When "hanging around here" meant something else

What's in a name?  Yesterday, Whitby Daily Photo featured Arguments Yard, named after its builder, but the history of this York snickelway is rather more macabre: Mad Alice Smith was hanged at the castle in 1823 for poisoning her husband.

The word snickelway is the brilliant invention of local author, Mark W Jones, who used it in the title of his very popular and frequently republished book, A Walk Around the Snickelways of York. There are about 50 of them within the walls alone, best visited on a guided tour.

Waiting for Godot?

I did think of going to York's other river, the Foss, but could not resist these snow people seen yesterday outside St William's College.  Go here to see how close this is to the Minster, and to view the courtyard. It is a popular, romantic wedding reception venue; perhaps one these guys has just popped the question.  For more on romance in York, see this.

I had to roll in the snow for this back of the head shot and managed to resist the temptation to reposition the facial features. What if the artists had been watching from a nearby window!

Leaving Lendal

It's time we moved on from Lendal Bridge as it's getting a bit cold standing around in the same spot. Before we go elsewhere, perhaps to the Foss, York's smaller river, let's take another look at the round tower we saw a few days ago. It looks more interesting from the back, don't you think? I'll find out what it used for,  but for the moment, enjoy the snow; it doesn't usually stay around this long.

… and all this too!

What's on offer seen from the other side of the tower. Any takers?

More snowy reflections

Medieval tower for sale! I wonder if a buy to let mortgage might be the thing! We are still on  Lendal Bridge, looking back towards the town centre. Must pay more attention to my verticals.

Snowy reflections on the Ouse

Still on Lendal Bridge on the  Ouse, looking south-west away from the town centre. I presume this round tower was part of the defenses; the square tower on the opposite bank is up for sale! Look in tomorrow if you're in the market for a piece of medieval real estate.

The Ouse from Lendal Bridge

   

To wish you all the best for 2010, here is a full-on picture of the bigger of York's two rivers, the Ouse (pronounced "ooze"). This is from Lendal Bridge, on the way to the railway station. In the distance, more or less to the west, is the rail bridge bearing the main London to Edinburgh line.