York

:This article is about the historic English city. For other meanings, see York (disambiguation).

History and tourism

Roman York

York is renowned for its history, which is preserved in its architecture. The city was founded in AD 71, and for much of the intervening period has been the main city in the North of England. Every year, thousands of tourists flock to see the surviving mediaeval buildings, interspersed with Roman and Viking remains. The City Council has 27 Conservation Areas, 2,084 Listed buildings and 20 Scheduled Ancient Monuments in its care.

Related Topics:
71 - Conservation Area - Listed building - Scheduled Ancient Monument

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For the Romans, York the celtic Eboracum "city of the yew" was a major military base; Emperor Septimius Severus died there in AD 211, and Constantius Chlorus, the father of Constantine I, died there in 306. In York, Constantine's troops proclaimed him emperor (note that the only other city in which an emperor has been proclaimed is Rome itself). Substantial Roman remains were discovered under the Minster and a re-erected Roman column now stands on Deangate. There are also the remains of a Roman bath, but a temple and the site of the Roman bridge over the River Ouse have also been excavated lately. Outside the city walls are the remains of substantial Roman cemeteries. A large number of Roman finds are now housed in the Yorkshire Museum.

Related Topics:
Romans - Septimius Severus - 211 - Constantius Chlorus - Constantine I - 306 - Rome - Minster - Temple - River Ouse

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Paulinus of York brought Christianity to the region in the early 7th century with the conversion of King Edwin of Northumbria and the first Minster is believed to have been built in 627, although the location of the early Minster is a matter of dispute. York became a centre of learning, its most famous scholar being Alcuin.

Related Topics:
Paulinus of York - 7th century - Edwin of Northumbria - 627 - Alcuin

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Viking York

:For Viking York, see Jorvik.

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A "great Viking army" captured York in AD 866, and in 876 the Vikings settled permanently in parts of the Yorkshire countryside. Viking kings ruled this area, known to historians as "The Viking Kingdom of Jorvik", for almost a century. In 954 the last Viking king, Eric Bloodaxe, was expelled and his kingdom was incorporated in the newly consolidated Anglo-Saxon state. Another renowned scholar of this era was Wulfstan II, Archbishop of York.

Related Topics:
Viking - 866 - 876 - The Viking Kingdom of Jorvik - 954 - Eric Bloodaxe - Wulfstan II, Archbishop of York

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Mediaeval York

Following the Norman Conquest of 1066, York was substantially damaged by the punitive harrying of the north (1069) launched by William the Conqueror in response to regional revolt. Two castles were erected in the city on either side of the River Ouse. In time York became an important urban centre as the administrative centre of the county of Yorkshire, as the seat of an archbishop, and at times in the later 13th and 14th century as an alternative seat of royal government. It was an important trading centre. Several religious houses were founded following the Conquest, including St Mary's Abbey and Holy Trinity Priory. The city as a possession of the crown also came to house a substantial Jewish community under the protection of the sheriff.

Related Topics:
Norman Conquest - 1066 - Harrying of the north - 1069 - William the Conqueror - River Ouse - County - Yorkshire - Archbishop - 13th - 14th century - St Mary's Abbey - Sheriff

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On March 16, 1190 a mob of townsfolk forced the Jews in York to flee into the wooden castle, which was under the control of the sheriff. The castle was set on fire and the Jews were massacred. It is likely that various local magnates who were indebted to the Jews helped instigate this massacre or, at least, did nothing to prevent it. Commemoration of the York massacre passed into the Jewish liturgy and until 1990 orthodox Judaism forbade Jews from living within the city.

Related Topics:
March 16 - 1190 - Mob - Jew - 1990

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York prospered during much of the later mediaeval era and this is reflected in the built environment. York Minster is the largest mediaeval cathedral in England and one of the largest gothic churches in Europe. The mediaeval city walls, with their entrance gates, known as bars, encompassed virtually the entire city and survive to this day. The city was also designated as a county corporate, giving it effective county status.

Related Topics:
Mediaeval - York Minster - Cathedral - City walls - County corporate

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The later years of the 14th and the earlier years of the 15th centuries were characterised by particular prosperity. It is in this period that the regular cycle of religious pageants (or plays) associated with the Corpus Christi cycle and performed by the various craft guilds grew up. Among the more important personages associated with this period was Nicholas Blackburn senior, Lord Mayor in 1412 and a leading merchant. He is depicted in glass in the (now) east window of All Saints' Church in North Street. The period from the later 15th century seems to have witnessed economic contraction and a dwindling in York's regional importance. The construction of the city's new guildhall around the middle of the century can be seen as an attempt to project civic confidence in the face growing uncertainty.

Related Topics:
15th centuries - Corpus Christi - Guild - Nicholas Blackburn - Mayor - 1412 - Guildhall

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Dating from the later mediaeval era, and now a popular tourist attraction, is the Shambles, an old street with overhanging timber-built shops, now occupied by souvenir shops as opposed to the original butchers. York is also home to numerous Ghost Walks and also a favourite venue for hen parties.

Related Topics:
Shambles - Souvenir - Butcher - Ghost - Hen parties

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