Well we made it to York after all, located in the area of England known as Yorkshire. We rested very briefly and then started our day with a visit to York Minster, a very impressive Cathedral dating back to the 12th century I believe. In it were a number of bishops’ tombs from the early 1200s. It was in this cathedral, we are told, that Constantine was crowned as Emperor. A statue of him shown below is right outside the cathedral. Apparently the Romans conquered the Bigantes people and others that were already in the area and there is to this day a major portion of the Roman city wall standing around what was at the time the perimeter of the city. Medieval walls from the 1200s – 1400s are built right on top of the Roman wall in many places. The town was already around, but was more officially established in A.D. 71. Yes… A.D. 71. York is over nineteen hundred years old.
Also pictured below is a Roman pillar unearthed not too long ago during an archaeological dig. This is also on display outside the minster. Another image below displays one portion of the wall where there are several tombs displayed that were also unearthed. These tombs are ancient and date back to the Roman occupation time. Among the scarce remains in one of them were red locks of hair! Hmmmm… the history of red hair… very interesting.
After leaving York, we made our way north, stopping first at Skirpenbeck, ancestral home of the Chanceys (Chaunceys) who fought with William the Conqueror at the battle of Hastings in 1066. The church from the 1000s is still there and standing. Services are still held there once per month. We traveled on further and eventually came to Scotland where we are staying tonight. We are about ten minutes from Edinburgh where we intend to go tomorrow, staying in a place known as The Carberry Tower. I think we can learn to be content here.
The imposing York Minster
Just a few in a long row of past rulers of York
Posing by the unearthed Roman column
A wonderfully arrogant pose… Emperor Constantine
The remaining ruins of the abbey in York
Portion of the ancient Roman wall and tombs
Medieval portion of the city wall
A view outside of York
A couple’a classy blokes
The Chancey ancestral home… Skirpenbeck
Eleventh century St. Mary’s in Skirpenbeck
Why ‘ello there
A wild English pheasant
I really am on this trip, too… see!
