Mention has been made of the open ditches or sewers by which the city was drained, and evidence of the site of one is recorded in a document describing the boundary of St. Saviour's parish, in the year 1328 "Furst that from Olde Yorke, and so goynge furth the street unto one lane called Spenlayne, which layne ledeth from the street of St. Savyour-gate, unto a common sewer bakwarde comynge from Goodramegate, and one other sewer comynge in it lyeing on the north side of seynt Sauyeyour-gayt aforsayde, and boundyng unto Saynt Andrewgate."2 King's Square, occasionally described as King's Court, and anciently as "Conyngesgarth," is a site near which the early kings of England probably had a place of abode or residence. The ditch or sewer that drained the precincts of this royal dwelling ran between the houses of Colliergate and the Shambles. It can still be traced, sections of it are figured on modern ordnance plans, and in the locality it is often, at the present day, spoken of as the King's Ditch. Hargrove, in his History of York, published in 1818, says, that in many ancient records a residence hereabouts was styled aula regis. The author further adds that a "ditch on one side of this church (Christ Church or Holy Trinity) is yet visible, and still retains the name of the King's Ditch." No previous writer has explained how the city disposed of its sewage matters; and the locating of a few of the mediaval open drains is somewhat interesting. It is curious to find that these old sewers, invariably, formed the boundaries of the ecclesiastical parishes of York. By a careful examination of the ordnance maps of the city, the position of some of these disused uncovered drains may be ascertained. For instance, along the north boundary of the parish of St. Michael, Spurriergate, a sewer ran down from Thursday Market, behind the houses fronting Feasegate and Market Street; crossing the end of Spurriergate, or Little Conyng Street, it entered a channel, walled on each side, and the sewage was discharged under a stone archway into the River Ouse. 1 Olde Yorke was the image of a mythical person, Ebraucus, whom Geoffrey of Monmouth imagined to have been the founder of York, which stood at the corner of St. Saviourgate and Colliergate. The figure was removed in 1501, and a tablet, now in the Museum at York, bearing the following inscription, was set up in its place :-" Here stood The upper portion of the the image of Yorke and remeved (re- P. 331. channel, subsequently filled with refuse, now forms the entrance to Waterloo Place; and the lower section is merely a footpath in the bed of the sewer to the brink of the river. A similar sewer, also a parish boundary, flowed from the vicinity of Newgate, behind the east side of Parliament Street, then across or under the roadway of The Pavement into a confined channel on the south side of The Pavement, by which water or sewage was emptied into the King's Pool or Royal Fishpond of Foss. A portion of this old-time sewer ran in a line with the new street, recently formed, on its east side. It also became, when discarded, an alley or lane, and before the late improvements were effected, was known as Dove's Passage, because it led to a foundry used by Messrs. Dove and Sons. The maintenance of public highroads really rested with the landed proprietors, who were obliged to see that their tenants. executed the proper repairs. This was the law in theory, according to the triple obligation of the trinoda necessitas, but systematic neglect prevailed, and State officials were either reluctant or unable to effectually deal with delinquents. The road leading from Nottingham to York is mentioned in Domesday Book. It had to be preserved, "and if any one should dig up the ground, or make a ditch within two perches of the king's road, he must pay a fine of eight pounds." The superiors of religious houses, and the Church, large estate owners, were equally negligent in upholding the roads adjacent to their property. But they devised alternate schemes, by which they persuaded the general public to contribute to their repair. They taught that it was a pious and meritorious work before God to help in keeping highways and bridges safe for the passage of pilgrims and travellers. In the cathedrals and parish churches was used every Sunday a Bidding Prayer, which was not so much a form of prayer, as a bidding of the bedes or prayers of the congregation by the officiating priest, who called aloud to the people present to pray, at the same time directing them who and what to pray for. Referring to road-mending and travellers, the priest said :"Ye sal mak your prayers for a pilgrymes and palmers, and for al that any gode gates has gane or sal, and for thaim 1 For a full account of the Fishpond of Foss see York: the Story of its Walls, Bars and Castles, pp. 62-79. 2 * Bawden, Domesday for Yorkshire, P. 332. 3 Good ways, pilgrimages to shrines that brigges and stretes makes and amendes that God grant us part of thare gode dedes and thaim of oures."1 Giving or bequeathing the means for amending roads, a kind of conscience-money, was a universal practice of making restitution when those who had been wronged could not be found. Archbishop Greenfield, on May 12th, 1314, made a gift to Thomas Frere, William Curtays, and Roger de Upton, of Doncaster, of 20 marks for the repairs of the causeway between Doncaster bridge and a bridge outside the town, called Wylghebrigg.2 Hermits, or anchorites, frequently obtained permission of the authorities to dwell in cells near frequented parts of great roads, or at the corners of bridges. They lived on the charity of passers-by, and testamentary bequests; and were supposed to attend to the upkeep of the roadways and bridges near which they dwelt. On August 20th, 1327, Edward III granted letters patent of Protection and safe-conduct for brother Adam de Ovenby, hermit of the Chapel of St. Helen, Shupton,3 during the construction of a road which he has begun to make in a place in the forest of Galtres called 'les Polles,' where very great perils have arisen by the depth of the roads, and whilst he is travelling through the kingdom to obtain carriage and alms therefor."4 The wills of the Middle Ages contain numerous bequests for the repair of the roads. The following examples are characteristic of the times; many more might be quoted, but these give sufficient contemporary proof of the prevailing bad condition of the streets of York, and the highroads in other parts of the county. John de Gysburne, a wealthy citizen and merchant, Mayor of York in 1371, 1372, and 1380, made his will in 1385, and devised: "To mending of the bridge of Thornton, near Helperby, forty shillings. Also to sustaining of the bridge of Skipbridge, forty shillings. Also to the mending of Stamford bridge, forty shillings. Also I bequeath to mending of the bad way on Hessay moor a hundred shillings . . . . Also I give and 1 The Lay Forks Mass-Book, p. 65. Fasti Eboracenses, Lives of the Archbishops of York, ed. by the Rev. James Raine. M.A., 1863, p. 393. 3 Shipton, in the Forest of Galtres, six miles from York. 4 Cal. Patent Rolls, 1327-1330, p. 146. bequeath to the way called 'Causy' of Norton by Malton, 40s.' "1 Robert de Howm, Mayor of York in 1368, by will dated Sept. 15, 1396, bequeathed " for mending of the common way in Gillygate, in the suburbs of York, 100s. And for the repair of the ways in Monkgate and of the pavement beyond Monkbridge, as it shall need, 10 marks. And for mending the ways between York and Tollerton, 40s. And for mending the way on this side and beyond Kexby Ferry, 40s. And for mending of the bad ways and pitfalls upon Hessay Moor, 40s. And for repairing of the bridge of Thornton, near Helperby, 100s. Also I bequeath for rebuilding of the new bridge to be made between Elvington and Sutton, £4."2 The testator was probably a native of Holme-on-Spalding Moor, and was familiar with the road leading thereto, hence his interest in amending the roadway near Kexby Ferry. This item evidently suggests that a bridge over the River Derwent at Kexby did not exist at this period. Richard Pigot, Serjeant-at-Law, a great and wealthy lawyer of London and York in the reigns of Henry VI and Edward IV, whose will was proved at York Aug. 3rd, 1484, amongst other bequests, adds: "Item, to be disposed for that I have been occupied in the worlde, and taken men's money, and not done so effectually for it as I ought to have done, for there soules, and all Cristen soules, in making of high wayes, and othre gude dedes of charitee, by the discrecion of my saide executores, c marc. (£66 13s. 4d)."3 Robert Plumpton, town clerk of York, of St. Michael's parish, Spurriergate, York, died March 23rd, 1507:-"I will yt my executor make as mych coste of mendyng of ye watteryngstede as men goys to ye Dringhowses as commys to iiij mark.' This "watteryng stede was on the west side of The Mount roadway, just on the crest of the hill, opposite Elm Bank House, and was in existence and used as a watering place for cattle until about forty years ago. John Carre, Lord Mayor of York in 1448 and 1456, and M.P. in 1448, was a great benefactor to St. Sampson's Church, in which he was buried:-"I bewitt xli. to making of ways wtin the fraunches of York."5 1 Some Early Civic Wills, by R. B. Cook, Associated Architectural Papers, vol. xxviii, p. 830. 2 Ibid., p. 850. 3 Test. Ebor., vol. iii, p. 286. 5 Ibid., p. 29. Thomas Pereson, Sub-Dean of York and Rector of Bolton Percy, died Oct. 28, 1491, and was buried in the nave of York Minster :—“ Ad emend. viarum regiarum circa civ. Ebor., xls."1 Dame Joan Chamberleyn, of York, a great benefactress to St. Mary's Abbey, in which she was buried, died in 1502:"I wit to my executores my place in Hundgate, which place I wyll the sell; and the money for the said to be disposid for the wele of my soule; that is to say.. and to wayes and briges, broken or hurte to the neuance Crysten people, amendynge and reparinge."2 or niuertie of John Petty, glasier, Lord Mayor of York 1508, who died Nov. 12th during his year of office, left:-"To the skowryng of ye dike of Sanct Anne Chapell vs., so yt ony other will make ye brigges."3 Alison Clark, widow of York, will proved Aug. 7, 1509 :— "I wit vjs. viijd. to help to pave the cawse be side Sainct Antony's in the Horsfare."4 Sir John Gilliott, Knt., Lord Mayor of York 1490 and 1503, and sometime Master of the Merchants' Company, died Feb. 22, 1510" To emendyng & makyng of hie waies abowt Yorke, where most neid is, xx marc."5 John Marshall, merchant, of York, will dated Dec. 15, 1524 : Item, I bequeath to amendyng of hie wais aboute Yorke, where as is nede, xls." John Norman, Lord Mayor of York 1524, M.P. in 1522-3, and Master of the Merchants' Company in 1515 and 1516:— "To the Chamberlayne iiijli., to be emploied for the common well of the citie; that is to saye, xls. towardes the reparacion of the common staithe, and xls. towardes the amendyng of the Kynge's hye waye aboute Sanct Nicholas Churche, agaynste th'est ende, withoute Walmegate Barre." Cardinal Pole, in 1557, in his visitation articles, inquired at York "whether any do withhold any money or goods bequeathed to the mending of the highways or other charitable deed? "8 Indulgences were also granted by Popes and Bishops for the maintenance of particular high-roads or bridges which were specifically mentioned in their grants. Recorded on the archives 1 Test. Ebor., vol. iv, p. 54. 2 Ibid., p. 202. 3 Ibid. p. 335. Ibid., vol. v, p. 5. 5 Ibid., p. 16. 6 Ibid., p. 192. 7 Ibid, p. 214. 8 Lay Folks' Mass Book, p. 337. |