 View north on Blake Street, from St Helen's Square | |
 Location within York | |
| Location | York, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 53°57′39″N1°05′05″W / 53.9609°N 1.0847°W |
| North end | |
| South end | St Helen's Square |
Blake Street is a road in the city centre of York, in England.
The area occupied by the street lay within the walls of Roman Eboracum, but the route was not established until later. The Blake Street Hoard, a coin hoard of 35 silver denarii dating to the first century AD was found here in 1975. [1]
The York Civic Trust claims that it emerged in the Anglian period, as a shortcut between the Porta Principalis Dextra and the Porta Praetoria, now St Helen's Square and Bootham Bar. [2]
The street was first recorded in the 1150s. There are three main theories of the origin of its name: that "Blake" comes from the words for "white" or "bleaching", or from the Viking name "Bleiki". [3] The church of St Wilfrid, Blake Street, was first mentioned in the 1140s and lay in the middle of the western side of the street. It was demolished in 1585, and for religious purposes, the street thereafter fell into the parish of St Michael le Belfrey, although the civil parish survived until 1900. [4]
The main entrance to St Leonard's Hospital lay opposite the northern end of the street, and by 1215, it owned several properties on the street. A survey of 1230 shows that Whitby Abbey owned several others. [4]
During the Georgian period, the street was the departure point for stagecoaches to the north. [5] In 1732, the York Assembly Rooms opened on the west side of the street, and these survive. An open area to their north was created in 1735, and this was sometimes known as "Blake's Square". In 1827, baths were opened on the street. [3] [4]
The street now forms part of the city's central shopping area. [5] It was pedestrianised in 2020. [6]
The street runs north from St Helen's Square to the junction of Museum Street, Duncombe Place, and St Leonard's Place. Until the creation of St Helen's Square, in 1745, it started at a junction with Stonegate, while a footpath across the graveyard of St Helen, Stonegate, connected it to Davygate. [3] [4]
Other than the Assembly Rooms, the most notable building on the west side of the street is 18 Blake Street, built in 1789, while on the east side, 1-5 Blake Street has 16th century origins, 11 and 13 Blake Street were both built about 1750, and 15-21 were built by Thomas Haxby in 1773. 23 and 25 Blake Street are both late-18th century. [3]
York had around 45 parish churches in 1300. Twenty survive, in whole or in part, a number surpassed in England only by Norwich, and 12 are used for worship. This article consists of a list of medieval churches which still exist in whole or in part, and a list of medieval churches which are known to have existed in the past but have been completely demolished.
Stonegate is a street in the city centre of York, in England, one of the streets most visited by tourists. Most of the buildings along the street are listed, meaning they are of national importance due to their architecture or history.
St Helen's Square is an open space in the city centre of York, England.
Davygate is a major shopping street in the city centre of York, in England.
Colliergate is a street in the city centre of York, in England.
Lendal is a street in the city centre of York, in England.
The Norman House is a grade I listed building and scheduled monument in the city centre of York, in England. Although in ruins, it has been described as "York's oldest house", dating from the 12th century.
Coney Street is a major shopping street in the city centre of York, in England. The street runs north-west from the junction of Spurriergate and Market Street, to St Helen's Square. New Street leads off the north-east side of the street, as does a snickelway leading to the Judge's Court hotel, while several snickelways lead from the south-west side down to the River Ouse, including Blanshard's Lane, and paths leading to City Screen.
Fossgate is a street in the city centre of York, in England.
Duncombe Place is a street in the city centre of York, in England.
Goodramgate is a street in the city centre of York, in England.
St Leonard's Place is a street in the city centre of York, in England.
Museum Street is a road in the city centre of York, in England.
Exhibition Square is an open space in the city centre of York, England.
St Sampson's Church is a former parish church in the city centre of York, England. It lies on Church Street, near St Sampson's Square.
Ousegate is a street in the city centre of York, in England. It is divided into High Ousegate and Low Ousegate.
Petergate is a street in the city centre of York, in England. It is divided into High Petergate and Low Petergate. The well-known view of the Minster from Low Petergate is described by the City of York Council as "excellent".
Gillygate is a street in York, in England, immediately north of the city centre.
Ye Olde Starre Inne is a pub in the city centre of York, in England. The main block of the pub is a timber-framed structure, constructed in the mid-16th century, and a wing to its left was added in about 1600. By 1644, it was an inn named "The Starre", the buildings lying at the back of a coaching yard, off the north side of Stonegate. This makes it the pub in York which can demonstrate the earliest date for its licence. After the Battle of Marston Moor the inn was used as a hospital for wounded soldiers.
Minster Gates is a north–south running street in the city centre of York, England, connecting Minster Yard and High Petergate. All of its buildings are listed, many dating to the 18th century, although the street is significantly older.