Micklegate

Micklegate is a street in the City of York, England. The name means "Great Street", "gate" coming from the Old Norse gata, or street.[1] Micklegate lies on the western side of the River Ouse, Yorkshire, and holds the southern entrance into the city, Micklegate Bar, through which many monarchs have entered.[2] 114 Micklegate was the birthplace of the architect J. A. Hansom, who invented the hansom cab.[3] The lower section was built in the 12th century while the top storeys in the 14th. At least six reigning monarchs passed through this gate.[4] A restoration of the Bar was completed in late 2017.[5]

The southern entrance to York, Micklegate Bar

It became famous for its pubs and clubs, being known as "The Micklegate Run" by many drinkers and club-goers in the late 20th century.

Following the Battle of Wakefield, a battle during the Wars of the Roses, the heads of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York (father of Edward IV and Richard III), Edmund, Earl of Rutland (another son of Richard) and Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury were displayed on Micklegate Bar.[6]

Micklegate Bar once had a barbican or outer gateway in front of it, which became ruinous and was demolished in 1826. The two doorways to the top of the barbican can be seen in the photo above right.

The Henry VII Experience at Micklegate Bar (formerly known as the Micklegate Bar Museum), is located in the southern gatehouse.[7]

Electoral ward

Micklegate lends its name to an electoral ward within the City of York which includes the area inside the city walls south of the River Ouse as well as the neighbourhoods of Clementhorpe, South Bank, and Nunthorpe, and extends across the Knavesmire as far south as the York By-Pass road.[8]

References
  1. Ross G. Arthur, "English-Old Norse Dictionary", In Parentheses, 2001
  2. York Museums Trust, "Joseph Aloysius Hansom", History of York, retrieved 11 November 2011
  3. York Museums Trust, "Micklegate Bar", History of York, retrieved 11 November 2011
  4. http://www.historyofyork.org.uk/themes/norman/micklegate-bar
  5. http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/15547594.Micklegate_Bar_to_reopen_soon/
  6. York Archaeological Trust, "Micklegate Bar Factsheet 2" Archived 25 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Micklegate Bar, retrieved 11 November 2011
  7. "Henry VII Experience at Micklegate Bar". Visit York. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  8. "Micklegate Ward". City of York Council. 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.