York History

Steeped in history, York is fascinating place to visit with a mix of narrow medieval streets, to grand Georgian building. The centre is surrounded by walls built in the 13th Century and is the most impressive surviving medieval fortifications in Europe.

• Originally built in AD 71 and known as Eboracum by the Romans.
• Captured in 866 by the Danish Vikings and renamed Jorvik.
• Rebuilt in the 11th Century by the Normans, who started constructing York Minister.
• Destroyed in 1127 by fire.
• York thrived for the next 300 years, becoming a centre for textiles, trade and the church.
• York provided an important Garrison for loyalist soldiers during the civil war, finally being besieged in 1644, by parliamentarian forces.
• In 1839 the railway arrived in York, and it became a fashionable Georgian social centre.
• The 20th Century so York become a popular tourist attraction.

The River Ouse