Parliament Street has been York’s main shopping thoroughfare for more than 150 years and still hosts feature markets and many of the biggest names on the high street.
The Parliament Street fountain, York
York’s Parliament Street was created in 1836 at a time when street improvement was high on the agenda in the city. A swathe of old buildings including a Unitarian Chapel was demolished between Davygate and Thursday Market at one end and Pavement at the other to make space for a bigger market. Thursday Market was renamed St Sampson’s Square as part of the redevelopment.
Parliament Street was the main home for York market from 1836 to 1964, when the Newgate Market area, between Parliament Street and the Shambles, became its dedicated home. Even then the market spilled over into Parliament Street on a weekly basis until the street was redeveloped in 1987.
The street still hosts markets, with continental traders and farmers regularly plying their wares in specialist food markets throughout the year.
The 1987 redevelopment saw the pedestrianisation of one side of the street and the construction of a fountain and seating in the middle of what is essentially still a market square. The old (1960s?) public toilets were ripped up and replaced with modern ones (which, in turn, have now been replaced with state-of-the-art conveniences on Silver Street, near the market).
New trees were planted in Parliament Street to improve its look and feel and overall the 1987 redevelopment was a success.
As Parliament Street only dates back as far as the Victorian era there is little history of note, although fans of Roman ruins (or beer) will find much to enjoy in the Roman Bath pub in the corner of St Sampson’s Square.
Brown’s department store, on the corner of St Sampson’s Square and Davygate, has been a cornerstone of York’s retail scene for many years although, sadly, much of its home furnishings and kitchenware business has been relocated to its Helmsley branch.
Continue your York Tour
Go north-west to Davygate and St Helen’s Square
Go west to Coney Street
Go south-east to Piccadilly and Pavement
Go east to Newgate Market, King’s Square and the Shambles