York
Cathedral and industrial city and administrative headquarters of York
unitary authority in northern England, on the River Ouse; population
(1991) 127,700. It was the administrative headquarters of the
county of North Yorkshire until 1996. Industries include tourism
and the manufacture of scientific instruments, sugar, chocolate,
and glass. Founded in AD 71 as the Roman provincial capital Eboracum,
York retains many of its medieval streets and buildings and much
of its 14th-century city wall; the Gothic York Minster, England's
largest medieval cathedral, includes fine 15th-century stained
glass. The city is visited by some 3 million tourists a year.
Features
The south transept of the York Minster has been restored following
severe damage caused by a fire in 1984. Four gates or `bars´ of
the city wall survive, as well as the medieval streets including
the Shambles. The Jorvik Viking Centre (opened in 1984) contains
wooden remains of Viking houses. Other features include the Theatre
Royal, site of a theatre since 1765; the Castle Museum; the National
Railway Museum; and York University (1963).
History
Recent excavations of the Roman city have revealed the fortress, baths,
and temples to Serapis and Mithras. The Roman missionary Paulinus
became the first archbishop of York in 633. In 867 it became the
Viking settlement of Jorvik. During the Middle Ages it was important
in the wool trade. An active Quaker element in the 18th and 19th
centuries included the Rowntree family, which founded a chocolate
factory. In the 19th century it developed as a railway centre.
Britain's last train-building factory closed in 1995.
York Minster
It is thought that a wooden chapel was erected on the site of the present
Minster in 627 for the baptism of King Edwin of Northumbria. A
Norman structure was begun in about 1080, but the oldest surviving
part of the present building dates from about 1220, and the central
tower was completed in about 1480. The cathedral's fine stained-glass
windows include the `Five Sisters´ in the north transept, and
the East Window dating from 1405, thought to be the world's largest
medieval stained-glass window. The octagonal Chapter House, dating
from 1260 to 1300, has no central supporting column. The choir
screen, dating from the late 15th century, depicts kings of England
from William I to Henry VI.
Schools
St Peter's School is one of the oldest private schools in England,
and has claims to link it with the school of St Peter founded
in 627. There are two Society of Friends' (Quaker) schools; the
Mount School for girls (1785) and Bootham School (1823), formerly
a boys' school but now co-educational.
Architectural Features
The medieval Guildhall, built in 1448, was destroyed by bombing in
1942, but was restored to its former state in 1960. Three other
guildhalls remain: the Merchant Adventurers Hall, built by York's
most powerful guild which in the 15th-17th centuries controlled
the export of cloth from the north of England; the Merchant Tailors'
Hall which has a 17th-18th- century exterior and a 14th-century
roof; and the 15th-century St Anthony's Hall.
The city walls, built on earlier foundations, extend for 4.4
km/2.7 mi, and date mainly from the 14th century, although the
gates include Norman work. The four main gateways or `bars´ are
Walmgate Bar, Bootham Bar, Monk Bar, and Mickelgate Bar. Walmgate
retains its barbican, whilst Bootham and Monk each has its portcullis.
Micklegate was the chief of the four gates and on it was impaled
the head Richard of York in 1460.
The basement of the Yorkshire Museum incorporates the chapter
house and fireplace of the Benedictine St Mary's Abbey (founded
about 1080). In the gardens of the museum are more remains of
the Abbey, including the ruins of the church (1259) and gatehouse.
Clifford's Tower (1245-1262) is all that remains of York Castle.
It was built to replace the wooden tower built by William the
Conqueror which was destroyed in 1190 when, during anti-Jewish
riots in the city, 150 members of the Jewish population were put
there and took their own lives by setting fire to the tower rather
than fall into the hands of the mob. The network of narrow medieval
streets in the centre of York includes Stonegate, and the Shambles,
the street of the butchers. The Shambles includes the house of
Margaret Clitherow who was martyred in 1586 after being accused
of providing a refuge for Jesuit priests; the house has been restored
by Catholics of York as a shrine.
Museums and Galleries
The Yorkshire Museum contains fine archaeological, natural history,
and geological collections. There is a richly stocked Roman gallery
as well as Anglo-Saxon and Viking relics. The City Art Gallery
contains a large collection of European paintings, including the
Lycett Green collection of old masters, which provides a continuous
series of examples of the development of European art. The Castle
Museum, occupying two former prison buildings built in the 18th
century, is a folk museum which includes reconstructed 19th-century
streets. The Jorvik Viking Centre, opened after excavations at
Coppergate (1976-81), depicts life in York in the time of the
Vikings and displays the archaeological remains discovered during
the excavations. The National Railway Museum contains a large
collection of locomotives, dating from 1829, as well as royal
carriages and a replica of a section of the Channel Tunnel.
Famous People
York was the birthplace of the conspirator Guy Fawkes, the poet W H
Auden, the painter William Etty, and the sculptor John Flaxman.
Dick Turpin, the highwayman, was hanged here in 1739.
|
Top
