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Photo: Stanley Howe, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The grand official residence of the Lord Mayor of York, dating from 1732, holds an unparalleled collection of civic gold and silver, plus extensive items of furniture, ceramics, glassware and art. Gastronomes will be interested in the daily cooking demonstrations in the authentically-restored 18th-century kitchen.
The Mansion House in York, England, is the working residence of the Lord Mayors of York during their term in office. It stands in St Helen's Square, where York's Coney Street and Lendal intersect in the city centre. It is built in an early Georgian style. The Mansion House is the earliest purpose-built house for a Lord Mayor still in existence, and predates the Mansion House in London by at least twenty years.
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Built in the 15th century as a meeting hall for the guilds of York, the Guildhall is now also home to the city council chamber. Guilds are associations of artisans and merchants of a particular industry akin to something between a professional association, a trade union and a monopolistic cartel. In the middle ages, these guilds had a dominant role in the economies of every English city. However, the Guildhall you see today is a faithful replica, as the original was mostly destroyed by bombing in 1942. Notice the stained-glass window depicting York's history.
Named for Martin of Tours, the bulk of the church dates from the 15th century, and what was the Great West Window depicts 13 moments from the saint's life. The building suffered heavy fire damage during an air raid of 1942, but fortunately much was restored, including some perky grinning gargoyles and a very attractive 17th century clock which adorns the façade.
Picturehouse York
A modern cinema which shows a mix of mainstream and arthouse films. It has a bar/cafe with a fantastic balcony overlooking the River Ouse.
A largely 15th century building, but built on a site important in Roman times and possibly founded as early as the 8th century, this is now a quiet refuge from the city's bustle. It also serves as an atmospheric and intimate concert venue.
Various boat trips along the Ouse. The three listed here are the most popular, but there are many other cruises throughout the year, including lunchtime and dinner cruises, Halloween ghost tours and Santa specials; check website.
Reconstruction of a medieval townhouse. Built in the 14th century by the monks of Nostell Priory in Wakefield, but serially chopped, changed and neglected over the centuries. By 1970 it was a plumber's storeroom, on the brink of demolition. It's now been rebuilt to how it was in the 15th century, discarding later additions. Its detractors say this was more like a retro-fit and prettification of history, but it's difficult to see how anything more "authentic" could have been made viable, and it can be accurately described as a large piece of experimental archaeology carried out by experts.