Comments on: Paving, part 1: King’s Square

By: YorkStories

YorkStories — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:40:46 +0000

The response from English Heritage in the PDF I’ve linked to at the top is worth a read - R24 - starts on p15, bit about paving on p16: “It is not clear whether the proposal and its variations would be based upon the retention of the existing paving, or whether alternative stone paving would be used. We would advocate the retention of all of the present York stone paving and stone cobbled surfaces, along with the granite wheel tracks and the kerbstones”.

Of course the council have already approved the scheme to replace the paving, so it’s not really open to debate now, but just want to make sure we all notice and appreciate its handsomeness before it’s removed.

By: Mallory

Mallory — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:39:21 +0000

“a sense of place” is a phrase i’m sure i’ve picked up from this website.. i do like that phrase, and all my favorite nooks and crannies of york ooze “a sense of place”, redolent with age and lives lived before.

and that’s what will be lost when this square is “re-invigorated”. its apparent that those making these decisions, and those advising them, and those supporting them, just see a tired and scruffy square, whereas i can sense those who have lived their lives, traded, worshipped, all those echoes are present in this square.

all to be ripped away and replaced with characterless stone.

“insensitive” at best, “vandalism” at worst…

By: YorkStories

YorkStories — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 10:24:28 +0000

No you’re not in a minority Mallory, I’m sure.

Most people saw no need for the revamp at all, and Press comments suggest it’s unpopular.

By: Mallory

Mallory — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 10:09:04 +0000

Kings Square is gorgeous when its rained, thankyou for reminding me!

the new ‘revamp’ is little short of vandalism in my eyes, but i’m in a minority on this unfortunately…

By: YorkStories

YorkStories — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 09:47:58 +0000

That is fabulous Robert, thank you. Full of wonderful lines I’ll use for inspiration for ‘Paving, part 2′

By: Robert Wright

Robert Wright — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 09:32:40 +0000

Whenever I see a road like this it always reminds of the first few lines of Chesterton poem I’ve pasted below (ps - who needs straight, flat streets? Boulevards are for the French!)

Before the Roman came to Rye or out to Severn strode,
The rolling English drunkard made the rolling English road.
A reeling road, a rolling road, that rambles round the shire,
And after him the parson ran, the sexton and the squire;
A merry road, a mazy road, and such as we did tread
The night we went to Birmingham by way of Beachy Head.

I knew no harm of Bonaparte and plenty of the Squire,
And for to fight the Frenchman I did not much desire;
But I did bash their baggonets because they came arrayed
To straighten out the crooked road an English drunkard made,
Where you and I went down the lane with ale-mugs in our hands,
The night we went to Glastonbury by way of Goodwin Sands.

His sins they were forgiven him; or why do flowers run
Behind him; and the hedges all strengthening in the sun?
The wild thing went from left to right and knew not which was which,
But the wild rose was above him when they found him in the ditch.
God pardon us, nor harden us; we did not see so clear
The night we went to Bannockburn by way of Brighton Pier.

My friends, we will not go again or ape an ancient rage,
Or stretch the folly of our youth to be the shame of age,
But walk with clearer eyes and ears this path that wandereth,
And see undrugged in evening light the decent inn of death;
For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be seen,
Before we go to Paradise by way of Kensal Green.