This narrow street had a much ruder name
People visiting York often have an image in their mind of a quaint, historic city, filled with delightful people who might, at any moment, break into a chorus of “Who Will Buy?” from the Dickensian musical Oliver. And while it has its charming side, the city also possesses some darker secrets, lurking just beneath its chocolate-box veneer.
Some of them are hidden in plain sight. Take Grape Lane, a narrow, cobbled street between Petergate and Swinegate. Now home to some rather swish independent boutiques and eateries, its past is far from salubrious. In medieval times the street was known as Grope Lane for short (its full name was so filthy we couldn’t possibly print it in a family guide such as this). And back then it was populated with brothels, then called stews, many of which were located on church property. York’s “women of easy virtue” would congregate near the Minster because that was where the money was. No fewer than 119 York Minster vicars choral were tried for “conduct unbecoming the office and work of a clerk in holy orders” between 1396 and 1489.
Info
Address Grape Lane, York YO1 7HU | Public Transport Closest bus stop: Exhibition Square | Tip There are a number of great places to eat and drink on and around Grape Lane. Try Wilde’s Wine Bar (No. 21) or Nineteen Restaurant (No. 19, funnily enough).
Grape Lane is one of several York streets with names to raise an eyebrow or two. Some still exist: Hornpot Lane is the alleyway that leads to Holy Trinity Church from Low Petergate. But this has quite decent origins: it was once home to medieval craftsmen known as horners, who made cups, pots, and more from animal horns.
Others have been brushed under the carpet of history. Mucky Peg Lane was a thoroughfare of ill repute, but cleaned up its act and was reborn as Finkle Street. For many years an unfortunate woman gave her name to Mad Alice Lane; legend has it that the alleyway, later known as Lund’s Court, was named after a woman hanged for insanity.
You couldn’t have a purer name than Church Street, but this used to be Girdlegate – home of the girdle makers; and in some ways we wish it still was.
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