York Castle Museum
After journeying through Viking history in York (at the Jorvik Viking Centre), I headed over to explore the first of three York Museums Trust holdings, York Castle Museum. The museum’s site surprises in part because it’s housed in two buildings built *over* the remains of the original castle, built when William the Norman conquered England. All remains of the original wooden castle are gone. Clifford’s Tower and some of the walls remain. The museum itself is housed in the old debtors’ and womens’ prisons.
The core of the social history collection is from a former physician, Dr. Kirk, who took as payment various items from patients around York. The first collection comprises a set of “period rooms” which show how various castes lived throughout history in the Yorkshire area, and is mesmerizing. Did you know that dollhouses were actually used to teach young girls how to accomplish their household duties?
Yorkshire Museum
In the basement, the museum houses an original Roman mosaic floor, which visitors are invited to walk across (no shoes, please!), as well as artifacts from Roman to Tudor times – including two beautiful pieces of medieval jewelry. On the second floor is a small exhibit of findings from York’s prehistoric peoples (the After the Ice Age exhibit) as well as a lovely little scientific library.
Afterward, I thoroughly explored not only the garden, which was poised to burst into full bloom with another day or two but also St. Mary’s Abbey ruins. The original church was built in 1055 and dedicated to St. Olaf of Norway, but after the Normans conquered the area, eventually became the richest Benedictine order in the country by the time Henry VIII dissolved the abbeys, bringing in £2000 per year (equivalent to about £1,230,000 in 2016 money). Though in a ruined state now, it’s well-worth an amble around, especially in spring and summer, though all seasons bring additional beauty. Here’s a photo essay of the Yorkshire Museum, Abbey ruins, and gardens.
York Art Gallery
Before I drove away from York on my last day, I spent a pleasurable half hour in the York Art Gallery, the third attraction currently available with the YMT card. The gallery is fairly small and has a rotating exhibit of more recent work on the ground floor (20-21st centuries) and older material on the first floor, as well as a very small but intriguing ceramics collection.
The Skinny: York Castle Museum: Eye of York, York, YO1 9RY; Open 9.30am – 5pm daily (except 24/25/26 Dec and 31 Dec/1 Jan); Adult: £10; Child (under 16): free with paying adult
Yorkshire Museum: Museum Gardens, Museum Street, York, YO1 7FR; Open Daily 10am – 5pm (except 24/25/26 Dec and 31 Dec/1 Jan); Adult: £7.50; Child: free with paying adult
York Art Gallery: Exhibition Square, York, YO1 7EW; Open Daily 10am – 5pm (except 24/25/26 Dec and 31 Dec/1 Jan); Adult: £7.50; Child: free with paying adult
York Museums Trust Card: £22 (save £3 for all three sites) or £20 with direct debit.
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