New Palace Yard (Hansard, 21 February 1973)

§ Mr. Channon

An inspector of ancient monuments and an assistant have been in daily attendance on the site since 1st July 1972.

A guide trench excavated round the perimeter of the car park for the diaphragm wall provided a cross-section of successive layers of levelling material and road surfaces, and showed that the area had been an open space since the end of the eleventh century. However, the whole of the upper surface of the Yard has been cleared cautiously with machinery so that work might be stopped immediately if remains were encountered. When this happens facilities are available for the thorough examination of the remains. Prior to the discovery of the great conduit or fountain work was halted twice for periods of 24 hours to enable stone and brick channels and drains to be examined.

There is no evidence of Norman or pre-Norman buildings.

The great conduit or fountain referred to in my answer of 9th February to my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock (Mr. Cormack) is of Plantagenet origin. Richard II's ceremonial entrance to Westminster Hall flanked by two Exchequer buildings lay on the southern margin of the Yard outside the paved area and the site of the car park. Records suggest that the houses of the vicars who served St. Stephen's Chapel and the Star Chamber building lay to the east of the Yard again beyond the site of the car park.

The Tudor augmentation office, demolished in 1793, lay to the south-west of the Yard. Traces of its foundations were located, measured and photographed in the autumn of 1971.

Various minor domestic buildings including taverns encroached on the Yard in the Stuart period. The foundations of some of them were discovered, recorded and photographed in the trench for the diaphragm wall.