St Helen's Square facts for kids

St Helen's Square, looking south-west

St Helen's Square is an open area in the city center of York, England. It is a busy spot where several streets meet, and it has a long history.

History of St Helen's Square

Ancient Beginnings

Long, long ago, when the Romans lived in Eboracum (which was the Roman name for York), a main gate to their city was located right where St Helen's Square is today. This gate was called the porta praetorian.

From Graveyard to Square

For many years, until the mid-1700s, a large part of this area was actually a graveyard for St Helen's Church. The streets of Stonegate and Davygate ran along the sides of this graveyard. There was even a small path that cut through the graveyard, connecting Davygate to Stonegate and Blake Street.

In 1745, the church received a new piece of land on Davygate for a graveyard. So, the old graveyard was paved over. This created the open space we now know as St Helen's Square. Later, in the early 1900s, the square was made even bigger. This gave it a more even, rectangular shape.

Famous Businesses and Events

In 1770, a building called the York Tavern was built on the square. It became an important place where stagecoaches would leave for London. Stagecoaches were like old-fashioned buses pulled by horses.

By 1818, a famous company called Terry's opened its shop in the square. Terry's was known for its chocolates and sweets. It stayed there for a long time, even becoming a restaurant, until 1980.

Today, St Helen's Square is a lively place. Every winter, a huge Christmas tree stands in the square. The city's Christmas lights are also turned on here in a special ceremony. The square is also a popular spot for people to gather for demonstrations or rallies.

Buildings Around St Helen's Square

The square, looking north-east

St Helen's Square is a very important meeting point for several streets. Coney Street leads away from its southern corner. Lendal goes from the west. Both Blake Street and Stonegate come from the north. And Davygate leads from the east.

Important Buildings

On one side of the square, you will find the Mansion House. This is the official home of the Lord Mayor of York. You can also see the York Guildhall through a gateway nearby.

On another side, there are two old bank buildings. These were built in the mid-1800s and are now "listed buildings." This means they are protected because they are historically important. The old Terry's building is also listed.

An 18th-century building at Number 7, on the north-eastern side, is also listed. The rest of this side is taken up by St Helen's Church itself. On the south-eastern side, there are buildings from 1929, which are also listed. Part of these buildings is home to Betty's tea rooms, a very famous place for tea and cakes!