Baines’ York directory of 1823 includes, among its listing of streets and lanes, yards and courts in York, the following places. As far as I know, none of these still exist, though perhaps an archway between buildings still stands as a reminder of one or two of them.
Artichoke yard, Micklegate
Bakehouse passage, Shambles
Cragg’s waggon yard, Coppergate
Lazenby’s passage, Jubbergate
Low buildings, Hungate
Magpie corner, Goodramgate
*Masindues, St Dennis lane, Walmgate
Newtgate, Walmgate
Old racket, Petergate
Pipe maker’s yard, Gillygate
Rosemary lane, Skeldergate postern
Shepherd’s court, Gillygate
Starcourt Lane, Thursday market
Trout’s passage, Walmgate
Waterloo place, Coney street
Whitwell’s entry, Colliergate
Surprisingly, there’s also a Green Lane off Hungate. Presumably this went to Peasholme Green, when it was really green, rather than concreted and built on.
Reading the list conjures up a lost world of narrow dwellings in narrow yards next to noisy workshops and workplace smells, all those people crammed into a busy little city centre. Though the names occasionally suggest a more rural place, of greenery and wild things.
* would appear to refer to the Maison Dieu (’house of God’), a hospital/almshouse, marked on the 1852 plan (in beautiful handwriting) as For aged & decayed shoemakers.
See also …
Ayre’s Yard and Breary’s Court
