Of course, I took many pictures - many more than the ones I am showing you here - because there was just such a lot to see, so many glimpses of the interesting, the beautiful or the quirky, and sometimes all three combined.
Arriving in York at the central bus station, we walked towards the centre across this bridge flanked by small toll houses (at least that is what I think their original purpose was).
Many impressive buildings, and a first glimpse of York Minster.
We were surprised to find that they wanted 10 Pounds from each of us to enter the Minster! The last time I was here (in 2003 or so), admission was free. This time, we stood for a few minutes just inside the entrance and looked at what we could see from behind the cordoned-off area, and then left. Ripon Cathedral is - to my eyes - just as beautiful, and although they will always be happy (and are in constant need of) your donation for the upkeep of the old building, there is just a sign near the door, asking you in a very friendly and polite manner for a small donation.
Welcome to Diagon Alley! (That is, of course, not its real name, but it reminded me a lot of some of the scenes in the Harry Potter books and movies.)
Beverley Minister is very similar to York Minster - of the same era - less visited and free to enter. You should go there. Beverley is a great town and there's a large bronze statue of me in the marketplace with the inscription "The Great Yorkshire Pudding who attended Beverley Grammar School". There are hundreds of lipstick kisses on the marble plinth.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the recommendation. The town of Beverley probably has to employ someone whose job it is to wipe down the marble plinth to make room for new lipstick kisses all the time.
DeleteI've looked it up on the map; 1 1/2 hours to drive from Ripon to Beverley.
I can't believe they charge to get into The Minster! Mind you the last time I visited was 1983!
ReplyDeleteYork is a beautiful city though and I look forward to seeing what else you got up to in your next posts.
If you go there to attend a service, they don't charge you. But there was none in progress at the time we were there, and besides, we did not feel it would have been right for us to go in under a false pretense, although between us we made up scenes as how we'd convince the man at the entrance that we were having a spiritual emergency and needed to say some very urgent prayers.
Deletelol, I can imagine how funny that must have been. Next time you should brave it out and test the theory, :D
DeleteVery interesting to see, but I get a bit of a claustrophobic feeling looking at some of those last closed in alleys.
ReplyDeleteImagine those narrow alleys in former times, when there would have been only a few gas lights at night, and a lot of rubbish around, and unwholesome people lurking in dark corners! Having have said that, not even nowadays would I feel at ease having to pass through there at night on my own.
DeleteVisited York a few years ago and really liked it, your photos are great. Surprised to hear they're charging to go in the Minster. I can remember when Westminster in London was free and you just wandered in.
ReplyDeleteAs it should be with a building that professes to be the House of God!
DeleteI've visited York quite a lot and a niece went to Uni there. It's a lovely old city (in parts) with some splendid history. I have very mixed feelings about charging for entry to Church buildings. At a particularly bad time in my life I went to St Paul's Cathedral where I had had some very moving times. I wanted to reflect and, perhaps (I isn't a thesis then) pray. I went in without thinking and was told unceremoniously to go to the queue. I explained that I wasn't a sightseer but wanted to avail myself of the sanctuary of the place. 'That's what they all say' was the reply. I left. I've never been back and I left the Church of England on the spot. In Pisa the Cathedral has a separate entrance for people who simply want to worship and it is clearly marked. That I can cope with. I didn't want to worship. I paid my fee.
ReplyDeleteIf they feel they have no other choice than to charge for entry, then the system you describe, with offering seperate doors for those who want to worship and those who want to sightsee, seems a fair way of doing it.
DeleteThe Minster in Ulm is very famous and attracts many visitors every day, but admission to the Minster itself is free, although they constantly need huge amounts of money to prevent the whole thing from crumbling to bits. You only pay to get on top of the tower, which is fair - climbing the tower is clearly a tourist-thing, while getting into the church is not.
It does seem odd to me that they charge you to go to church! Lovely place, though.
ReplyDeleteIt was a bit disappointing, but not too much - there is so much more to York than "just" the Minster.
DeleteI visited York and the Minster (and I think the Shambles too) way back in 1972 (while staying a month with a family in village near Doncaster). I find it strange to take an entrance fee to a church (although I suppose the alternative would be restricted opening hours).
ReplyDeleteYes, I remember you having mentioned your stay with the family near Donnie before; I guess the main sites have not changed that much since your visit.
DeleteIf I am not very much mistaken, there are restricted opening hours anyway. They probably can't really keep a church open all around the clock anymore, what with so much theft and vandalism going on everywhere.
I too was shocked recently to see the ten pound admission charge but actually it was worth it as they had some axcellent exhibitions which explained all kinds of things about the cathedral and it's development. 5the ticket lasts for a year and it was so interesting we went back next day and still did not feel we had seen it all. As your post suggests there is so much in york - and with just one day there I might have skipped it too... Next time you go to Yorks you might consider Selby Anbey. Sorry for the typing errors by the way - the blogger app doesn't work properly on my phone - which is all I have to write on at present!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know the ticket is valid for one year! Of course, that does not make it any more attractive for the typical tourist who only has a short time to spend in one place.
DeleteSelby Anbey? Should that be Selby Abbey?