St George

As it is St Georges day today I decided to try and hunt out reference to St George in York. The only item I could find was St Georges Church. On walking down the east side of the building I spotted this statue of St George with the felled dragon at his feet.

The church takes its title from the medieval church of St George at Beanhills which was suppressed in 1547. The Churchyard may still be seen opposite the present church and is the burial place of Dick Turpin, the notorious 18th Century highwayman. A picture of the gravestone supposedly marking his grave (this was erected many years after his execution and burial) is here.

A building fund of £1200 had been raised to build new church in York this was to replace a brick chapel that was situated in Little Blake Street (now Duncombe Place)

Due to the Potato Famine in Ireland there had been a big influx of Irish immigrants into the Walmgate area and it was felt that the new church should be built in this location.

So in 1849 a piece of land was bought opposite the ancient site of St. George’s churchyard, in George Street

The architects for the church were Joseph and Charles Hansom (formerly of York) designers of the popular hansom cab. The church is in Early Decorated style and built in Tadcaster stone. Here is a picture of the church.