Ousegate

Last updated

Ousegate
Low Ousegate, York - panoramio.jpg
The view up Ousegate, from Ouse Bridge
Ousegate
Location within York
Location York, United Kingdom
Coordinates 53°57′28″N1°04′56″W / 53.9579°N 1.0821°W / 53.9579; -1.0821 Coordinates: 53°57′28″N1°04′56″W / 53.9579°N 1.0821°W / 53.9579; -1.0821
North east end
Major
junctions
South west end Ouse Bridge

Ousegate is a street in the city centre of York, in England. It is divided into High Ousegate and Low Ousegate.

Contents

The street forms part of the city's central shopping area. High Ousegate is pedestrianised, but Low Ousegate is a key transport route, busy with bus services. [1]

History

The area covered by the street lay outside the walls of Roman Eboracum, although archaeological evidence has been found of a bathhouse on the corner of Spurriergate, and temples to Hercules and the Emperor on the corner of Nessgate. Items associated with Viking Jorvik have also been found, but at this time, the area appears to have been a large open space. However, with the construction of the Ouse Bridge, Ousegate emerged as the route east from it. The street was first recorded in the 1120s, by which time the area appears to have become built up with houses, including at least one built of stone, and the churches of All Saints, Pavement and St Michael, Spurriergate. By the 14th-century, the street was known for its lorimers (makers and sellers of metalwork for bridles and other horse furniture) and spurriers. [2] [3]

In 1694, a major fire destroyed thirty houses on the street, and as a result, other than the churches, there are no remaining pre-1700 building on the street. Low Ousegate was very narrow until 1734, when its junction with Spurriergate was widened, while in 1769, the south-east side of the street was rebuilt further back, and in the 1810s, when Ouse Bridge was reconstructed, the part of the street near the bridge were raised, all the houses on the north-west side were demolished and rebuilt, along with some on the south-east side. [3]

In the Mediaeval period, the market on Pavement often overflowed into High Ousegate, while from 1727, a herb market was held on the street. A corn exchange was built on the south side of the street in 1926, but closed in 1946. Low Ousegate was the original location of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society. [2]

Layout and architecture

The view up Ousegate in 1813 Lower and High Ousegate.jpeg
The view up Ousegate in 1813

Low Ousegate runs north-east from Ouse Bridge, to its junction with Spurriergate and Nessgate. The snickelway Church Lane leads off its north-west side, while steps down to King's Staith lead off the south-east side. All the buildings from 4 to 14 Low Ousegate date from the rebuilding in the 1810s, and their design may have been loosely based on drawings by Peter Atkinson. These are followed by St Michael's Church. On the south-east side, numbers 1 to 7 were also rebuilt in the 1810s, although number 7 retains some 17th-century material, including panelling. Number 11 has 17th-century origins, while 13 was built in the early 18th-century. [3]

The line of the street continues as High Ousegate, which runs up to its junction with Coppergate, Parliament Street, Pavement and Piccadilly. Several snickelways lead off its north-west side, including Popes Head Alley, while a path on its south-east side leads to Coppergate. Notable buildings on the north-west side include 5 High Ousegate, built in 1743, and 11 to 15, all dating from the early-18th century rebuilding. On the south-east side, other than All Saints Church, notable buildings include 19, 20 and 21, all likely to be early-18th century, and 23-24 High Ousegate, a four-storey building dating from 1850. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bootham</span> Street and area of York, England

Bootham is a street in the city of York, in England, leading north out of the city centre. It is also the name of the small district surrounding the street.

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

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

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">Coppergate</span> Street in York, England

Coppergate is a street in the city centre of York, in England. The street runs north-east from the junction of Castlegate, Nessgate, King Street and Clifford Street, to end at the junction of Pavement, Piccadilly, Parliament Street and High Ousegate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King's Staith</span> Street in York, England

King's Staith is a street in the city centre of York, in England.

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

Micklegate is a street in the City of York, England. The name means "Great Street", "gate" coming from the Old Norse gata, or street.

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

Castlegate is a historic street in York, England, which leads to York Castle.

<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">North Street (York)</span> Street in York, England

North Street is a road in the city centre of York, in England.

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

Parliament Street is a major shopping street in the city centre of York, in England. It was the site of the city's main street market from 1836 to 1955, and was largely pedestrianised in the 1980s.

<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">Coney Street</span> Street in York, England

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.

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

Skeldergate is a street in the city centre of York, in England. The street is now primarily residential, with many of its warehouse buildings having been converted into apartments.

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

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

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

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

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

Clifford Street is a road in the city centre of York, in England.

<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">Monkgate</span> Street in York, England

Monkgate is a street in York, North Yorkshire running north-east from the city centre.

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

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

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

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

References

  1. "Character Area Eleven: Central Shopping Area". City of York Council. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  2. 1 2 A History of the County of York: the City of York. London: Victoria County History. 1961. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in City of York, Volume 5, Central. London: HMSO. 1981. Retrieved 7 August 2020.