Tuesday 21 February 2012

Mermaid out of Water


Stonegate is one of those streets that always has something interesting to look at. Join me for a guided tour of some of it's quirkier sights over the next few days. I thought we might start with this mid to late 17th century figure from the quarter gallery of a ship now attached to a shop. Being situated on the junction of Stonegate with Little Stonegate she was prone to damage in a rather sensitive area by lorries negotiating the tight corner. Restored by the Civic Trust in 1978 she can now rest a little easier as the street is pedestrianised.

6 comments:

  1. Its great that she is no long at risk from being hit by a lorry. In the Royal Navy in the time of sailing men of war the figurehead was usually carved by the ships carpenter and his mates.

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  2. She still looks to be keeping an eye for lurking danger!

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  3. Interesting - how does a ship end up in York?

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  4. She is lovely - glad she is now safe!

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  5. Chrissy, the River Ouse was tidal in the Middle Ages and York was a port city with a thriving merchant trade overseas. However a boat could be stranded for a fortnight in the city if a tide was missed at certain times in the year. York had a shipbuilding industry, it had more shipwrights – 69 – than anywhere else in the country in 1294. Hard to imagine today!

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  6. ...every picture tells a story. Very true in this case!

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