Experiencing the Great War: York in World War One
This tour will lead you around York’s historic cityscape, exploring some of its forgotten stories. At each stop along the trail, listen along to the audio narrative provided and see the photographic illustration to position you at the location, and to reveal historic and archaeological objects from the site.
You can explore the stops in the menu to the right, see a preview of the trail and route below or download a pdf version HERE
The media team at Historyworks have worked closely with the curators at York Museums Trust and drawn on the expertise of the City Archaeologist, John Oxley.
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Stop 1. Soldiers on every street corner: the war is announced in York
http://audioboom.com/boos/1024748-york-wwi-history-trail-stop01 Stand in front of the Yorkshire Museum, on the steps looking out into the Gardens. During the First World War, newspapers were the main ...
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Stop 2. Recruitment and the Requisition of Public Buildings
http://audioboom.com/boos/1024743-york-wwi-history-trail-stop02 The first location for this stop is in front of the Art Gallery. Once there, stand near the statue of William Etty so that ...
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Stop 3. Conkers and Couriers: York Children in the First World War.
http://audioboom.com/boos1024739-york-wwi-history-trail-stop03 Stop in front of St Helen’s Church, and look at the next-door building, right on the corner of Stonegate. During the First World War ...
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Stop 4. Cowardice or Courage? York’s Conscientious Objectors.
http://audioboom.com/boos/1024738-york-wwi-history-trail-stop04 Walk towards The Mansion House, the large red building at the end of the square. Walk beneath the Mansion House, through the archway, to ...
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Stop 5. Broken Bodies, Muddled Minds: York’s War Hospitals
http://audioboom.com/boos/1024737-york-wwi-history-trail-stop05 Walking down Castlegate, turn right into Friargate and look for the Quaker Meeting House at the white-painted porch. At 3.30am on Friday September 6th, ...
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Stop 6. Internment of POWs and ‘Enemy Aliens’.
http://audioboom.com/boos/1024736-york-wwi-history-trail-stop06 After walking past Clifford’s Tower towards the Castle Museum, stand by the tree in the centre of the grass. ...
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Stop 7. Life on the Home Front: War Horses and Walmgate.
http://audioboom.com/boos/1024732-york-wwi-history-trail-stop07 Cross Piccadilly by the Red Lion pub and look for the painted sign advertising F.R. Stubbs’ Ironmongers. You are now standing at the junction ...
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Stop 8. Confectionary and Hospitality: The Rowntree’s Story.
http://audioboom.com/boos/1024728-york-wwi-history-trail-stop08 Cross Pavement and walk towards the entrance to the Shambles, entering the yard in front of the church of St. Crux. Look back across ...
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Stop 9. Dark Shadows in the Skies of York: The Zeppelin Raids, 1916.
http://audioboom.com/boos/1024720-york-wwi-history-trail-stop09 Walk along Peasholme Green to the Black Swan Pub. Cross the road and look for the entrance to The New School House Gallery, where ...
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Stop 10. Victory and Aftermaths
http://audioboom.com/boos/1024714-york-wwi-history-trail-stop10 After walking alongside the Minster, continue across the grass of Dean’s Park towards the war memorial: a series of stone arches set in front ...
