![]() View south on Coney Street, from St Helen's Square | |
![]() Location within York | |
Location | York, United Kingdom |
---|---|
Coordinates | 53°57′33″N1°05′03″W / 53.9592°N 1.0841°W |
North west end | St Helen's Square |
Major junctions | New Street |
South east end |
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 Judges 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. [1] [2]
The street was first established in the Roman Eboracum period, running parallel to and outside the city's south-western wall. At the time, the city's bridge over the River Ouse lay at its northern end. Excavations have located remains of a 1st-century grain warehouse on the south-west side of the street. By 980, the first Ouse Bridge had been constructed, further south, but the street remained important, traffic reaching the bridge from the north along it. [1] [2]
The street was first recorded in about 1150, as "Cuningstrete", the King's Street. The use of "street" rather than "gate" suggests that the name dates from the Anglian period, and two coin hoards from the period were found in the 1760s. By 1150, the road was considered to run all the way from Ousegate to what is now St Helen's Square, the part which is now Spurriergate sometimes distinguished as "Little Coney Street", while Lendal was regarded as a northern extension, named Old Coney Street. St Martin le Grand, on the street, was recorded in the Domesday Book, and unlike most streets in York, Coney Street was divided between parishes: St Martin Le Grand; St Michael, Spurriergate; and St Helen, Stonegate. [1] [2]
In the 12th century, Coney Street was known for its Jewish population, with its residents including Aaron of York, considered the wealthiest Jew in England. It also housed York's synagogue. In 1190, the Jews of York were massacred, and many of their houses were burned down. [1] In 1279, after the Jews had been expelled from England, Roger Basy and John Sampson were granted their former property on Coney Street. [3] [4]
In 1308, Coney Street was described as the most important street in York. In 1335, a row of houses were built in the churchyard of St Martin; almost entirely rebuilt on several occasions, the last remains survived until 1958. In 1396, the Gild of St Christopher Maison Dieu almshouse was constructed on the street, and in 1459, York Guildhall was built next to it, at the northern end of the street. York Mansion House was built in front of it in 1725, and in 1782 the area in front of it was cleared to create St Helen's Square. [1]
Four of the locations at which the historic York Mystery Plays were performed lay the street. [1]
The Bull Inn was built in the 15th century, which from 1459 was the only place in the city at which foreigners could stay. The George Inn opened on the street in 1614, becoming the city's most prominent coaching inn. Soon after, the Black Swan was built on the other side of the street, a large inn which could stable 130 horses. In 1691, the Bagnio Turkish bath was built just off the street. [1] This was later converted into St Peter's School, and then a printing house where the first edition of Tristram Shandy was published. [2]
During the 18th century, the street became known for banking. It also became the home of the York Courant newspaper, and later, of the Yorkshire Evening Post and Yorkshire Herald. The street's continuing importance led to it being widened in 1769, and again in 1841. [1]
During the 19th century, the street became lined with shops, noted businesses including the House of Bewlay tobacconist, Burgin's perfumery, and the Leak & Thorp department store. [5] Clothing shops were particularly prominent, including Iles, R. W. Anderson & Sons, and, later, Burton's. There were also major grocers' stores: Borders' and Lipton's. In 1924, The Leopard Inn was demolished, and replaced by the Leopard Arcade, a small shopping centre, but it was destroyed by bombing in 1942. [1]
The Ebor Hall entertainment venue was built just off the street in the 1860s, while there were also several pubs. In 1915, the Picture House cinema opened, while in 2000, the City Screen cinema opened. The Willow Cafe was another long-running entertainment venue, opening in the 1950s and surviving until the 2010s, at which time it was a nightclub. [1]
During the 20th century, an increasing number of the shops were taken over by national chains. Boots opened in 1919, Woolworth's in 1924, and W. H. Smith's in 1920. The Black Swan was eventually demolished and replaced by a large shop, which became BHS. Despite the closure of several shops in the 2010s, the street remains home to a mix of High Street shops and cafes, while numerous buskers perform throughout the day. [1] [6] The musician Chris Helme was discovered while busking on the street. [7]
While the street retains numerous historic buildings, most have had their street-level frontage rebuilt during the 20th century. Notable buildings on the north-east side include the 15th-century 16–22 Coney Street, 24 Coney Street which was built about 1600 but includes part of an earlier building, the early-18th century Judges Court hotel, and 36–42 Coney Street, dating from the 1780s. 48 Coney Street was built for Boots, in a mock timber framed style, while the former Burtons at 52 Coney Street is in the art deco style. On the south-west side lie the early 18th-century 3–7, 9, and 13 Coney Street, the last incorporating part of a Mediaeval wall by the Ouse. 15 Coney Street is the former York Courant office, built around 1800, while 17 Coney Street includes one surviving column from the George Inn. 29 and 31 Coney Street dates from about 1600, while 33 and 39 Coney Street both date from the 18th century. [8] [9]
The Shambles is a historic street in York, England, featuring preserved medieval buildings, some dating back as far as the 14th century. The street is narrow, with many timber-framed buildings with jettied floors that overhang the street by several feet. It was once known as The Great Flesh Shambles, probably from the Anglo-Saxon Fleshammels, the word for the shelves that butchers used to display their meat. In 1885, thirty-one butchers' shops were located along the street, but none remain today.
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.
Micklegate is a street in the City of York, England. The name means "Great Street", "gate" coming from the Old Norse gata, or street.
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.
Market Street is a road in the city centre of York, in England.
Castlegate is a historic street in York, England, which leads to York Castle.
North Street is a road in the city centre of York, in England.
St Sampson's Square is an open space, and former marketplace, in the city centre of York, England.
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.
Lendal is a street in the city centre of York, in England.
Blake Street is a road in the city centre of York, in England.
Museum Street is a road in the city centre of York, in England.
Spurriergate is a short street in the city centre of York, in 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".
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.
New Street is a road in the city centre of York, in England.
Swinegate is a street in the city centre of York, in England.