St Helen's Square is an open space 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 ...

, England.

History

During the Roman era,

Eboracum Eboracum () was a fort and later a city in the Roman province of Britannia. In its prime it was the largest town in northern Britain and a provincial capital. The site remained occupied after the decline of the Western Roman Empire and ultimate ...

's south-western gate, the ''porta praetorian'', lay where the square is now located. Until the mid-18th century, much of the space was occupied by the graveyard of St Helen's, Stonegate. The streets of Stonegate and

Davygate Davygate is a major shopping street in the city centre of York, in England. History During the Roman period, the site of Davygate lay just inside the city walls, and was covered by barracks. In the 12th-century, the land on which the street ...

ran either side of the graveyard, meeting

Coney Street Coney Street is a major shopping street in the city centre of York, in England. The street runs north-west from the junction of Spurriergate and Market Street, to St Helen's Square. New Street leads off the north-east side of the street, as ...

at a junction known as "Cuckold's Corner". In addition, a footpath ran across the graveyard, linking Davygate with the junction of Stonegate and Blake Street. In 1745, St Helen's was given a plot of land on Davygate for use as a new graveyard, and the old graveyard was paved over, to form St Helen's Square. In the early 20th-century, the square was enlarged to the south-east, giving it a more regular, rectangular, shape. The York Tavern, built on the square in 1770, became one of two main departure points for

stagecoach A stagecoach is a four-wheeled public transport coach used to carry paying passengers and light packages on journeys long enough to need a change of horses. It is strongly sprung and generally drawn by four horses although some versions are draw ...

es to London. By 1818,

Terry's Terry's is a British chocolate and confectionery maker, formerly based in York, England, until 2005, and re-established in 2019 as Terry's Chocolate Co and based in London. The company was founded in 1767. The company's headquarters and fact ...

had set up its shop on the square, and it remained there, later also operating as a restaurant, until 1980. In winter, the square is now the location of a large

Christmas tree A Christmas tree is a decorated tree, usually an evergreen conifer, such as a spruce, pine or fir, or an artificial tree of similar appearance, associated with the celebration of Christmas. The custom was further developed in early modern ...

, and the city's Christmas lights are turned on in a ceremony held in the square. The square is also a popular location for demonstrations and rallies.

Layout and architecture

The square is an important junction, with

leading from its southern corner,

Lendal Lendal is a street in the city centre of York, in England. History The street was first mentioned in the 1380s, when it was known as Aldeconyngstrete (Old Coney Street). However, by 1641, it had become known as "Lendal", a contraction of "St ...

from the west, both Blake Street and Stonegate from the north, and

from the east. The south-western side of the square is occupied by the Mansion House, and there is also access to the

York Guildhall York Guildhall is a municipal building located behind York's Mansion House. It is a Grade I listed building. History The building was constructed as a meeting place for the City's guilds between 1449 and 1459. King Richard III was entertai ...

, which can be seen through a gateway. On the north-western side, Harkers was constructed for the

Yorkshire Insurance Company The Yorkshire Insurance Company was an English insurance company. The company was founded in 1824, in York, as the Yorkshire Fire and Life Insurance Company. Its objects were initially "to effect insurance against loss by fire and on lives and sur ...

, and the

York County Savings Bank Building The York County Savings Bank Building is a historic building in the city centre of York, in England. The York County Savings Bank was established in 1816, and in 1829 it purchased a large timber-framed house on St Helen's Square, from R. Cattl ...

was also built in the mid-19th century for a local institution. Both are listed, as it the former Terry's building at 3 St Helen's Square. The 18th-century Number 7, on the north-eastern side, is also listed, with the remainder of this side occupied by St Helen's Church. Numbers 2-8, occupying the south-eastern side, were built in 1929 and is also listed. Part of the building is occupied by

Betty's Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate, also known as Bettys and Taylors Group Limited, is a family company based in Yorkshire, England. The company's brands are Bettys (with no apostrophe), Taylors of Harrogate (also with no possessive apostrophe), a ...

tea rooms.

References

External links

{{Streets of York Squares in York