DAY 170 - The Grand Old Duke of York

Sept 5 -  WHAT?  Only One day in York?

The city was founded by the Romans under the name of Eboracum in 71 AD.

                          

 In the 19th century, York became a hub of the railway network. It has been a major railway centre since the first line arrived in 1839 at the beginning of the railway age. So when we found out there was a FREE railroad museum, that was the first thing we went to see after stepping off the train.  Rich was just like a kid again - he took a tour around it while I guarded our backpacks and then I took a turn.  The following pictures are from our self-guided tours.

We never saw any fancy baths like this one

                            


The National Railway Museum includes over 300 years of history and 1,000,000 objects that changed the world in the UK's largest railway museum.

Pretty luxurious!

This was the mail room

I liked reading all the old signs that were around everywhere.

So many different kinds of trains - I was amazed!  Rich probably could tell you what all of these are, but he's never around when I'm putting the photos on the blog.

Of course, my grandsons would think Thomas was the BEST train!

Trevithick built the world's 1st railway locomotive 200 years ago.

 Following are some pretty funny posters made up from tickets and signs and advertisements.

 

 After the train museum, we walked through the town of York and came to York Minster.  It is not only Yorkshire's most important historic building, but also the largest medieval cathedral in all of Northern Europe.

The famous York Minster Cathedral

The first church on this spot was a wooden chapel built for the baptism of King Edwin of Northumbria on Easter Day 627; its location is marked in the crypt. It was replaced with a stone church that was built on the site of a Roman basilica, parts of which can be seen in the foundations. The first Norman minster was built in the 11th century; again, you can see surviving fragments in the foundations and crypt.
The present minster, built mainly from 1220 to 1480, manages to encompass all the major stages of Gothic architectural development. The transepts (1220−55) were built in Early English style; the octagonal chapter house (1260−90) and the nave (1291–1340) in the Decorated style; and the west towers, west front and central (or lantern) tower (1470−72) in Perpendicular style.

                                      



                                     

 Inside the cathedral we go for "Evensong".   Most churches in England have this where you can go in, attend a 30 minute church service with prayer and music.  Afterwards you can take a quick tour and take pictures and it's all for free.  Otherwise, you pay an admission charge.

I was glad to sit down after carrying our backpacks around with us all day.

                                       

The music featured a male choir with two counter-tenors.  It was VERY good.!

                                      

I spoke with one of the bishops afterwards - he was very nice.

What a beautiful church in a most historical setting.

                          


                           

Saint Michael Le Belfrey

The origin of the song has been debated for quite some time.

 Time to go tour the city.  Little Shambles is an old street in York, with overhanging timber-framed buildings, some dating back as far as the 14th century. It was once known as The Great Flesh Shambles, probably from theAnglo-Saxon Fleshammels (literally 'flesh-shelves'), the word for the shelves that butchers used to display their meat. As recently as 1872 there were 25 butchers' shops in the street but now there are none.

 Although the butchers have now vanished, a number of the shops on the street still have meat-hooks hanging outside and, below them, shelves on which meat would have been displayed. The shops currently comprise a mixture of eateries and souvenir shops, but there is also a bookshop and a bakery.

I loved Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit

The Yorkshire Terrier Brewery

 

St. Sampsons' Centre for "the Over 60's"

We had to eat the famous "Fish & Chips".  Don't forget the vinegar &

 and mushy peas

The "Golden Lion Pub"

Wandering down the cool old street with fun shops!

Interesting architecture - only 600 years old!

Psychic shops along here.

"Chocolate Heaven" store up ahead!

It's so hard to get used to the English driving on the wrong side of the road - ha!

"Duttons for Buttons" shop

A very cool restaurant right next door.

A river flows through the middle of most all European cities.

 We finally make it to our host's house - Heather is a single lady who has accepted us for the night.

She has a cute little bike in her front entry.

We have our own room for the night.

 Heather takes us on a walk to see her garden and then we go to a typical English Pub.

She takes us to her little garden spot and community garden.

The "Girl's Entrance" to a historic old school.

                           

 Too bad we didn't get any pictures of the inside or of the band.  It was an old house that had been converted to a very popular pub.  A very interesting experience!

More adventures lie ahead as we continue our journey of the United Kingdom.  Off to Scotland we go!