York, Yorkshire, England

From Robin Hoods Tower the wall passes along the back of Gillygate shaded by leafy trees.  During the 1960s Gillygate was almost the scene of a wanton civic vandalism.  It was planned to knock down most of Gillygate and take down a large number of trees in Bootham Park Hospital to create a new inner ring road. A number of properties had been bought up in Gillygate but several property owners resisted the attempts to coerce them to sell. It almost went as far as compulsory purchase orders but the council pulled back at the last minute and are now the owners of a lot of properties in Gillygate, amongst them several are now listed buildings.  Bootham Bar marks the end of this section of walls.  From the bottom of the steps turn to the right to go under the Bar into High Petergate.  For those needing a comfort break there are public toilets here.








For those that maybe feel a bit dry and dusty at this point drop into the "The Hole In The Wall" public house for some refreshment if it is open.  There are other pubs along High Petergate that might also be of interest as alternatives there is the York Brewery "Three Legged Mare" named after a hanging device not that horse that you put your money on, or almost next to the Minster is "The York Arms" popular with the acting fraternity.  High Petergate crosses Duncombe Place and the church of St. Michael Le Belfry nestles under the shadow of  York Minster.





Across the road from St. Michael le Belfrey is the birthplace of Guy Fawkes in what is now called Guy Fawkes Hotel.  He is probably one of the most famous sons of York.  There are some  who say he is the only man ever to enter Parliament with honest intentions.  He was involved in the gunpowder plot to blow up the King and Parliament during the persecution of Catholics.  Guy Fawkes baptismal record is part of the parish records of the church next door, St. Miachael le Belfrey.  At the next junction turn right into Stonegate. The name Stonegate derives from stone being brought for building the Minster from the river by the Guildhall up through Stonegate.  There are many interesting buildings in Stonegate and in the photograph you can see the Sign that stretches across the street for Ye Olde Starre Inne.  It is actually set back from the street and you enter through a passageway, see fourth photo along in the set below.  This is a street to lift up your eyes above ground level for all sorts of interesting building adornments including the Stonegate Devil!





















OK fellas, Stonegate is a shopping street and your wallet will end up haemorraging badly if your wife or girlfriend is with you.  In particular try not to let get anywhere near Mulberry Hall, they seem to get the urge to spend, spend spend in there!  Steer them through into Little Stonegate when you see the figurehead.












Sorry fellas, your wallets are still not out of the danger zone.  Mulberry Hall has another entrance in Little Stonegate and an eye catching display window.  Hurry on down to Oscars for a drink to calm your trembling nerves!  At the end of the stereet is an entrance into WP Brown department store but turn left into Back Swinegate for a revitalised and renovated area of York that used to be rather derelict.











As you walk along Back Swinegate you will find a couple of interesting "snickleways" the first is "Nether Hornpot Lane" leading to St. Sampson's Square and the second is Finkle Street also leading to St. Sampsons Square.  At the end of the street turn right into Swinegate also part of the renovated area.












There are some intersting places to eat along this street including the Buzz Bar serving Japanese food and beer and having Japanese prints by Hiroshige and Housai on the wall.  At the Junction with Church street cross the road into Patrick Pool.












On reaching the market turn left and walk along the short cobbled section of Newgate turning right into the Shambles. The name derives from the Anglo Saxon "fleshamells" meaning the place where the butchery trade was carried out. In mediaevil times the place would be literally swimming with blood and guts.  The window sills of some of shops are still broad and this is where joints of meat were displayed for sale.  Although ther are no butchers in the Shambles nowadays it is all tourist nik naks and restaurants there is one remaining butcher in Little Shambles that runs off at right angles into the market.









About half way down the Shambles is the shrine of St. Margaret Clitherow, a convert to Catholicism after Henry VIII had dissolved the monastries she held services in here house and hid priests. She was tried  but would not plead. Not entering a plea was considered a crime in itself and she was sentenced to death by being laid on a sharp stone, a door placed on her which was then weighted own with heavy rocks  and stones.  The process took about fifteen minutes  to cause her death.  She was canonized in 1970.  The shrine is said to be in the house where she lived in the Shambles.

The photgraph on the right shows a scene that many tourists do not see, it is during the lull in the evening after day trippers have gone home and the evening ghost walkers have not yet emerged and the Shamble is empty.

Continue to the end of the Shambles and turn right onto Pavement and then left onto Piccadily to return to the starting point by the Merchant Adventurers Hall.

---

Circular Walk 1
Circular Walk 3
Circular Walk 4
Return to Index Page

---