Understanding York Through Its Street Names
York’s street names are more than directions on a map. This collection explores what York’s street names can teach us about the history of York and the people who lived here.
Why Do So Many Streets in York End in Gate?
York has a lot of Street Names ending in gate. Goodramgate. Micklegate. Fossgate. Coppergate. Walmgate. Most people assume these streets must once have led to gates in the city walls. It seems like a reasonable explanation, but it’s not the right one.
What Do Street Names Reveal About Viking York?
Some of the most visible evidence of York’s Viking past is hiding in plain sight. It can be found on street signs. Street names are not simply old names. They’re clues to a period when Scandinavian settlers helped shape the city that exists today.
Goodramgate: What This Street Name Reveals About Viking York
Hidden within this name is a clue to York’s Viking past. Goodramgate is more than a street. It is a reminder that traces of Viking York still survive in everyday life.
Fossgate: What This Street Name Reveals About York’s Rivers
Fossgate preserves an important clue to understanding how York developed. Goodram was the name of a person, Foss is the name of a river. And that river helped shape the history of York.
Coppergate: What This Street Name Reveals About Trade and Craftsmanship in York
Goodram was the name of a person, Foss is the name of a river, Coppergate tells us York depended not only on kings, churches, and merchants, but also on skilled workers