Clifford Street (York)

Clifford Street is a road in the city centre of York, in England.

View south on Clifford Street

History

The area covered by the street lay outside the walls of Roman Eboracum, but it was occupied during the Viking Jorvik period, with various archaeological finds dating from the era. In the Medieval period, the area was principally residential, the houses lying on Middle Water Lane and Friargate. From 1674, the city's Friends Meeting House was in this area.[1][2]

By 1881, the area was regarded as a slum, and was cleared so that a new street could be constructed. Designed to improve access to the new Skeldergate Bridge, it was named Clifford Street after nearby Clifford's Tower.[3][2] The Friends Meeting House was extended, with a new main entrance on the new road. From 1882, the York Tramways Company ran horse-drawn trams along the street. In 1892, a building was opened to house the city' police headquarters and main fire station. The fire station moved to a new building on the street in 1938, which was demolished in 2018 and replaced with apartments.[1][2][4] In 1910, the city's electricity board moved into offices on the street, also setting up a showroom.[1] The York Dungeon visitor attraction is located on the street.[5]

Nikolaus Pevsner described the street as "all of a piece with a series of striking red brick buildings in a variety of styles".[6]

Layout and architecture
Looking north from the middle of the street

The street runs south from the junction of Castlegate, Coppergate, King Street and Nessgate; to its junction with Tower Street and Peckitt Lane. Cumberland Lane and Lower Friargate lead off its western side, while Friargate leads off its eastern side, as does a snickelway, the former Middle Water Lane, leading to Castlegate.[2]

Notable buildings on the west side of the street include 12 Clifford Street, the former York Institute of Science, Art and Literature, designed by W. G. Penty; the York Magistrates' Court, designed by Huon Matear; and Clifford Chambers, a block of shops and offices which now includes an entrance to the Grand Opera House theatre. On the east side are the office building at 19 Clifford Street; and 21 Clifford Street, built in 1887 for the Independent Order of Rechabites, and later used by the Christadelphians, now apartments.[6][7]

References
  1. A History of the County of York: the City of York. London: Victoria County History. 1961. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  2. "Character area 12: King's Staith". City of York Council. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  3. An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in City of York, Volume 5, Central. London: HMSO. 1981. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  4. Lewis, Stephen (17 December 2018). "GALLERY: Clifford Street, 1902, and other old photos of York". The Press. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  5. Laycock, Mike (18 July 2020). "York Dungeon tourist attraction is a sell-out as it reopens from the lockdown". The Press. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  6. Pevsner, Niklaus (1995). Yorkshire: York and the East Riding. Yale University Press. p. 213–214. ISBN 0300095937.
  7. "Spectacular York apartments completed after two and a half years - PICS". The Press. 17 July 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
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