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Our trip begins in York Minster. Here is a timeline that shows the most important events in the history of York Minster:

306:	Constantine proclaimed the new Roman Emperor in York.
627:	Edwin was baptized in the first Minster.
640:	York Minster became a stoned church, which was dedicated to St. Peter, the church was built by Oswald.
741:	The church was rebuilt after a serious fire.
1069:	The Saxon Minster was destroyed by the Normans.
1080:	The construction of the Norman Minster was started.
1170:	The Norman choir was rebuilt with the aisles.
1220:	The work was commenced on De Grays new transepts.
1260:	The work was commenced on the chapter house and the vestibule.
1290:	The work was commenced on the new Nave.
1360:	The work was commenced on the Lady chapel.
1394:	The work was commenced on the new choir.
1407:	The central tower was rebuilt after a partial collapse.
1472:	The present building was re-dedicated.
1639:	King Charles I set up the Royal court in York.	Inside York Minster
1730:	Lord Burlington's new floor was laid.
1829:	The Minster was severely damaged by Arson.
1972:	The restoration was completed. It has saved the Minster from its collapse.
1984:	There was a serious fire in the south transept.
1998:	The re-carving of the Great West Door was completed.

York Minster

There is also a school which belongs to York Minster. The school is housed in St. William's College. It's a building of the fifteenth century. The Centre provides an ideal environment for students of all ages and abilities to prepare for a visit to one of Europe's finest cathedrals. Its staff consists of qualified teachers, which can provide either a general introduction to the building and its use or focus on a specific aspect of the national curriculum. Students will be given a two hour professional introduction to the Minster.

One hour will be spent in the centre where, following a short introduction, they will be encouraged to learn for themselves using a range of specially designed models, displays and activities. The second hour will be spent by having a guided tour of the Minster, led by the same teacher.

After our short visit in the York Minster and its school we were going to the Jorvik Viking Centre. The famous Jorvik Viking Centre uses highly detailed models of wax to recreate the life in the old Viking York. Riding in a 'Time Car' beneath the city streets you will travel through a complete Viking village, whose reconstructed buildings are located where they actually stood one thousand years ago. Owned and operated by the Archaeological Resource Centre, hundreds of artefacts from the original dig are also displayed in the centre's Skipper Gallery.

Our trip continues with the Almshouses. It is behind a heavy iron gate, around a courtyard sit eleven almshouses. They were provided by the Jane Wright charity and opened by Her Royal Highness The Duchess Of Kent in November 1983. Jane Wright's charity was founded in 1675 to help 'poor widows and housekeepers' and, although it has widened its brief since then, continues to perform a valuable role in the provision of social housing.

The next station of our tour around York is York Castle Museum. It is housed in the old prison buildings of York. From the cell of a notorious highwayman to complete reconstructions of Victorian streets and shops, the museum is very famous for some of the finest art collections in the country. And with thousands of items from 1580 to 1980 on show, this is a unique opportunity to view the objects which affected the lives of ordinary people in the old and new York.

Clifford's Tower

The next famous sight in York is Clifford's Tower. Clifford's Tower was built by William the first in 1068. The original castle structure was destroyed in 1069 by an alliance of locals and Danes in revolt against King William. It was rebuilt almost immediately. In 1190 the castle was destroyed again.

After the Clifford's Tower we go to the old Baile Hill. It was York's second castle and was built at the same time as Clifford's Tower, but it was smaller and less prominent than its twin castle. The original tower, built of wooden construction, was badly damaged in a battle of 1069. It passed into the possession of the Archbishops of York in 1200 and after a dispute about maintenance was acquired by the city in 1460. Later Baile Hill was used for the grazing of cattle, archery practise and traditional Tuesday games, but all of these things don't exist today.

After Baile Hill and Clifford's Tower we walk across 'Our Lady's Row'. The houses in Our Lady's Row are the oldest buildings in the city and among the oldest in England After the Lady's Row we go to one of England's oldest streets, with shops changing little over the centuries. The Shambles originally housed butchers shops and to this day the original meat hooks can still be seen hanging in many of the shop windows At the end of our trip we visit All Saints Church. It was mentioned in the Doomsday book, but its registers don't begin until 1554. The pulpit is dated from 1634 and the lectern, salvaged from the church of St.Crux is an example of very high quality fifteenth century woodwork. More than any other church in York, All Saint's Church is associated with the municipal and guild life of the city - 39 Lord Mayors are buried here - and the will boards around the pillars make interesting reading.

The Shambles

This was our journey around York and a small insight of the history of York and his most interesting sights.

Referred Words:

Philipp Güth
Nicolas Ruoss

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