York

Bootham Bar (Northwest gate of the city)

Romans first built walls around York (ca. 70AD); much of the current structure was built in the 14th century.

York Minster

There had been a temple or church on this site since Roman times but much of the current minster was rebuilt from 1220-1482.

An army of glaziers is currently at work repairing all of the stained glass windows in the cathedral.

York, ca. 1400 York is the second largest and most prosperous city in

England (after London) City sits between the Rivers Ouse and Foss, making it a

crucial trading centre: in the later medieval period, York was (like Wakefield) a major centre for textile production and trade, and York merchants were made wealthy in the business of importing wine and other goods from France and the Low Countries, and exporting grain and wool to the Continent.

The minster, which had been badly damaged during the rebellion against William the Conqueror in the 11th century, was in the long process of being rebuilt.

York Corpus Christi Play

Corpus Christi Day was the first Thursday after Trinity Sunday (falling anywhere between May 23 and June 24). Its purpose was to celebrate the Real Presence of the body of Christ in the Eucharistic host.

Pageant wagons would stop at twelve stations along their route where an audience would gather to watch the performance.

Performances began at 4:30am and the last performance at the twelfth station ended around midnight.

The complete cycle required 300 speaking parts plus a host of other participants to work the stage mechanisms, make the costumes, etc. It was thus a massive financial undertaking for the city and the guilds.

St. Mary’s Abbey

The abbey was pillaged and destroyed in 1539, during the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII,

Abraham and Isaac

Page from the York Psalter, ca. 1170

Stained glass panel, ca. 1485, Malvern Priory.