York, the Eternal City

Thursday, 7 April 2011 - 05:07 pm (CET/MEZ) Berlin | Author/Destination:
Category/Kategorie: General, Architecture
Reading Time:  6 minutes

Davygate © Jan Kronsell

Davygate © Jan Kronsell

York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence.

York’s location on the River Ouse, in the centre of the Vale of York and half way between the capitals of London and Edinburgh means that it has long had a significant position in the nation’s transport system. The 19th century saw York, under the influence of George Hudson, become an important hub of the railway network and a manufacturing centre. In recent decades, the economy of York has moved from being dominated by its confectionery and railway-related industries to one that provides services. The University of York and health services have become major employers. Tourism also boosts the local economy because the city offers a wealth of historic attractions, of which York Minster is the most prominent, and a variety of cultural activities. In 2009 it was the 7th most visited city by UK residents and the 13th most visited by overseas visitors. York Racecourse and Bootham Crescent, the home of York City FC, are the most prominent sporting venues in the city and the River Ouse provides opportunities for both sporting and leisure pursuits.

George Hudson was responsible for bringing the railway to York in 1839. Although Hudson’s career as a railway entrepreneur eventually ended in disgrace, by this time, York was a major railway centre. At the turn of the 20th century, the railway accommodated the headquarters and works of the North Eastern Railway, which employed over 5,500 people in York. The railway was also instrumental in the expansion of Rowntree’s Cocoa Works. Rowntree’s was founded in York in 1862 by Henry Isaac Rowntree, who was joined in 1869 by his brother the philanthropist Joseph Rowntree. Terry’s Confectionery Works was also a major employer in the city.

With the emergence of tourism as a major industry, the historic core of York became one of the city’s major assets, and in 1968 it was designated a conservation area. The existing tourist attractions were supplemented by the establishment of the National Railway Museum in York in 1975. The opening of the University of York in 1963 added to the prosperity of the city. The fast and frequent railway service, which brings York within two hours journey time of London, has resulted in a number of companies opening offices in the city. York was voted as European Tourism City of the Year by European Cities Marketing in June 2007. York beat 130 other European cities to gain first place, surpassing Gothenburg in Sweden (second) and Valencia in Spain (third).

Davygate © Jan Kronsell York © geograph.co.uk Cliffords Tower, part of York Castle © Robert Kilpin Guildhall York City Council - River Ouse © Kaly99 Roman Fortifications in Museum Gardens © Kaly99 Theatre Royal © Thomas Gun York City Court © Kilnburn York at night © Wjh31 York railway station and Royal York Hotel © Tagishsimon The Shambles © Daveahern York University - Central Hall © Johnteslade City Walls © Charlesdrakew
<
>
York railway station and Royal York Hotel © Tagishsimon
York’s economy is based on the service industry, which in 2000 was responsible for 88.7% of employment in the city. The service industries in York include public sector employment, health, education, finance, information technology (IT) and tourism that accounts for 10.7% of employment. Unemployment in York is low at 4.2% in 2008 compared to the United Kingdom national average of 5.3%.

York Minster, the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe, stands at the city’s centre. York Castle, a complex of buildings ranging from the medieval Clifford’s Tower to the 20th century entrance to the York Castle Museum (formerly a prison) has had a chequered history.

York’s centre is enclosed by the city’s medieval walls, which are a popular walk. The entire circuit is about 3 miles (5 km), including a part where walls never existed, because the Norman moat of York Castle, formed by damming the River Foss, also created a lake which acted as a city defence. This lake was later called the King’s Fishpond, as the rights to fish belonged to the Crown.

A feature of central York is the Snickelways, narrow pedestrian routes, many of which led towards the former market-places in Pavement and St Sampson’s Square. The Shambles is a narrow medieval street, lined with shops, boutiques and tea rooms. Most of these premises were once butchers’ shops, and the hooks from which carcasses were hung and the shelves on which meat was laid out can still be seen outside some of them. The street also contains the Shrine of Margaret Clitherow, although it is not located in the house where she lived. Goodramgate has many medieval houses including the early 14th century Lady Row built to finance a Chantry, at the edge of the churchyard of Holy Trinity church.

To inform you about latest news most of the city, town or tourism websites offer a newsletter service and/or operate Facepage pages/Twitter accounts. Read more on City of York, Visit York, York Minster and Wikipedia York. Learn more about the use of photos.




Recommended posts:

Share this post: (Please note data protection regulations before using buttons)

Gliwice in Silesia

Gliwice in Silesia

[caption id="attachment_153376" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Castle Museum at night © Jan Mehlich/cc-by-sa-3.0[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]Gliwice is a city in Upper Silesia, southern Poland, near Katowice. Gliwice is the west district of the Silesian Metropolis – a metropolis with a population of 2 million. The city is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Kłodnica river (a tributary of the Oder). Situated in the Silesian Voivodeship since its formation in 1999, Gliwice was previously in Katowice Voivodeship. ...

[ read more ]

Aarhus in Midtjylland

Aarhus in Midtjylland

[caption id="attachment_152750" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Hotel Royal with Christian X of Denmark statue © trøjborg1[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]Aarhus is the second-largest city in Denmark. The principal port of Denmark, Aarhus is on the east side of the peninsula of Jutland in the geographical center of Denmark. Aarhus is the seat of the council of Aarhus municipality with 315,193 inhabitants and 252,213 in the inner urban area. According to Aarhus municipality, the "Greater Aarhus" area has a population of about 1.2 mi...

[ read more ]

Neuer Wall in Hamburg

Neuer Wall in Hamburg

[caption id="attachment_238745" align="aligncenter" width="590"] © flickr.com - sezaun/cc-by-sa-2.0[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]Neuer Wall is an upmarket shopping street in Hamburg, Germany. The 1,200 m of shop-fronts are almost entirely lined with luxury brands. According to international real estate and retail reports, Neuer Wall is among the most exclusive shopping streets in Europe. [gallery size="large" gss="1" ids="238736,238737,238738,238739,238740,238741,238742,238743,238744,238745,238746,238747"]It is located in Ne...

[ read more ]

Theme Week Algarve - Faro

Theme Week Algarve - Faro

[caption id="attachment_152697" align="aligncenter" width="525"] City Hall © Osvaldo Gago - fotografar.net - cc-by-sa-2.0[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]Faro is the southernmost city in Continental Portugal. It is located in the Faro Municipality in southern Portugal. The city proper has 41,934 inhabitants and the entire municipality has 58,305. It is the seat of the Faro District and capital of the Algarve region. The Algarve and Faro district cover the same territory. The city has a public university (the University of the...

[ read more ]

Dinant in Belgium

Dinant in Belgium

[caption id="attachment_208175" align="aligncenter" width="590"] © flickr.com - Andrew J.Kurbiko/cc-by-sa-2.0[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]Dinant is a Walloon city and municipality located on the River Meuse, in the Belgian province of Namur. It lies 90 kilometres (56 mi) south-east of Brussels, 30 kilometres (19 mi) south-east of Charleroi and 30 kilometres (19 mi) south of Namur. Dinant is situated 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of the border with France. Dinant is positioned in the Upper Meuse valley, at a point where the ...

[ read more ]

Theme Week Lorraine - Montigny-lès-Metz

Theme Week Lorraine - Montigny-lès-Metz

[caption id="attachment_154005" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Chateau Courcelles Montigny Metz © Aimelaime[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]Montigny-lès-Metz is a commune in the Moselle department in Alsace-Champagne-Ardenne-Lorraine in north-eastern France. It is the largest suburb of the city of Metz, and is adjacent to it on the west. The Jardin botanique de Metz, also known as the Jardin botanique de la Ville de Metz, is a 4.4-hectare (11-acre) botanical garden located at 27 ter, rue du Pont-à-Mousson. It is open dail...

[ read more ]

Leiria in Portugal

Leiria in Portugal

[caption id="attachment_217138" align="aligncenter" width="590"] © Fulviusbsas[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]Leiria is a city and a municipality in the Centro Region of Portugal and in the historical province of Beira Litoral. It is the capital of Leiria District. The population in 2011 was 126,879, in an area of 565.09 square kilometres (218.18 sq mi). It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Leiria-Fátima. Leiria is located in the Centro Region and sub region of Pinhal Litoral, about halfway between Lisbon and Por...

[ read more ]

The Suez Canal

The Suez Canal

[caption id="attachment_153638" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Port Said - Suez Canal Authority © Daniel Csörföly[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows ship transport between Europe and eastern Asia without navigation around Africa. The northern terminus is Port Said and the southern terminus is Port Tawfiq at the city of Suez. Ismailia lies on its west ban...

[ read more ]

Built as Fast Breeder nuclear reactor, operated as an amusement park: The Wunderland Kalkar

Built as Fast Breeder nuclear reactor, operated as an amusement park: The Wunderland Kalkar

[caption id="attachment_24194" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Cooling tower used as climbing wall © Koetjuh[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]Wunderland Kalkar is an amusement park in North Rhine-Westphalia, just north of Düsseldorf. It is built on the former site of SNR-300, a nuclear power plant that never went online because of construction problems and protests. The park was constructed by Dutch entrepreneuer Hennie van der Most, who purchased the site. Wunderland Kalkar receives around 600,000 visitors each year. [gallery...

[ read more ]

Melbourne City in Australia

Melbourne City in Australia

[caption id="attachment_223175" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Melbourne's Central Business District © Melbpal/cc-by-sa-4.0[/caption][responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Female" buttontext="Listen to this Post"]Melbourne is the capital and most-populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a 9,993 km²(3,858 sq mi) metropolitan area known as Greater Melbourne, comprising an urban agglomeration of 31 local municipalities, although the name is also used specifically for the local municipali...

[ read more ]

Return to TopReturn to Top
Bad Honnef seen from Rolandseck © Leit
Bad Honnef, the Nice on the Rhine

Bad Honnef is a spa town in Germany near Bonn in the Rhein-Sieg district, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is located on...

Le Bon Marché © François Rejeté
Le Bon Marché, the first department store in the world

Le Bon Marché ("the good market", or "the good deal" in French) is the name of one of the most...

Puerto Banús © __Lolo__
Marbella, Spain’s former jet-set capital

It is not so long ago, Marbella Spain's undisputed capital of the jet-set was - until their rank Mallorca expired....

Schließen