York has one of the busiest Railway interchanges in the country with trains to all parts of England, Scotland and Wales
Video by Michael Jiroch (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQksZSC6YIc)
Archive for the ‘History’ Category
York Castle Prison
Posted: September 13, 2018 in History, Post medieval history, UK, YorkTags: York, York Castle
Following its demise as a military base, York castle was used a prison. New buildings were added throughout the 18th century including a county prison, a new courthouse and a female prison. The last civilian prisoners were transferred out in 1900 although it continued to be used as a military prison until 1929.
Prisoner Graffiti
Exercise Yard
The courthouse remains in use as the headquarters of York Crown Court, but the prison buildings were transfered for use as a museum and today house The York castle Museum.
The most famous prisoner to be held in York was the Highwayman Dick Turpin, who had fled from Essex to Yorkshire when it became likely he would be arrested. He lived under the assumed name of John Palmer. However some local magistrates were suspicious of how he funded his lifestyle and he was arrested in 1737 on suspicion of horse theft. His true identity became clear when he made the mistake of writing to his brother in law from prison and the letter was read by the local magistrates. He was tried at York in March 1739 and executed the following month.
Photo by Carl Spencer (http://www.flickr.com/photos/82887550@N00/)
Photo by Xerones (http://www.flickr.com/photos/xerones/)
York City Walls
Posted: September 12, 2018 in History, Medieval History, UK, YorkTags: York, York City walls
I think one of the most attractive things about York as a city is the city walls. These are almost complete except for one section to the north of the city and you are able to walk around the city upon them. It merely gives you an idea of what a medieval walled city might have been like.
One of the fascinating aspects of the city walls is that they have been refurbished and rebuilt over a number of years and as a result show a number of different styles of defensive wall building.
Video by Dennis Callan (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fPtrDrRa8E)
4498 Sir Nigel Gresley
Posted: September 10, 2018 in History, TrainsTags: A4 locomotive, Mallard 75, National Railway Museum, north york moors railway, pacific locomotive, Sir Nigel Gresley, Steam Trains
Completed in 1937 this was the 100th Gresley designed Pacific locomotive to be built. It worked its life on the East Coast mainline and holds the post war steam speed record of 112 mph set on 23/5/1959. This was achieved over the same stretch of track the Mallard had used for the world record run pre-war, but the difference was that 4498 was pulling a full passenger train. It was withdrawn from service in February 1966 and sent to Crewe for refurbishment as it had been purchased by a preservation trust. Following this it was used to run railtours out of Steamtown at Carnforth. In 1994 it transfered to Great Central Railway and also did a spell at the East Lancs Railway before being based on the North York Moors railway. In 2012 it took part in the Olympic torch tour of the UK.
video by Grantham8 (http://www.youtube.com/user/grantham8?feature=watch)
video by steamvideo (http://www.youtube.com/user/steamvideo?feature=watch)
Views of York (2)
Posted: September 7, 2018 in History, Roman History, UK, YorkTags: York, York Minster
Column from Roman headquarters building (4th century AD)
The birthplace of Guy Fawkes
York Minster
York Minster close
Views of York (1)
Posted: September 6, 2018 in History, Medieval History, Roman HistoryTags: Constantine the Great, York, York Minster
York Minster
The first recorded church on the site was in 627 in a record of the baptism of a King of Northumbria. This church was rebuilt and extended over the years but was finally destroyed by Danish raid in 1075. it was rebuilt in 1080 in the Norman style. The current Gothic cathedral was begun in 1220. Building continued over the next 250 years and it was eventually completed and consecrated in 1472.
Statue of Roman Emperor Constantine, who was proclaimed Emperor by the Army at York whilst he was commanding them in 306. The statue stands outside the Minster as a reminder that Constantine, as well as being proclaimed in York, was the Emperor who made Christianity an official religion in the Roman Empire.
St Mary’s Abbey, York
Posted: September 4, 2018 in History, Medieval History, UKTags: St Mary's Abbey, York
The Abbey of St Mary’s in York is built on the north side of the river Ouse about half a mile from York Minster. It dates back to 1055, but its prominence begins in 1088 when it was refounded as a Benedictine community on the permission of William the Conqueror. It quickly grew into one of the pre-eminent monastic houses in the North of England and also quickly developed a reputation or its rather lax and lavish lifestyle. In 1132 Prior Richard, together with 13 monks, left St Mary’s to join the Cistercians at Fountains Abbey as they felt that the lifestyle at St Mary’s did not fit their monastic vows. In the 12th century, the now wealthy order built a large extension to the monastery, including a new church and a crenellated enclosure wall.
Part of the Abbey’s enclosure wall along the banks of the river
Remains of the Church
Remains of the Church
It may be that this new wall was partly built as a response to the tensions and troubles that have broken out between the monastery and the town over rights and privileges and these problems seemed to dog St Mary’s during its entire history so that when in 1539 it was dissolved by Henry VIII, it is said that there was no public outcry at its dissolution.
Initially, the buildings were used as a royal palace when the king visited in 1540, but they soon fell into disuse and disrepair.
Today the remains of this once enormously powerful abbey are found in the gardens of the Yorkshire Museum.
The Hospitium – originally either a guest house or barn in the Abbey.
Anglo-Saxon Helmet
Posted: September 3, 2018 in History, Saxon History, UK, YorkTags: Anglo-Saxon helmet, York, York Helmet
This eighth century Anglo-Saxon helmet was found at Coppergate in York. It is only one of four found in the UK. It was made for member of the Anglo-Saxon royal family called Oshere and his name is inscribed above the nose guard.
It is in very good condition and was found late in a wooden box, suggesting that it was deliberately placed there rather than discarded. Possibly Oshere had grown old and had no longer any use for it or maybe it was to hide such a valuable item people who might steal it.
The Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Eoforwic came to an end in the ninth century when the Vikings overran the kingdom and made York their capital, Jorvik.
