A medieval-inspired art trail has been opened on seven of the city’s alleyways and ginnels, also known as snickelways.
This project is part of York Business Improvement District (BID) snickelway rejuvenation plan, to encourageresidents and tourists to explore them.
Each Snickelway tells stories of lost churches, marketplaces and craftspeople as Kate Giles, Senior Lecturer at University of York, said: “The networks of small streets we know today as ‘Snickelways’ have their origins in alleyways used from the Middle Ages onwards as shortcuts between houses, markets and churchyards across the city.”
“This project helps us reconnect with this hidden everyday heritage and rediscover how people lived, worked and worshipped in medieval York.”
All the Snickelways have been deep cleaned and had new lights fitted. Here are the seven new trails:
- Coffee Yard, York
Coffee Yard has a rich printing history; from the 1720s, Thomas Gent ran a printing press here, from which he published a weekly newspaper. Theres also a surprise guest appearance from the devil himself at the Stonegate entrance to the snickelway if you look carefully for the red “Printer`s Devil”. It’s certainly my favourite to walk through.
- Lunds Court (Mad Alice Lane)
Unclear as to where this particular snickelway got its nickname from, the popular rumour being that an ‘Alice Smith’ lived here, who was hung for murdering her husband. Although there is no evidence that an ‘Alice Smith’ was executed at York Castle in the 1800s, it is likely ‘Alice’ was a local personality who lived nearby. Still, I recommend you checking it out, perfect for a Halloween ghost story.
- Nether Hornpot Lane
Once home to Hornworkers and their rubbish pits, hence being close to Thursday Market, where cattle were brought and sold. Cattle horns were soaked in a ‘tan pit’ to produce a malleable material, similar to plastic, that was used for crafting things like buttons, combs, and cutlery handles. The lights bring the alley to life and very fun to imagine cows being there.
- Peter Lane
One of three snickelways that led to the long-gone church of st peter the little and quite the challenge to find and likely got its name from being used as a route to the church and it’s a nice bit of York lore.
- Le Kyrk Lane (The Church Lane)
The 2nd passage that connects to peter lane and is the unexciting one of the 3 snickelways and it’s still a fun time but a quick one at best. The lighting helps a lot as well as the narrowness of the alley which adds to the atmosphere.
- Popes Head Alley
The third and final one of the three snickelway that once led to the lost church of st peter the little that the York Minster now represent, its name might have come about due to its close proximity to the once catholic church of St Peter the little. This was my favourite of the three alleys, and the fairy lighting helped to set the mood but it’s another one that’s quite hard to find since its outside a busy street.
- Finkle Street (Mucky Pig Lane)
Once a control passage to move cattle and other livestock out of ‘Thursday Market,’ the weekly market at St Sampson’s Square between the 14th and 19th centuries. It’s had this name since at least the 14th Century and, by the 1750s, was also known as Mucky Pig Lane due to the pigs passing through to Swinegate which held the pig market. It was a hidden gem for me and is quite easy to miss if you aren’t careful.
