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York’s ancient ‘desire lines’ – the city paths of tomorrow?
The act of walking is something many of us take for granted once mastered as a toddler. And yet, York is criss-crossed with trails, footpaths, and alleys that connect us to those who walked in the city centuries before us. Their choice of routes has directly shaped some of our modern road, path and cycling…
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York Civic Trust’s Christmas Quiz
We have put together this short festive quiz for you to enjoy. Its rounds all relate to York, and a trip to the city centre will help with most questions. We ask you not to use the internet to look up answers. The only exception is those who cannot travel to the centre of York…
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York’s buildings can affect our mood and wellbeing
York’s buildings can affect our mood – the good, bad and ugly ones, argues Andrew Morrison We shape our buildings and afterwards our buildings shape us. These were the words of Prime Minister Winston Churchill during a debate on the rebuilding of the House of Commons in 1943. Certainly a good soundbite, as would be…
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Going back in time: Secrets behind York’s public clocks
As we all recover from putting the clocks back an hour, that annual chore of remembering and complexities involved in correcting the multitude of devices that regulate our days – just imagine if we had to do this across a whole city. Since the introduction of British Summer Time in 1916, the guardians of York’s…
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York Civic Trust calls for more ambition from City of York Council’s transport plan.
York Civic Trust welcomes the Council’s Local Transport Strategy draft Implementation Plan as a positive step forward – but it is far too small a step for York if the city is to meet the council’s ambition to be net-zero carbon by 2030. The Civic Trust strongly believes that the businesses and the people of…
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Blue plaque celebrates 13thC York Synagogue
A new York Civic Trust blue plaque dedicated to mark the location of York’s 13thC Synagogue and the house of Aaron of York was revealed on Monday 9th September. It is on the facade of the ‘Next’ building on coney Street, and where the Synagogue stood. The Synagogue was at the heart of Jewish medieval…
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York Civic Trust calls for clear targets from the Council over new Local Transport Strategy
The City of York Council has today published its 2024-2040 Local Transport Strategy. The Strategy lays out some key decisions about how transport in the city will operate over the next 16 years. York Civic Trust has played a key role in advising on the Local Transport Plan, as invited by the Council. The Trust…
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Can York learn from other cities?
York Civic Trust’s Transport Advisory Group – made up from specialists in a wide variety of fields – has selected from across UK and Europe nine cities that may offer York some inspiration to address the movement and place challenges that the city faces. The analysis of these case studies is offered to inspire discussion…
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How York came close to losing its city walls 200 years ago
[This post is the latest in the Civic Trust’s monthly ‘opinion pieces’ in York Press. They touch on aspects of the Trust’s work and interests in the city (and beyond) and are deliberatly framed around provoking discussion!] Removing Queen Street bridge near the station has revealed views of our fabulous city walls that haven’t been…
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Austin Wright: worthy recipient of a YCT Blue Plaque!
To time with the blue plaque unveiling in honour of Austin Wright that is set to take place at ‘Green View’, The Green, Upper Poppleton, on Bank Holiday Monday 27th May (at 1.30pm), we’re delighted that Holly Smith, a podcaster and YCT volunteer has researched and written an article on Wright’s life and work. AUSTIN WRIGHT (1911-1997)…
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We need some proper visionary thinking about York’s future
[This post is the latest in the Civic Trust’s monthly ‘opinion pieces’ in York Press. They touch on aspects of the Trust’s work and interests in the city (and beyond) and are deliberatly framed around provoking discussion!] York’s city centre is renowned for its exceptional wealth of preserved heritage, and yet remains an ever-evolving city.…
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Eliza Gutch – Author & Folklorist
At YCT’s 2023 AGM, Members voted for their favourite plaque nominations to be carried forward as potential blue plaques. From a shortlist of six, there were two eventual winners – the sculptor Austin Wright and the clockmaker and scientific instrument maker, Henry Hindley. But, as this left four great and highly worthy nominations unlikely to…