 The square in 2009, with artificial turf | |
 Location within York | |
| Former name(s) | Arkilltofts Thursday Market |
|---|---|
| Maintained by | City of York |
| Location | York, England, UK |
| Coordinates | 53°57′35″N1°04′55″W / 53.95965°N 1.08200°W |
| North | Finkle Street |
| East |
|
| South | Feasegate |
| West | Davygate |
St Sampson's Square is an open space, and former marketplace, in the city centre of York, England.
In the 12th-century, the area now occupied by the square was known as Arkilltofts, possibly named after Arnketil, a leading figure in the city around the time of the Norman Conquest. It was a large open space, occupying the south-eastern corner of the former Roman fortress. By 1130, it was owned by the royal larderer. At this time, he held responsibility for the sale of meat in the city, and a market gradually developed in the area. Initially, the site occupied around 10,000 square yards, although this has been reduced over time, as buildings encroached on the space, forming a square. [1]
By about 1250, the square was named Thursday Market, suggesting that, at the time, it hosted a market just one day a week. By the 14th-century, it was known in particular as a place to buy meat, although in the following century, only traders from outside the city could sell in the square, with York-based merchants instead confined to the nearby Shambles. The square was also the main location for the sale of fabric, and at times, baked goods, wool, candles, and certain other foodstuffs were also sold in the market. By the 16th-century, markets were held on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and in 1593, a Friday market was added for linen and other cloths. [2]
In 1421, the widow of John Brathwayt, a former Mayor of York, donated 20 marks for the construction of a market cross, and a guard house was later built alongside it. In 1704, Elizabeth Smith, who leased the square, obtained permission to demolish the cross, and in its place she built a small market hall, with a statue of George II. [2]
In 1765, a school was established in the upper chamber of the market hall, but it moved elsewhere in 1786. In 1818, the location became known as "St Sampson's Square", after St Sampson, Church Street, which can be seen from the square. [2] [3]
By the 1830s, the market had become overcrowded, and Parliament Street was constructed, linking the square with the city's other market, on Pavement, and a large market established along its length. The part of the market in St Sampson's Square continued to specialise in meat, until 1888, when it switched to selling fish. By 1852, there were seven inns around the square. [2] [3]
In 1955, the market stalls were moved to what is now Shambles Market, and the square became a car park. [2] It was pedestrianised in 1976, [4] and is now a popular location for festivals and seasonal markets. [5] Public toilets were a feature of the square for many years, but were closed in 2010 and demolished in 2019. [6]
The square is largely surrounded by buildings, with roads leading from its four corners: Feasegate leading from the southern corner, Davygate from the western, Finkle Street from the northern, and both Silver Street and Church Street from the eastern. Parliament Street leads south-east, and its broad entrance occupies half of the south-eastern side of the square. In addition, two snickelways connect to the square: Nether Hornpot Lane from the northern corner, and Three Cranes Lane from the middle of the north-eastern side. [3]
The north-western side of the square is dominated by Brown's department store, which was built in 1905, replacing several timber-framed houses. Further along, numbers 5 and 6 date from the 18th-century, and number 7 from the 16th-century. On the north-east side, the Roman Bath pub is noted for the remains of a Roman bath in its cellar, operated as a tourist attraction. The 18th-century Three Cranes Inn is the other surviving pub on the square, while number 12 is also listed. On the south-east side, 13 and 14 St Sampson's Square, and 15 St Sampson's Square are listed. On the south-west side, numbers 1 and 2 are listed, as is Melrose House at number 3, all 18th-century buildings. [3] [7]
The Shambles is a historic street in York, England, featuring preserved medieval buildings, some dating back as far as the fourteenth 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 now none remain.
Leicester City Centre is Leicester's historical commercial, cultural and transport hub and is home to its central business district. Its inner core is roughly delineated by the A594, Leicester's inner ring road, although the various central campuses of the University of Leicester, De Monfort University and Leicester College are adjacent to the inner ring road and could be considered to be a continuation of the City centre. In a similar way, the Leicester Royal Infirmary precinct, the New Walk business district (Southfields), the Welford Road Stadium of Leicester Tigers' RUFC and the King Power Stadium of Premier League Leicester City to the south, and the Golden Mile to the north could also be deemed to be extensions to the central core.
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.
The St Thomas More Roman Catholic Church, formerly Bradford-on-Avon Town Hall, is a place of worship in Market Street, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, England. The structure, which originally served as the local town hall, is a Grade II listed building.
Fishamble Street is a street in Dublin, Ireland within the old city walls.
Shambles Square is a square in Manchester, England, created in 1999 around the rebuilt Old Wellington Inn and Sinclair's Oyster Bar next to The Mitre Hotel.
Bath's city walls were a sequence of defensive structures built around the city of Bath in England. Roman in origin, then restored by the Anglo-Saxons, and later strengthened in the High medieval period, the walls formed a complete circuit, covering the historic core of the modern city, an area of approximately 23 acres (9.3 ha) including the Roman Baths and medieval Bath Abbey. In the present-day however, the walls have largely disappeared, though the route they took is evident from the street layout; one of the gates partially remains.
Market Square is an open air urban space in Warwick, Warwickshire, England. It has for many centuries been the centre of the town taking on a number of functions during its history.
The Roman Bath is a public house in St Sampson's Square, in the city of York, in England. It is built above an ancient Roman bath house. The remains were uncovered during building work when the present pub was erected in 1929–31 replacing an inn. The exterior has Tudor Revival features including applied half-timbering. The pub is however more notable for the Roman remains which can be viewed inside.
Pavement is a street in the city centre of York, in 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.
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.
Newgate is a street in the city centre of York, in England.
King's Square is an open area in the city centre of York, in England. It is popular with tourists, who are often entertained by buskers and street performers. Nikolaus Pevsner notes that "the square has trees, which distinguishes it". The York's Chocolate Story attraction lies on the western side of the square.
Church Street is a street in the city centre of York, in 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.
The Shambles Market is a daily market held in the city centre of York, in England. It was created in the 1950s after the clearance of a large area next to the Shambles, when large sections of the Shambles were demolished, including the entire street known as Little Shambles.
Holy Trinity Church, King's Court, also known as Christ Church, was a parish church in the city centre of York, in England.
Feasegate is a street in the city centre of York, in England.