practicalguideto00unse_0

12
It is presumed, the visitor to York will arrive by railway,
and that his thoughts and attention will first be turned
to the Cathedral; if so, he will enter the city by the
new railway arch in the walls near to the old Station Hotel,
and taking the road to the left, cross the river by Lendal
Bridge, a handsome structure of iron, continuing past the
Yorkshire Club-house, a building in the Italian style, on the
right and overlooking the river. Immediately adjoining,
and at the corner of Lendal, are the York Club Chambers
in the Elizabethan or mixed style. On the left, opposite
the Club-house and close to the river, is Lendal Tower,
one of the ancient fortifications of the city ;
from this tower
to that on the south side of the river, in ancient times, an
iron chain used to be hung every night at dusk to prevent
the citizens being surprised. From 1682 to 1850, Lendal
Tower was used by the Water Works Company, whose
offices are now close by. The city walls, it will be noticed,
commence on this side very near the tower, and formerly
joined it. Directly opposite the end of Lendal is the lodge
and entrance gates to the grounds of the Yorkshire Philosophical
Society. The Hospital of St. Leonard's will be seen
through the iron palisades close to the gates. In Museum
Street, on the opposite side of the road, is the entrance
to the Festival Concert Eoom, a very magnificent hall, where,
as its name indicates, concerts are held. A few yards beyond
are the offices of the Poor-Law Guardians, and at the corner
of Blake Street is the Subscription News-room. Crossing the
end of Blake Street, there is an open space, fenced off with
a neat iron railing, within which stands the Masonic Hall.
Immediately opposite, on the left-hand side of Duncombestreet,
is the Roman Catholic pro- Cathedral Church of St.
Wilfrid, with its highly ornate door-way.
The visitor will now have a splendid view of the glorious
Minster. Approaching the south-west front through Duncombe-street,
the imposing grandeur of the western towers,
capped by the colossal size and great height of the central
tower, flanked by the flying buttresses of the nave, strikes the
eye of the beholder with the wonderful unanimity of style, the
vast strength, the grand proportions, and enormous size of
the sacred structure.