Yorkshire is a picturesque county with mountainous landscapes divided by valleys of rich meadows, the famous dales, open moors, ancient villages and industrial towns. It borders the North Sea from the Humber Estuary north to Cleveland and stretches all the way to Cumbria, Lancashire and Greater Manchester and is England's largest county. In the 9th century Yorkshire was split into North, East and West Ridings, but in 1974 was divided into four parts - North, South, East and West, of which York is the regional capital.
Natural resources have been mined in Yorkshire for centuries and its coal seams are on the edge of the greatest region of coalfields in England. The 20th century saw the expansion of industry, communication networks and road systems on an unprecedented scale, so the landscape bears little resemblance to how it looked when early hunters first set foot here. Before the Roman invasion of Britain, the area that is now northern England was controlled by a confederation of Celtic tribes known as the Brigantes. In AD 71, the Roman governor of Britain, Quintus Petillius Cerialis, sent the 9th Roman legion to pacify the tribes, but instead they faced unrelenting rebellion. The Romans built a fort between the River Foss and the River Ouse where York now stands and called the town that grew up around it Eboracum. Strong protective walls were built, forming the base of the city walls that remain today.
The military significance of York was so important that it remained an army base until 2000, when the government decided to close the army headquarters there. Although some of the historic city's walls and gates were demolished in the early 19th century, there are still some Roman remains in York today, including a ten-sided tower and a few sections of the original walls. Hidden beneath the city, Roman sewers still run, but the majority of the existing city wall dates from the 12th to the 14th century. The rectangular gatehouse of Micklegate Bar marks the main entrance to the city and this is where traitor's heads were displayed following executions.
By the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries by King Henry VIII, there were more monastries in Yorkshire than any other country in England. The spectacular ruins of Fountains Abbey still provide a glimpse of its former grandeur and bears testament to the skill of the masons. The Romans, the Saxons and the Normans all left their influence on the Yorkshire landscape. The Romans built the roads, the Saxons shaped the countryside with fields and villages that mostly still exist today and the Normans left us their architecture in castles, cathedrals and churches. All this came at a huge cost in blood and suffering and may explain the resilience and strong survival instinct of the Yorkshire people.
Caron Bednorze is an independent writer based in York. SHe loves to write about York incalls and often helps local tourist enjoy their time as a York tourist guide. |
