York

Went to York this morning and met Judy Frost a fellow American and retired Navy Cryptologist.  She is a friend of a friend who hooked us up.  What a smart lady, she met us at the train station with York maps in hand.  She has lived in York since she retired from the Navy in 2000.  After retiring, she received her Masters and PHD in Monastic Studies and taught classes in York, so she knew a lot of history about the city and its medieval wall and the Cathedral the"York Minster".

The river Ouse

Part of the medieval wall

  Of course upon arrival we went to lunch and as Judy said not so much for the food but for the building we were eating in.  She said think Jane Austen.  The building was the Assembly Rooms built by public subscription. 

 It was used from 1730-1776 for the express purpose of those who subscribed to present their daughters at local dances and other entertaining functions.  

After lunch we went to the Cathedral "York Minster".  Minster was an Anglo-Saxon word for a missionary church.  Cathedral, the seat of the Bishop of York and 'the mother church' of the Diocese.  It was started in 1291and has the widest nave of any purpose-built medieval cathedral and is in the Gothic style. Beneath the Minster the remains of the Roman legionary fortress of Eboracum was found.  Established in AD71, it was the headquarters of the legion.  We were able to see some of the artifacts recovered and on display in the Undercroft chambers.  

During the Victorian era there was a fire which destroyed much of the vault and had to be replaced.  

The Nave and Vault

Although not in the little guide we received or as Terry will tell you, the little guide I lifted, since I didn't see any sign that said you had to pay for it.  I digress; more on that later.  Anyway, Judy was telling us that the vault that replaced the burned one in 1840 told the story of Christ from birth to resurrection; and that in their Victorian primness, they showed Mary not breastfeeding the child Jesus, but holding a baby bottle to feed him.  She said you would need binoculars to see this fascinating little piece of history, but as I said it was no place in the guide.  There was an Evensong service scheduled at four, which we decided to attend later in the day.  I will say that I contributed to the offering to make up for unintentionally pilfering the little guidebook.  Sitting in the medieval choir pews was also penance for my lapse.  I feel certain that these were constructed with penance and atonement in mind. 

Below the cross is the Kings' screen.  All 15 reigned during the construction of the Norman and medieval cathedrals

 

Chapter House

The Five Sisters Window

 It was a beautiful cathedral

After seeing the cathedral, we walked part of the medieval wall surounding the city and then went to get a coffee before the Evensong service. 

After the service, we strolled down the cobbled streets to an Italian restaurant and had dinner.  It was a Jamie Oliver (chef) restaurant and the pasta is made fresh daily.  Very good.  

Cocktails

Dinner

Then it was back to the train station and after a fond farewell and thank you to Judy, we set off for Harrogate.  It was a beautiful sunshiny day and we were finally in shirt sleeves.  

Tomorrow the Turkish baths.