Fossgate

Last updated

Fossgate
Fossgate, looking north - geograph.org.uk - 1155867.jpg
View north on Fossgate, from Foss Bridge
Fossgate
Location within York
Location York, United Kingdom
Coordinates 53°57′30″N1°04′43″W / 53.9584°N 1.0786°W / 53.9584; -1.0786
North west end
South east end Walmgate
A sign at the north entrance Fossgate Sign.jpg
A sign at the north entrance

Fossgate is a street in the city centre of York, in England.

Contents

History

The street is believed to follow the line of a Roman road leading south-east out of Eboracum. Although it lay outside the Roman walls, it is known that there was a civilian settlement in the area. There is no evidence of occupation in the Anglian period, but in Scandinavian Jorvik, it was fully built up, mostly for industrial and commercial uses. [1]

The street was first mentioned in about 1130. In the Medieval period, it fell within the parish of St Crux, and that church was sometimes regarded as lying on the street, although it was entered from Pavement. In 1295, the York Carmelite Friary was built to the east of the street, and it was entered from a gateway near the Pavement end of Fossgate. In 1357, the Merchant Adventurer's Hall was built, set back from the street. Many of the boundaries between building plots also date from this period. [2] [1] [3]

In 1590, a cattle market was established on the street, held every second Thursday, and from 1632, an annual cattle fair was also held. By the 19th-century, it was being held further out of town. In 1663, the St Crux Parish Almshouse was built on the street, but it was demolished in 1935. [3] Most of the buildings on the street were repeatedly reconstructed from the 17th- to the 19th-century, and the street was widened in 1812. A brewery operated on the street. [1]

By the 19th-century, Fossgate was regarded as one of the poorer streets in the city, and the York's Chartist Association Room was on Straker's Passage, just off the street. A Methodist Sunday school was built in 1822, and the following year, it also became an infants' school, closing in 1853. [3]

With the decline of trade along the River Foss in the 20th-century, Fossgate became less important. It is currently lined with independent shops, pubs and restaurants. [1]

Layout and architecture

The north-east side of Fossgate, looking south Fossgate, York (2572972877).jpg
The north-east side of Fossgate, looking south

The street runs south-east, from the junction of Pavement, Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate and Stonebow, to Foss Bridge over the River Foss. Beyond the river, it continues as Walmgate. Lady Peckett's Yard, a snickelway, runs off the south-west side of the street, while Straker's Passage and Franklin's Yard run off its north-east side. [2]

Notable buildings on the north-east side include the 17th-century 8 Fossgate; the timber-framed 15 and 16 Fossgate, built about 1600; and the former Electric Cinema, the city's first purpose-built cinema. On the south-west side lie 35 Fossgate, built in about 1815 as the King's Arms; the tiny Blue Bell pub; 55-56 Fossgate, built in 1796; and the 17th-century gatehouse to the Merchant Adventurer's Hall, with the hall itself hidden behind. [2] [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bridges of York</span> Bridges over the Ouse and Foss in York, England

There are nine bridges across the River Ouse and eighteen smaller bridges and passages across the narrower River Foss within the city of York, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishergate</span> Street in York, England

Fishergate is a street and surrounding area of York, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">York city walls</span> Grade I listed urban defence in 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate</span> Street in York, England

Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate is a street in York, England, known for its short length and unusual name. A continuation of Colliergate, it runs south to meet Pavement, Fossgate, and the Stonebow, a distance of perhaps 80 feet (24 m), and is adjoined by St Saviourgate on its eastern side. St Crux Parish Hall, originally one of York's medieval churches, backs onto it.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Layerthorpe</span> Suburb of York, England

Layerthorpe is a part of the city of York in, North Yorkshire, England. It is outside the city walls of York. The road through Layerthorpe from the bridge over the River Foss to Heworth is also shares the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Place des Terreaux</span> Square in Lyon, France

The Place des Terreaux is a square located in the centre of Lyon, France, on the Presqu'île between the Rhône and the Saône rivers, at the foot of the hill of La Croix-Rousse in the 1st arrondissement. It borders both the Hôtel de Ville and Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon. The square belongs to the zone classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

York and its district, the City of York, has many distinct localities, suburbs and villages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">York Carmelite Friary</span>

York Carmelite Friary was a friary in York, North Yorkshire, England, that was established in about 1250, moved to its permanent site in 1295 and was surrendered in 1538.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stonegate (York)</span> Street in York, England

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sir Thomas Herbert's House</span> Grade I listed building in York, England

Sir Thomas Herbert's House, often known as Herbert House, is a Grade I listed building in York, dating from the 16th and 17th centuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pavement (York)</span> Street in York, England

Pavement is a street in the city centre of York, in England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piccadilly (York)</span> Street in York, England

Piccadilly is a street in the city centre of York, in England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walmgate</span> Street in York, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petergate</span> Street in York, England

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".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawrence Street (York)</span> Street in York, England

Lawrence Street is a road in York, in England, immediately south-east of the city centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peasholme Green</span> Street in York, England

Peasholme Green is a street on the eastern edge of the city centre of York, in England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Red Lion, York</span> Grade II listed pub in York, England

The Red Lion is a pub in the city centre of York, in England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Watergate Inn</span> Grade II listed pub in York, England

The Watergate Inn is a historic pub in the city centre of York, in England.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Character area 15: Fossgate and Walmgate". City of York Council. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in City of York, Volume 5, Central. London: HMSO. 1981. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 A History of the County of York: the City of York. London: Victoria County History. 1961. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  4. Pevsner, Nikolaus (1995). Yorkshire: York and the East Riding. Yale University Press. p. 228. ISBN   0300095937.