Bicycles Outside Goodricke College

Because York is fairly flat many people in York own a bicycle. It must be said though that there are not as many cycles on the road as there used to be. The lunchtime exodus of pedestrians and cyclists from the Rowntree factory in Haxby Road used to be a tourist attraction years ago with tourists taking up a startegic position near the dining block to watch as people came pouring out of the factory. Nowadays there is not this spectacle as automation has reduced the number of workers and car ownership has risen amongst those remaining.

I was impressed with the number of cycles outside Goodricke College and felt it was worthy of a photograph. Goodricke College is named after John Goodricke a famous astronomer who lived in York at the Treasurer's House next to the Minster in the late 1700s.

Treasurers House - Chapter House Street

The Treasurers House is one of the historic properties in York maintained by the National Trust. Entrance to the house is via Chapter House Street a narrow cobbled street unsuitable for large heavy vehicles. You can get into Chapter House Street either from Ogleforth or the south end of the Minster near St Williams College. A third option is to gain access via the Dean's Park, entering near the north end of the Minster from Petergate by the Purey Cust hospital. Originally the building was made to house the Treasurers of York Minster, hence the name. The house was built over the ruins of a Roman Road and it is said that you can see the ghosts of a Roman legion marching through the cellars of the house. Because the Roman Road is lower than the floor of the cellar you only see the legion from the knees upward. You can read more of the details about the history of the house and find out about things like opening times and admission prices by using the Treasurers House link.

Watch out for this plaque commemorating John Goddricke an important figure in the history of astronomy. One the colleges of York university "Goodricke College" also commemorates his name. The plaque can be found on the outside wall overlooking the small street between Treasurers House and the Minster.

This is the ornate entranceway into Treasurers House located in Chapter House Street, seen here in the early morning before opening for the public.

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