St Sampson's Square facts for kids
St Sampson's Square is an open area in the city of York, England. It used to be a busy marketplace. Today, it is a popular spot for people to gather and enjoy events.
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What is St Sampson's Square?
This square is a large open space in the middle of York. It has a long history, changing from an ancient market to a modern public area. Many roads and small paths, called snickelways, lead into the square. It is surrounded by interesting buildings, some of them very old.
How the Square Got Its Name
The area was first known as Arkilltofts way back in the 1100s. Later, around 1250, it became Thursday Market. This name probably meant that a market was held there every Thursday. In 1818, the square was renamed "St Sampson's Square." It got this name from St Sampson's Church, which you can see from the square.
A Place for Markets and More
For hundreds of years, St Sampson's Square was a very important market.
Early Markets
- Meat Market: In the 1100s, it was the main place to buy meat.
- Different Goods: Over time, people also sold fabric, baked goods, wool, candles, and other foods.
- Market Days: At first, it was mainly a Thursday market. By the 1500s, markets were held on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. A Friday market for cloth was added in 1593.
Market Buildings
In 1421, a special cross was built in the market. Later, in 1704, a small market hall was built in its place. This hall even had a statue of King George II. For a short time, a school was even set up in the upper part of this market hall.
Changes Over Time
By the 1830s, the market in St Sampson's Square became too crowded. A new street, Parliament Street, was built to create more market space. The square's market then focused on selling meat, and later, fish.
In 1955, all the market stalls moved to a new location, now called Shambles Market. St Sampson's Square then became a car park. But in 1976, it was made a pedestrian-only area. This means only people can walk there, not cars. Today, it's a popular spot for fun festivals and seasonal markets, like Christmas markets.
Buildings Around the Square
St Sampson's Square is surrounded by many buildings, some of them quite old and interesting.
- Brown's Department Store: On one side, you'll see Brown's department store, which was built in 1905.
- Historic Houses: Some buildings, like numbers 5, 6, and 7, are very old. Number 7 dates back to the 1500s!
- The Roman Bath Pub: This pub is special because it has the remains of an ancient Roman bath in its cellar. You can even visit it as a tourist attraction!
- Other Old Buildings: The Three Cranes Inn is another old pub. Many other buildings around the square, like Melrose House, are from the 1700s and are considered important historical buildings.
