The term ‘snickelway’ was popularised by local author Mark W. Jones in his 1983 book, A Walk Around the Snickelways of York, combining the words ‘snicket’, ‘ginnel’, and ‘alleyway’. Broadly classified as “a narrow place to walk along, leading from somewhere to somewhere else”, snickelways are a charmingly unique feature of our city…
Dean’s Park
Adjoining York Minster and accessible from Precentor’s Court, Dean’s Park is perhaps the most beautiful green space within the bar walls. While it’s not technically a snickelway, it was included in Jones’ definitive guide because it shares many of the same features; it has a narrow path, free from traffic and accessible only by foot, which leads somewhere – in this case, the Minster Library! For modern-day Yorkies, Dean’s Park is known as the place where a statue of Paddington Bear can be found, sitting on a bench, enjoying one of his favourite sarnies…
Ogleforth
Located a stone’s throw from Treasurers’ House and Grays Court, Ogleforth was formerly known as ‘Ugel’s Ford’, which is thought to reference its use as an open drain or sewer. This unique York street has been home to many notable buildings over the years, including a Catholic school, a Christadelphian chapel, the York City Mission, and St John-del-Pyke church. While its snickelway status may be questionable in its present-day form, Ogleforth wanderers can still view surviving buildings including Cromwell House and the Dutch House, the latter being built around 1650.
Spen Lane
Accessible by foot via St Andrewgate, Spen Lane was formerly a short snickelway which skirted around the Gothic, Grade II listed building St Andrew’s Hall, also known as The Drill Hall.
Known as ‘Inspingall’ and ‘Penny Lane’ in the 12th and 20th centuries, Spen Lane was used by locals and market traders as a passage for transporting handcarts, evidence of which was visible in indentations in the walls!
St Andrewgate
Running parallel to Goodramgate and leading to King’s Square, St Andrewgate gained snickelway status due to a technicality – it features a row of posts, located at the junction with Spen Lane. Aside from being the former site of The York City Commission, the Bedern National School, and various grand merchant houses, St Andrewgate is perhaps most interesting for its allocated status as a ‘Cycleway’, which is still favoured by Yorkie cyclists using the network today…
Calling all photographers! We’re still after local photographers looking to submit their snickelway snaps for our new HIDDEN YORK feature. To submit pictures of York that will POP on a page, please email info@yourlocallink.co.uk today!
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