Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate is a street in

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, known for its short length and unusual name. A continuation of

Colliergate Colliergate is a street in the city centre of York, in England. History The are occupied by the street lay outside the Roman York city walls, city walls, but fell within the Canabae of Eboracum, a residential and industrial area. It is belie ...

, it runs south to meet Pavement,

Fossgate Fossgate is a street in the city centre of York, in England. History The street is believed to follow the line of a Roman road leading south-east out of Eboracum. Although it lay outside the Roman walls, it is known that there was a civilia ...

, and the Stonebow, and is adjoined by

St Saviourgate St Saviourgate is a historic street in the city of York. St Saviour's Church was built here in the 11th-century, and the street was first mentioned in 1175, as "Ketmongergate", street of the flesh sellers. History The area in which the str ...

on its eastern side. St Crux Parish Hall, originally one of York's medieval churches, backs onto it. The street's name was first recorded in 1505 as ''Whitnourwhatnourgate'', and later appears as ''Whitney Whatneygate''. It seems to mean "neither-one-thing-nor-the-other street", although a plaque on the end of the parish hall suggests the meaning "what a street!" In 17th and 18th century documents, the alternative name ''Salvey Rents'' or ''Salvegate'' is also found. 1½ Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma Gate York

''Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma'' is the title of a novel by York author Martyn Clayton.

References

Streets in York {{England-road-stub