Micklegate within with …

tell-tale TO LET signs on the pretty timber-framed building seen in yesterday's post. Several Micklegate businesses have closed or relocated recently (see labels); let's hope the economy picks up soon.

Micklegate within without

That's within the walls but without traffic or any other clutter. See tomorrow for Micklegate with … what?

Blake Head, Bleak House 2

Recently re-posted here, this is how it looks today. Sad, n'est-ce pas?

Micklegate bookshop

A close-up might reveal some of the very collectable titles. So far, this business has survived the recession.

Passé composé

The French House on Micklegate, seen here in its former glory, shown above after closure. I like way the owners have used packing cases to convey the message.

French leave

This is a repeat entry of one of my favourite photos: the French House on Micklegate. It has sadly relocated out-of-town, but there are imaginative plans for the site. 

Blake Head, Bleak House

This may be the Last Post for this establishment;  I called here yesterday to enjoy a quiet ten minutes and an espresso before a wedding, only to find the place abandoned and a handwritten note attached to the door informing enquirers of its closure. It is apparently one of three such establishments in the vicinity to have folded since the beginning of the year. 

Holy Trinity Micklegate

Looking rather squashed from this angle, this is Holy Trinity taken from just outside the Baptist Church, Priory Street. Priory Street is a bit of an Amen Corner with five churches only two or three minutes' walk apart.

Micklegate curve 2 …

from the other side of the street and looking up the hill.

Jacob's well.

Pleased to hear it! Oh! You mean Jacob's Well, the building on Trinity Lane, off Micklegate!  Dating back to 15th century,  the house is part of the Holy Trinity complex, not to be confused with the church of the same name off Goodramgate. Jacob's Well is open for tea and coffee Wednesday mornings. We'll have to look into Holy Trinity later to find out more about its monastic past. Enlarge for a close-up of the partially restored woodwork.

Church, arts centre, or …

pub? In fact St John's church, lower Micklegate, ceased to function as a place of worship in the 1930s and is currently a pub known as The Parish. It was an arts centre for a while, and is still noted as such on some of older street plans. This split-level conversion retains many original features and according to punters it works quite well. I like the brick and timber belfry, if that's what it is. 

TBecque: Holy Trinity, yesterday's church, is mainly 15th century. The stained glass was donated in 1470 by one of the vicars.

Micklegate mirrored

The French House, Micklegate, where the dolls' house matches the reflections of the opposite side of the street. 

Micklegate curve

Gently curving down towards Ousegate and the river, Micklegate shows off its varied architecture. It is a very pleasant street with a variety of shops, cafés, pubs, churches and offices, plus some lanes waiting to be explored. 

Micklegate bookshop and café, York

Micklegate, which rises in a south-westerly direction from Bridge Street and the River Ouse to Micklegate Bar, used to be York's main street, its name deriving from the Old English mickle, meaning great.

The Blake Head Bookshop at 104 Micklegate has a large selection of books for all ages and the vegetarian café offers a good, varied menu. As you can see, there is free on-street parking!