Comments on: Discovering the Historic City of York http://www.historynet.com/discovering-the-historic-city-of-york.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=discovering-the-historic-city-of-york From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:24:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Roberta Beverly http://www.historynet.com/discovering-the-historic-city-of-york.htm#comment-344575 Roberta Beverly Sun, 03 Oct 2010 20:23:36 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13680736#comment-344575 The first time I visited the UK I wanted to go to York. The most recent trip included an easy train ride from Kings Cross to York. All I can wonder is WHY DID IT TAKE ME SO LONG? Now I''m centering all my travel plans on how to visit York for as many days as possible. We found the people to be friendly (we were actually asked if we needed help finding our way) (this does not happen often in London) and the shops, bookstores, tea rooms and pubs are wonderful. Hope you don't mind but I plan to be back. The first time I visited the UK I wanted to go to York. The most recent trip included an easy train ride from Kings Cross to York. All I can wonder is WHY DID IT TAKE ME SO LONG? Now I"m centering all my travel plans on how to visit York for as many days as possible. We found the people to be friendly (we were actually asked if we needed help finding our way) (this does not happen often in London) and the shops, bookstores, tea rooms and pubs are wonderful. Hope you don't mind but I plan to be back.

]]> By: Ken Cohen http://www.historynet.com/discovering-the-historic-city-of-york.htm#comment-275521 Ken Cohen Fri, 14 May 2010 21:27:27 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13680736#comment-275521 On the subject of York Castle, this from Wikipedia: Isolated attacks on Jews also occurred at Colchester, Thetford, and Ospringe, but the most striking incident occurred at York on the night of March 16 (the day of the Jewish feast of Shabbat ha-Gadol, the shabbat before Passover) and March 17, 1190. The Jews of York were alarmed by the preceding massacres and by the setting on fire of several of their houses by the anti-Jewish rioting in the wake of religious fervor during crusaders' preparations for the Third Crusade against the Saracens, led by Richard. Their leader Josce asked the warden of York Castle to receive them with their wives and children, and they were accepted into Clifford's Tower. However, the tower was besieged by the mob of crusaders, demanding that the Jews convert to Christianity and be baptized. Trapped in the castle, the Jews were advised by their religious leader, Rabbi Yomtov of Joigney, to kill themselves rather than convert; Josce began by slaying his wife Anna and his two children, and then was killed by Yomtov. The father of each family killed his wife and children, and then Yomtob stabbed the men before killing himself. The handful of Jews who did not kill themselves surrendered to the crusaders at daybreak on March 17, leaving the castle on a promise that they would not be harmed; they were also killed. In the aftermath the wooden tower was burnt down. On the subject of York Castle, this from Wikipedia:

Isolated attacks on Jews also occurred at Colchester, Thetford, and Ospringe, but the most striking incident occurred at York on the night of March 16 (the day of the Jewish feast of Shabbat ha-Gadol, the shabbat before Passover) and March 17, 1190. The Jews of York were alarmed by the preceding massacres and by the setting on fire of several of their houses by the anti-Jewish rioting in the wake of religious fervor during crusaders' preparations for the Third Crusade against the Saracens, led by Richard. Their leader Josce asked the warden of York Castle to receive them with their wives and children, and they were accepted into Clifford's Tower. However, the tower was besieged by the mob of crusaders, demanding that the Jews convert to Christianity and be baptized. Trapped in the castle, the Jews were advised by their religious leader, Rabbi Yomtov of Joigney, to kill themselves rather than convert; Josce began by slaying his wife Anna and his two children, and then was killed by Yomtov. The father of each family killed his wife and children, and then Yomtob stabbed the men before killing himself. The handful of Jews who did not kill themselves surrendered to the crusaders at daybreak on March 17, leaving the castle on a promise that they would not be harmed; they were also killed. In the aftermath the wooden tower was burnt down.

]]> By: Paul Morgan http://www.historynet.com/discovering-the-historic-city-of-york.htm#comment-47792 Paul Morgan Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:40:34 +0000 http://www.historynet.com/?p=13680736#comment-47792 The Minster was built on the site of the Saxon cathedral which in turn was built on the foundations of the Roman Principia, or Headquarters Building. Both later buildings used the Roman foundations. By the 1960s, the Minster was on the verge of collapse - it's amazing it lasted so long. It was saved by VERY careful excavation and insertion of new foundations, so it's hopefully good for another thousand years or so. In the course of that work a lot was discovered about the Roman origins of the site. If you go there, be respectful. About 20 years ago a very controversial prelate was about to be made Archbishop of York. The night before the ceremony, the Minster was struck by a thunderbolt.... The Minster was built on the site of the Saxon cathedral which in turn was built on the foundations of the Roman Principia, or Headquarters Building. Both later buildings used the Roman foundations. By the 1960s, the Minster was on the verge of collapse – it's amazing it lasted so long. It was saved by VERY careful excavation and insertion of new foundations, so it's hopefully good for another thousand years or so. In the course of that work a lot was discovered about the Roman origins of the site.

If you go there, be respectful. About 20 years ago a very controversial prelate was about to be made Archbishop of York. The night before the ceremony, the Minster was struck by a thunderbolt….

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