Today dawned sunny with a threat of rain by noon, but I decided to take a chance and wear the shorts and light sweater. Andrew was wiser and dressed according to forecast. We joined a voluntary tour guide for a 2 hour walking tour of York and I think this might be the best way to learn the history and highlights of the city you are in. She was a fount of knowledge and kept the pace brisk. We also lucked into a smaller group so it was easy to hear her speak and share the fascinating history of York. It was 3.5 hours later and spitting rain when she finished but she was so interesting to listen to that we didn't mind at all.
This is our little home in York - close to the city core, we were able to walk everywhere.
Starting our day with something besides the full English breakfast. Paid dearly for a bowl of porridge with a few pecans and blueberries on top, but oh my, it was so yummy!
Depicting Constantine the Great 274-337, it was near this place that he was proclaimed Roman Emperor in 306. His recognition of the civil liberties of the Christian subjects, and his own conversion to the faith, established the religious foundations of Western Christendom. York was founded by the Romans in AD 71.
It would take many months for me, being directionally challenged, to get used to the streets of York. I don't think there are any that go in a straight line.
Monk Bar is the largest and most ornate of the bars, dating from the early 14th century. It was a self-contained fortress, with each floor capable of being defended. The "crosses" are for shooting arrows. On the front of the bar is an arch supporting a gallery, including 'murder-holes' through which missiles and boiling water could be rained down on attackers. Several of these old city gates remain but some were removed more than a century ago to improve traffic flow.
A very narrow doorway and staircase leading up to the top of the city gate. Note the different colour of oak on the bottom corner of the door. This was replaced recently, but will eventually age. The city is very precise when repairing or replacing any of the historical parts.
Sign advertising 'bile beans', a laxative and tonic first marketed in the 1890's. Our guide told us they continue to repaint this sign when necessary.
Photo of our wonderful guide explaining the levels where archeological evidence of different eras was found; the lower one being the Roman Bank 1st-4th century, next the Dark Ages Bank 5th-10th century, the Norman Bank 11th-12th century and at the top the Medieaval Bank 13th century. It's fantastic how York has managed to maintain it's history. She was especially knowledgable of the influences of the invaders on the English language.
With York Minster in the background, you can see a beautiful walled garden where trading took place. These gardens were built to provide a warm environment where exotic plants would thrive, thus impressing those merchants you wanted to do business with.
If you read yesterday's post about 'The Shambles', we got more information about these buildings. These ledges in front of the shop would be for the purchasing of various meat. On one counter there was actually a lip built so the blood from the freshly slaughtered animals would not drip down on the customer's feet.
I don't think we would ever have found this hidden church if not for the tour. It's kind of like a maze getting around York. Holy Trinity Church dates chiefly from the 15th century. The box pews and the uneven floors and arcades are particularly charming. It was a quiet, secluded spot to get away from the busy shopping crowd outside.
A large altar stone at Holy Trinity Church, note the cross etched in the corner. There was a cross on each corner and one in the centre of the stone. In the 1500s, during the Reformation, this church was purged of virtually all its Catholic furnishings including these stones. A lot of them were recycled and used for steps and you can see the wear on some of them.
The east side of York Minster - this stained glass window, the rectangular part, is the size of a tennis court. Imagine trying to replace any damaged glass! During WW 2 it was removed and buried to prevent damage from bombs.
York Minster is also known as St. Peter's. In the previous picture, at the very top, is this depiction of St. Peter holding the keys to heaven's gate.
Work continues daily on the Minster as stone masons carve, from magnesium limestone, some of the stones that are crumbling. Very expensive.
View from our window tonight. A fond farewell to York in the morning.
No comments:
Post a Comment