Hudson Quarter revisit

New brick-built apartment blocks framed by archway

Hudson Quarter, through city walls arch, 7 May 2021

Late in the day yesterday the sun came out and I was pleased to be able to get out for a quick walk into town. I wanted to have a look at 2 Rougier Street, but on the way got distracted by the Hudson Quarter development.

I wrote about it back in January, but at that point there were still barriers around the site and people working on it. All completed now it seems.

Brick buildings lit by warm evening sun, blue sky behind

Blue sky and brickwork

Down here in the old railway cutting the new brick buildings rising out of it catch the evening light in a way that the drab dark concrete of Hudson House didn’t.

Around the new buildings there’s new landscaping, paving, bike racks.

It all looked very new and clean. Enhancing the impression of newness and cleanness was the particularly noticeable and pleasant woody smell of chipped bark, recently laid around the planted areas, damp from the recent rain.

There’s a courtyard garden, with a path wending through it. This was gated when I visited but may be open during the day for public access through the site. (I thought this was the plan, though it might have changed.)

Newly planted courtyard, through metal gate

Courtyard garden

No one about down here, on this Friday evening. Not much sign of occupation at the moment. I was glad about this, as it made it easier to stand around for a while and look at it, and take some photos.

I stood for a while on the access road alongside, where the hefty wall on the left reminds us of the cutting in to the landscape of the city’s earlier railway station.

View along road, by new buildings

Access road by Hudson Quarter, looking towards war memorial

I hadn’t noticed, until looking at these photos back at home, that the road area here has a new surface. As you’d expect, it’s generally smartened up. More on that shortly, from a different perspective.

We’re heading back up to street level now, back through the arch in the city wall, over Queen Street bridge, then to the higher level of the walls walk.

Elegant archway frames functional bridge

Arch in city walls, with Queen Street bridge beyond

… And here’s how it looks once you’re up on the city walls, near the corner after Micklegate Bar, looking towards Lendal Bridge and the Minster. Or, more precisely, how it looked in bright sunlight, on an evening in early May.

Elevated view of new brick-built apartment blocks

Hudson Quarter from walls

As before, there’s a gap between Hudson Quarter and its (also quite modern) neighbouring building. In the photo below we’re looking over to the street known as Toft Green, and the blue signs on the front of Transit Motorcycles, and again the change in levels is clear.

Buildings old and new

Looking across to Toft Green, Hudson Quarter on the left

A little further along, at the end of the Hudson Quarter development, there’s still an important ‘gap’/view, which I’m glad hasn’t been lost as this area has been redeveloped. Behind the more recent buildings we can still see the older ones, on part of Micklegate, including Holy Trinity church, shining on the horizon, as these historic churches do.

Church tower on horizon, modern developments in foreground

Through to Micklegate – with Holy Trinity church visible

(Whereas the hotel building to the left … particularly baffled by the grey part. Even in the beautiful light of a May evening it looks odd/ugly? Whatever light I’ve seen it in, and from whatever perspective I’ve seen it from, it’s looked wrong in this setting, to me.)

I’ve been looking at some comparison views, the old Hudson House (demolished) and Hudson Quarter, replacing it. These can be found on this page.

….

As I reconnect again with the charms and changes of this city/my hometown, where everything is connected, and every bit of curiosity and research leads to something else, and one thing leads to another, and more words are gathered together, I’ve really appreciated your virtual coffees, and the kind and thoughtful comments added. Thank you.

About Lisa @YorkStories

Lisa @YorkStories is the creator, administrator, and writer of content on www.yorkstories.co.uk. She can be contacted on this link or via Twitter, @YorkStories
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