York’s first Minster
York’s first minster church was a small wooden affair, built during the reign of King Edwin of Deira, following his conversion by the Gregorian missionary Paulinus in 626AD. Famously described …
Alma Sophia, Minster Yard
The Anglo-Saxon scholar Alcuin describes how he and the then Archbishop of York – Eanbald – built a church in honour of the previous Archbishop – Ælberht. Dedicated to Holy Wisdom (Alma …
The Royal Oak, Goodramgate
Dating back to the 15th Century, there has probably been a structure on the site of the Royal Oak since Viking Times. One of York’s oldest pubs, it was a …
St Sampson’s, Church Street
Located in the heart of York, the building stands over part of the Roman city wall. And within the boundary of its churchyard, a fragment of cross-shaft was found built …
St Mary’s Lodge
Built in 1470, the lodge, next to St Olave’s Church, was the main entrance into the abbey. It was here that abbey guests would rest and where the poor could …
Bedern Hall
Dating from the 14th century, Bedern Hall was the refectory, or dining hall, for York Minster’s choristers. Known as Vicars Choral, there were 36 of them. A bridge, now destroyed, …
Barley Hall
Hidden behind a modern office block façade until the 1980s, the oldest parts of Barley Hall date from 1360, when it was built as a townhouse for Nostell Priory, the …
Gray’s Court
Grays Court is possibly the oldest continuously occupied house in the United Kingdom. Dating back in part to 1080 and commissioned by the first Norman Archbishop of York to provide …
Mulberry Hall
The name Mulberry Hall has been applied to this site since 1372. It was the house and grounds of the Bishop of Chester. Some of the current building dates from …
Lady Row
Dating from the 1320s, they were built for the Minster’s priests. The cottages are notable for their overhangs where the upper floors project into the street beyond the lower floors. …
St Leonard’s hospital
St Leonard’s was the largest medieval hospital in England and cared for the ill and infirm of York. Originally founded as St Peter’s hospital in 936, it once consisted of …
5 College Street
A ghostly child has been seen staring out of the window in the upper floor of this ancient building. According to legend, her parents contracted plague and the family was …