My ’22 Top Ten – 4. Meandering down Micklegate

Since starting up York’s Hidden History with the most excellent Dr Simon Rogerson (buy his books here!), I have become a bit obsessed with the ancient, natural and scientific history of Micklegate. York’s Great Street has all manner of fascinating tales to tell, and when we were asked if we might offer a Visit York Members event, I suggested a ‘Micklegate Meander’.

The Visit York team said yes, so one Wednesday evening in early July, we gathered at Micklegate Bar. We were graciously hosted by the City Walls Experience, who explained a little of the bar’s long and lively role in the life of the city.

From there we strolled down Micklegate, asking what the Ice Age did for the Romans, discovering which Micklegate beasts were painted by aliens, and hunting for fossils in the cobbles of Queen’s Staith. Rebecca from the Visit York team found a particularly lovely solitary coral, which was around 330 million years old!

A solitary Carboniferous coral in a cobble on Queen’s Staith, York.

We finished off with refreshments, kindly provided by the FortyFive Vinyl Cafe, before promising that we really must do it again some time. And that ‘some time’ has almost arrived, as we will be offering a Micklegate Meander on both Saturday January 28th and Sunday January 29th, as part of the York Residents’ Festival. Hope to see you there!

Earth scientist in York, fossilist across Yorkshire. Co-director of the Yorkshire Fossil Festival and palaeontologist for hire. Can be found twittering, facebooking, and instagramming as @fossiliam.

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