York – A General History

There is a street in York called The Shambles which is where the ancient butchers of York used to ply their trade. It takes its name from ‘Shamel’ which means the stalls or benches on which the meat was displayed. Examples of these stalls are still actually in existence. No other street in the city evokes such a feeling of medieval life more vividly than this street. The upper storeys of the fifteenth century houses leaning inwards so far that the roofs on either side almost almost touching each other across the street. Walking this street, you will also notice the raised pavements either side of the main cobbled road which form the channel through which the butchers would wash away the offal and blood.

We start off this summary of York’s history with a reference to the Shambles since it sums up York to a tee – the city is literally a place where you really do feel you have stepped back in time. Whether it is medieval Britain that interests you or simply its wonderful gothic architecture, a trip to this magnificent city leaves most visitors with a sense of awe.

The cities battlement walls are preserved like no other city in Britain and have 4 Bars – or gates – which still control the movement in and out of the main centre.

The 4 bars and their general position:

Bootham Bar – NW
Monkgate Bar – NE
Walmgate Bar – SE
Micklegate Bar – SW

Bootham bar is probably the most attractive of York’s bars. Built on Roman foundations in the 12th century, it was enlarged in the thirteenth century. In 1501 it was ordered that a large door-knocker be attached to the doors of the bar and that ‘Scottish persons who were wishful to enter York should knock first.’ Monk Bar is also an interesting feature to visit and is the largest of the gateways to the city and contains vaulted chambers, which were formerly the Freeman’s Prison.

We cannot talk about the history of York without saying something about York Minster, which is without doubt one of the great cathedrals of the world and is often referred to as northern Europe’s greatest gothic cathedral. Whatever your faith and culture, you are made to feel welcome in this awe inspiring gothic cathedral, to see for yourself the life of a centre of Christian belief.

York’s first Minster was built for the baptism of the Anglo Saxon King, Edwin of Northumbria in the year 627. It was a small wooden church that had been built for the occasion and was later rebuilt in stone on Edwin’s orders.