Railway Snicket

Here the snicket passes underneath the York to Scarborough railway line. Not too far to go now before journeys end.

Bootham Terrace

Next the snicket trail crosses Bootham Parade. One of the larger Victorian terraced houses here will set you back around £7-800,000 if you wish to live on this elegant tree lined street. Many of theses houses are now divided into flats which cost rather less to buy. You also need to like trains as it overlooks the York-Scarborough railway line.

Just One Street

The snicket passes the end of North Parade a typical Edwardian terraced street in York. In 2011 a resident of the street Elizabeth Sandie published a book called Just one Street comparing the lives of the first residents of these houses with those living there now. A warmly recommended and fascinating piece of social history of which you can learn more by following the link.

Snicket Cat

Here the snicket crosses a  typical back lane complete with 'alley cat' as we get closer to the city. This cat was acting very cool considering two boisterous dogs were chasing down the snicket behind me.

Snicket Bridge

To allow the pupils of St Peter's School to pass unhindered across the public right of way that is the snicket, they have built what else but a snicket bridge.

Past St Peter's School

As we progress closer to the city the snicket passes across land owned by St Peter's School. Whether the railings are there to protect the school from the public or vice versa I couldn't say!

O is for Over the road and back down the snicket

Leaving Clifton Green (and St George) behind it is time head down the second part of Clifton long snicket past the trailing ivy leaves and on towards the centre of the city.

Taking part in ABC Wednesday

St George's Day

Today is St George's Day and I have interrupted the snicket tour to offer a picture of the man himself slaying a dragon. This fine example of embroidery and beyond is courtesy once again of York Minster Broderers Guild.
Taking part in CDP theme day, click here to see the others.

Clifton Green

The Green is a triangle of grass and trees surrounded by a range of imposing looking houses. Although the roads around it are often busy it can be surprisingly pleasant to sit on the seats here and watch the world go by.

Clifton Cottages

The snicket runs between the side of the smart looking green and white cottage and the brick wall. We have to emerge from the narrow lanes here for a short while and cross over the busy road of Clifton Green.

Getting narrower

 

Well the snicket is certainly stretching out ahead in a long straight Roman line on this sunny morning. By now I have been joined by a young dog who is fenced in the garden next to the path, and he is barking very enthusiastically as he races along next to me.

Hidden Entrance

Here is the start of the 'green lane' from Clifton to the city centre hidden away at the end of an unpromising looking cul-de-sac. We could just walk down Bootham into town, but this looks fun and has been used as a route into York since Roman times.

Longest Snicket

 

I decided  to take a walk down the long snicket from Shipton Road to the Museum Gardens recently. The route runs for around a mile through the back lanes and although I often walk part of it, it has been many years since I walked the length of it. It took me a few minutes to find the start which is near Clifton Parish Church, fancy coming along for a stroll?

N is for Not Quite Finished Yet

As work continues on the 5 year restoration of the great East Window of the Minster much of the stonework is also being replaced. The Stonemasons have set up shop (well lodge actually) close to the window and their tools and materials are a source of interest to most passers-by, even when they are not working. The little Bichon out for a walk seems much more interested in what I am doing however! 
Taking part in ABC Wednesday

Father Time

 

Interesting choice of figure for a weather vane. Father Time with his hour glass and scythe taking the bails off the stumps after the last ball has been bowled. Wonder if this building was built on an old cricket ground?

A closer look at yesterday

Well Chrissy was closest with Joker, although Juggler was the J I had in mind!

I spy with my little eye something beginning with J...

Cumberland Street leads down to the River Ouse and usually only features in the blog when the water advances up the street. Plenty of entertainment to be had down here with a choice of pubs and bars, York Dungeon, and The Grand Opera House. The Dungeon was badly affected by flood water this year and has been closed for a refit but is now back in business.. Have you spotted the J****** yet?

A closer look.......

at the tower from yesterdays post shows a couple of Greylag Geese feeding amongst the daffodils.

Daffodil Delight

I was in town earlier this week before Cliffords tower had opened up for the day. One or two keen visitors were already queuing up for a look around. All those tiny yellow dots are daffodils, honestly!

Cafe Window

This cafe on Castlegate likes flowers, and dogs. The dog on his Penny Farthing is chained to the windowsill. Very wise, no bike should be left unchained in the city centre!

M is for Mansion House

The building at the back of St Helen's square is the Mansion House, residence of the Lord Mayor of York and his family. The Mayor is elected annually with the Mayor making ceremony sheduled for May this year.
In 1723 a Public House (what else!) called the Cross Keys was sited here. By 1725 work had begun on building a town house fit for the first citizen to entertain visitors to the city. This was the first Mansion House in England pre-dating that in London by some ten years.
The building is cleverly designed and although only two storeys high inside looks much larger from the outside.
Taking part in ABC Wednesday

Pope's Head Alley

At 80cm wide this is one of the narrowest and darkest streets in York, although it does have the old fashioned lantern often seen in ginnels. Today it was sunlit and had red balloons lighting up the end of the tunnel. The origin of the name is unknown to me, although I would hazard a guess that it had something to do with a Public House. The York historian Francis Drake makes a brief mention of it in his history of the city 'Eboracum'. It is a favourite haunt of the many ghost walks in the city.

Coffee Yard Letterbox

This letterbox is set into a wall in Coffee Yard just opposite the stocks in yesterdays post. How is your Latin? Highlight between the brackets (There is no place like home) for one possible translation

Coffee Yard Stocks

These stocks are not original but they do work and are occasionally used, usually to generate money for charity. They can be found outside Barley Hall in the quaintly named street of Coffee Yard.

Door Detail

This well worn door can be found inside Micklegate Bar but the little metal head is a puzzle. I can't decide if it is human or animal! It looks like a tiny door knocker but many years of paint make that difficult to know as well.

St Martins Lane

St Martins Lane is a typical narrow York back street paved with setts. A 2 bedroom flat in the modern building on the right costs around £150,000. If you were to walk across the street into the very pleasant Ackhorne pub on the left a pint of well kept real ale would be around £3.20

King of the Castle

This young second winter Herring Gull is King of the Castle, the feral pigeons look like they are keeping a wary eye on him for obvious reasons!.

L is for Lendal

This is the view looking up Lendal from just inside the Museum Gardens. An unusual name for a street it is probably derived from its close proximity to St Leonards Hospital. Prior to becoming known as Lendal it was called Aldeconyngstrete or Old Coney Street.
Taking part in ABC Wednesday

Fishergate Bar

According to the legend above the gateway Fishergate Bar was built in 1487. The blackened stone on the underside of the arch was caused by a fire in 1489 when the gates of the bar were set alight during the Peasants revolt against Henry VII. The Bar was bricked up shortly after and not re-opened until 1834.

Any Pedestrian....

....crossing Museum Street on a Saturday morning has to be prepared to move fast between the cars if they choose not to cross at the lights.