Follow The Foss -3 - Piccadily to Rowntree Wharf

Staying beside the Foss is impossible for the next stretch and requires a slightly complicated but interesting detour via the Merchant Adventurer's Hall (if closed go via Merchantgate and turn left into Fossgate over Foss Bridge and past the Blue Bicycle) Straker's Passage and the back of the telephone exchange.

Once into Piccadily cross the road to view the Foss behind the former FR Stubbs ironmongers shop

Turn to your left and go down the stairs into the garden of the Merchant Adventurer's Hall following the path to the left away from the river.

 

Exit the grounds into Fossgate where on a slight diagonal to the left you will find Straker's Passage on the other side of the road. Enter the passageway.

At the end of the passageway turn right along the back of the telephone exchange.

At the end of the building turn left and then take the next turn to the right to take you back to the river. On your right you will pass a pleasant riverside seating area. On reaching the riverside turn to your left to face upstream and towards the Rowntree Wharf building which is gained via the stairs and bridge over the river.

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Straker's Passage - Fossgate

I couldn't decide which of these two photos to use so I ended up using both! Straker's Passage runs from Fossgate to the back of the telephone exchange where you can link with Black Horse Passage or continue to the right around the end of the telephone exchange into Hungate. The area around Black Horse passage had a disreputable reputation with numerous pubs and brothels and was demolished during WWI and the Stonebow road driven through.

Foss Upstream from Blue Bicycle

I was tempted to stand on the pedals of the Blue Bicycle parked outside the Blue Bicycle in Fossgate for this shot but ended up taking the shot through the decorative spindles of the bridge. The willow tree is in the small park behind the telephone exchange and you can just make out the top of the Rowntree Wharf building just off centre.

Fossgate Bridge over River Foss

River Foss looking particularly blue when looking from the Merchant Adventurers in Piccadily towards the Blue Bicycle. The tall monolith in the background is the telephone exchange.

River Foss towards Fossgate Bridge

The large brick building in the right hand foreground is the "Shambles" car park. That is a very imaginative name as it is a few minutes walk from the car park to the Shambles. I am sure that a more suitable name could have been derived for it like Exchange Wharf as it stands next to the telephone exchange and would help people to find it after wandering around the city instead of coming out of the Shambles and wondering where it has gone or being directed to the Shambles when they ask where it is located!

Behind Fossgate - Closer to the bridge

This is from the same area as yesterday's photo but viewed from the end of the brick terracing beside the River Foss by the telephone exchange but closer to the bridge. The white building on the right is the Blue Bucycle restaurant.

Behind Fossgate

This tranquil little haven is situated behind Fossgate next to the River Foss to one side of the telephone exchange.