Spen Lane is a street in the city centre of

York York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...

, in England.

History

The street was first recorded in the late 12th century, when it was known as Ispingall, referring to

aspen Aspen is a common name for certain tree species; some, but not all, are classified by botanists in the section ''Populus'', of the '' Populus'' genus. Species These species are called aspens: *'' Populus adenopoda'' – Chinese aspen (Chin ...

trees in the area. By 1190, the prominent citizen, Benedict the Jew, lived on the street. In about 1260, a small house of the

Friars of the Sack A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders founded in the twelfth or thirteenth century; the term distinguishes the mendicants' itinerant apostolic character, exercised broadly under the jurisdiction of a superior general, from the ...

was built on the street, but it was demolished in 1310. In the 19th century, the street was sometimes called Penny Lane. In the early 20th century, there was a Spiritualist National Union church on the street.

Layout and architecture

The street runs south-east from a junction with

St Andrewgate St Andrewgate is a street in the city centre of York, in England. History The street lay immediately outside the walls of Roman Eboracum, and it may well be of Roman origin. It was first recorded in about 1200, taking its name from its church, ...

. It briefly turns north-east as it passes around St Andrew's Church, before turning back south-east. It ends at a junction with St Saviourgate, beyond which its continuation is St Saviours Place. Several modern streets lead off it: St Andrew's Court, Kenrick Court, and St Andrew Place off the south-west side, and Penny Lane Court off its north-east side. The northern section was originally known as Little St Andrewgate. Other than St Andrew's Church, the street's most notable building is the grade II listed St Andrew's House, built in the 18th century. There was a much-altered 17th century house at 1 and 2 Spen Lane, which was demolished in the late 20th century.

References

{{Streets of York Streets in York