origins to its medieval prominence.

More information: City of York Council