City Walls from Gray's Court

Lions rampant gaurd the entrance to the garden at Gray's Court behind the Treasurer's House looking towards the city walls.

Gray's Court - Ogleforth

One of the city centre hidden areas just behind the Treasurer's House Ogleforth entrance is the yard of Gray's Court. They have recently opened a tea rooms and created a stairway down from the walls onto the lawn where you can take tea at your leisure on a sunny day or wend your way inside the historic house if it is a wet day.

Bracket Clock - Blake Street

This clock hangs above an employment agency in Blake Street opposite the Assembly Rooms. The word HOUSE on the face of the clock refers to the previous occupants of the building; House & Sons an electrical retailer and repairer. The Mediaeval timber framed origins of the building are well disguised with a brick facade having been added during Georgian times. House and Sons started in Stonegate in 1903 and moved into Blake Street in 1924. They also had a shop in Goodramgate with premises that ran back into Ogleforth where their registered office was at number 4. The business closed in autumn of 2004 as competition in the electrical business became cut-throat and margins declined.

Monk Bar

Just round the corner from Ogleforth is the magnificent Monk Bar. Just to confuse everday English speakers in York the gates into the city are known as bars and the word gate incorporated into a street name derives from the Norse for street. Monk Bar stands at the end of Goodramgate which translates as the Street of Goodrun. I have heard it called Good-Ram-Gate by an American Tourist with a distinct pause between each word!

Ogleforth - The Dutch House

This little architectural gem is about to be swamped by a block of flats. Granting of planning permission for the block by the council is considered an act of wanton disregard of the historic feel of Ogleforth. The Dutch house is on the front left of this view along Ogleforth from Goodramgate.

More Ogleforth - Cromwell House

Ogleforth is a short street but it is full of interesting buildings. Cromwell House used to be the home of "The York Archaelogical Trust. York Archaeological Trust has moved to 47 Aldwark

Ogleforth

Time to continue round the corner from Chapter House Street after having returned from SE Asia and recovered from my illness I have found the enthusiasm to continue this blog.

Continuing along the cobbled street you turn the corner from Chapter House Street into the strangely named street Ogleforth. I have heard of two possible origins of the street name. One is that it is Scandinavian in origing and means "the ford haunted by an owl" the other that it derives from somebody named "Ugel". Whatever the origin Ogleforth is an interesting street and well worth having a look at. It is also the home of York Archaeological Trust.

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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