| Bootham | |
|---|---|
 Bootham | |
  Bootham Location within North Yorkshire | |
| OS grid reference | SE590473 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | YORK |
| Postcode district | YO30 |
| Dialling code | 01904 |
| Police | North Yorkshire |
| Fire | North Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| UK Parliament | |
Bootham is a street in the city of York, England, leading north out of the city centre. It is also the name of the small district surrounding the street.
The street runs along a ridge of slightly higher ground east of the River Ouse. It follows the line of Dere Street, the main Roman road from Eboracum to Cataractonium. Many Roman remains have been found in the area, which was principally used for burials. [1] The street's name probably derives from the Norse for "the place of the booths", referring to the poor huts in the area. [2] From the Roman period, an alternative route from the bridge over the Ouse ran a short distance west of Bootham, and in the Saxon and Viking Jorvik periods, that was the main road to the north-west. However, after St Mary's Abbey was constructed in this area, that road was blocked, and Bootham became the principal route. In 1260, the abbey was given permission to construct a wall, part of which runs immediately west of the southern part of Bootham. Disputes between the abbey and the city led to conflict in 1262, with several houses on the street being burned down. [3] Shortly after 1326 the Bootham Hoard of silver coins was deposited at the site which would become Bootham School. [4]
The first documentary evidence of buildings on Bootham is from the 12th century, and by 1282, there were 19 properties on the street, most opposite the abbey wall, with some further out. The city received complaints that, by the end of the century, the road's paving was broken up, there was a stench of pigsties in the area, and that the street was often blocked by loose pigs. In 1308, the abbey was given permission to hold a market and fair on the street, and although this was later revoked, there is evidence of a market being held until at least 1448. In 1354, the abbey finally agreed that Bootham should fall within the city's jurisdiction. In 1497, St Margaret's Arch was built through part of the wall at the southern end of Bootham, providing access to what is now King's Manor. [3]
By 1610, most of the street was built up, other than the area in front of the abbey walls, but the area was devastated in the 1644 Siege of York. Almost all the buildings now date from after the siege, many from the Georgian period, and the redevelopment included new buildings in front of the abbey wall. [5] A cock pit was established near where the road currently has its junction with St Mary's, with an attached bowling green. In 1846, Bootham School moved to the street, and it has gradually expanded into several buildings. [3]
York City Council describes the street as "the finest of approaches to the city bars", and mention the trees and cobbled margins along the street, which replaced former grass verges, used for grazing animals. The street is now lined with expensive houses, hotels, and prestigious offices. [1]
Bootham is the main route out of York city centre to the north-west, and it forms part of the A19 road. [5] [6] It continues the line of High Petergate, the via principalis of Roman Eboracum, from Bootham Bar in the York city walls. It follows the main Roman road from York to Catterick. [7] It runs north-west, over the York-Scarborough railway line, ending at a junction with Bootham Crescent and Queen Anne's Road, beyond which its route become Clifton. On the south-west side, it has junctions with St Leonard's Place, Marygate, St Mary's and Bootham Terrace, while on the north-east side, it meets Gillygate, Bootham Row, and Grosvenor Terrace. [5]
Notable buildings on its south-west side include the walls surrounding St Mary's Abbey, with Queen Margaret's Arch and St Mary's Tower; Ingram House, almshouses built about 1632, one of the few survivors of the siege; 8–10 Bootham, built in the 18th century; and 54 Bootham, and Bootham Lodge, large houses built about 1840. On the north-east side lie most of the Georgian buildings: 15–17, 19, 25, 33, 39–45, 47 (designed by John Carr), 51, 53 and 55, 57, 59, 61, and 75–77 Bootham are all large houses, dating from the 18th century. 21–23, 35, and 49 Bootham are slightly older, with 17th-century origins. Other notable buildings include Wandesford House, almshouses opened in 1743; and The Churchill Hotel, built about 1827. The main entrance to Bootham Park Hospital, built in 1777 as one of the first asylums in the UK, is up a long drive from the street. [5]
Eboracum was a fort and later a city in the Roman province of Britannia. In its prime it was the largest town in northern Britain and a provincial capital. The site remained occupied after the decline of the Western Roman Empire and ultimately developed into the present-day city of York, in North Yorkshire, England.
The Abbey of St Mary is a ruined Benedictine abbey in York, England and a scheduled monument.
Fishergate is a street and surrounding area of York, England.
York has, since Roman times, been defended by walls of one form or another. To this day, substantial portions of the walls remain, and York has more miles of intact wall than any other city in England. They are known variously as York City Walls, the Bar Walls and the Roman walls. The walls are generally 13 feet (4m) high and 6 feet (1.8m) wide. They are the longest town walls in England.
The history of York, England, as a city dates to the beginning of the first millennium AD but archaeological evidence for the presence of people in the region of York dates back much further to between 8000 and 7000 BC. As York was a town in Roman times, its Celtic name is recorded in Roman sources ; after 400, Angles took over the area and adapted the name by folk etymology to Old English Eoforwīc or Eoforīc, which means "wild-boar town" or "rich in wild-boar". The Vikings, who took over the area later, in turn adapted the name by folk etymology to Norse Jórvík meaning "wild-boar bay", 'jór' being a contraction of the Old Norse word for wild boar, 'jǫfurr'. The modern Welsh name is Efrog.
The York Museum Gardens are botanic gardens in the centre of York, England, beside the River Ouse. They cover an area of 10 acres (4.0 ha) of the former grounds of St Mary's Abbey, and were created in the 1830s by the Yorkshire Philosophical Society along with the Yorkshire Museum which they contain.
St Saviourgate is a historic street in the city of York. St Saviour's Church was built here in the 11th-century, and the street was first mentioned in 1175, as "Ketmongergate", street of the flesh sellers.
Castlegate is a historic street in York, England, which leads to York Castle.
Blake Street is a road in the city centre of York, in England.
Walmgate is a street in the city centre of York, in England. During the Medieval period, the street was the site of a seafish and cattle market. Walmgate Bar was involved in the Siege of York in 1644, during the First English Civil War. During the 20th century, many of the older buildings were cleared away and newer structures put up.
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.
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.
Marygate is a street in York, England, running just north of the city centre. Built in the Middle Ages, it gets its name from St Mary's Abbey and the Viking word "gata," meaning street. The area where the street lies was outside the walls of the Roman city of Eboracum, and represented the northern limit of the settlement; to the north, the land was used only for burials. The street runs south-west, from Bootham, down to the River Ouse.
Monkgate is a street in York, North Yorkshire, running north-east from the city centre.
Lawrence Street is a road in York, in England, immediately south-east of the city centre.
Tanner Row is a street in the city centre of York, in England.