St Helen's Square is an open space in the city centre of

York York is a cathedral city in North Yorkshire, England, with Roman Britain, Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers River Ouse, Yorkshire, Ouse and River Foss, Foss. It has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a Yor ...

, England.

History

During the Roman era,

Eboracum Eboracum () was a castra, fort and later a coloniae, city in the Roman province of Roman Britain, 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 ...

's south-western gate, the ''porta praetoria'', lay where the square is now. 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 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 (also: stage coach, stage, road coach, ) 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 ...

es to London. By 1818

Terry's Terry's (formerly Terry's of York) is a British chocolate and confectionery brand. The original company was founded in 1767 in York, England, and was part of the city's famous confectionery triumvirate along with Rowntree's and Cravens. The co ...

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 pinophyta, conifer, such as a spruce, pine or fir, associated with the celebration of Christmas. It may also consist of an artificial tree of similar appearance. The custom was deve ...

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. 0

Layout and architecture

The square is an important junction, with

leading from its southern corner, Lendal from the west, both Blake Street and Stonegate from the north and Davygate 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 The Guildhall York is a municipal building located in St Martins Courtyard, Coney Street, in York. Located behind the Mansion House, York, Mansion House, it is a Grade I listed building. History The building was constructed as a meeting place ...

, which can be seen through a gateway. On the north-western side Harkers was constructed for the Yorkshire Insurance Company, and the York County Savings Bank Building was also built in the mid-19th century for a local institution. Both are listed, as is the former Terry's building at

3 St Helen's Square 3 St Helen's Square is a historic building in the city centre of York, in England. In 1818, the confectionery business of Bayldon and Berry had a shop at 3 St Helen's Square. In 1828, the company became Terry's of York, and later in the centur ...

. 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 are also listed. Part of the building is occupied by Bettys tea rooms.

References

External links

{{Streets of York Squares in York