Knavesmire

Quality 0.50 · 3 views · Updated 2 months ago

Public open space in York, England

title: "Knavesmire" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["villages-and-areas-in-the-city-of-york", "parks-and-commons-in-york", "execution-sites-in-england"] description: "Public open space in York, England" topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knavesmire" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Public open space in York, England ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox UK place"]

FieldValue
countryEngland
coordinates
label_positiontop
official_nameKnavesmire
static_imagePath on the edge of the Knavesmire (geograph 6511335).jpg
static_image_captionPath on the edge of the Knavesmire
unitary_englandCity of York
regionYorkshire and the Humber
lieutenancy_englandNorth Yorkshire
post_townYORK
postcode_districtYO23
postcode_areaYO
os_grid_referenceSE592499
::

| country = England | coordinates = | label_position = top | official_name = Knavesmire | static_image = Path on the edge of the Knavesmire (geograph 6511335).jpg | static_image_caption = Path on the edge of the Knavesmire | population = | civil_parish = | unitary_england = City of York | region = Yorkshire and the Humber | lieutenancy_england = North Yorkshire | constituency_westminster = | post_town = YORK | postcode_district = YO23 | postcode_area = YO | dial_code = | os_grid_reference = SE592499

The Knavesmire is one of a number of large, marshy undeveloped areas within the city of York in North Yorkshire, England, which are collectively known as Strays. Knavesmire, together with Hob Moor, comprises Micklegate Stray. The York Tyburn, the site of a gallows administered on behalf of The Crown by York Castle, was situated in the area adjacent to the Tadcaster Road.

It has been suggested that the name 'Knavesmire' may share a derivation with Knaresborough—Cenward's mire.

History

Situated in the south-west of the city, some distance outside the historic walls, Knavesmire's low-lying position makes it liable to severe flooding in times of heavy rain. As a consequence, it remained undeveloped as the city expanded around it.

The Knavesmire was the site of York Golf course for many years.

During the Second World War, parts of the Knavesmire were farmed, while other parts were used for military purposes including an anti-aircraft battery and a prisoner of war transit camp which was located near the grandstand.

Knavesmire was also the site of Knavesmire Secondary School, which then became one of the campuses of The College of Law till 2014. Millthorpe School uses the Knavesmire for cross country running. Knavesmire Primary School is located on Campleshon Road, at the southern end of Knavesmire Road. In 1864 a letter was sent to the York press from H. J. Jenkinson of the Leeds football club suggesting that the citizens of York form a football team and that they should play a friendly match on Knavesmire.

Between 2009 and 2022, it was also home to Yorkshire's largest beer festival. The annual York CAMRA Beer & Cider Festival was held in a marquee on Knavesmire opposite the Grandstand.

York gallows

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/York's_Tyburn_at_Knavesmire.jpg" caption="York's Tyburn at Knavesmire"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Dick_turpin_jumping_hornsey_tollgate.jpg" caption="[[Dick Turpin]] was hanged at Knavesmire in 1739"] ::

For many years, Knavesmire was the site of public hangings in York. The gallows were erected in 1379, a few miles outside the city on the main southern approach road (now known as the A1036 Tadcaster Road). The execution site was often referred to as "York Tyburn" after the original Tyburn gallows in Middlesex.

Probably the most famous people to be executed there were Rhys ap Maredudd, a Welsh nobleman and rebel, hanged in 1292, and Dick Turpin, who was hanged in 1739. Catholic priests Alexander Rawlins and Henry Walpole were hanged, drawn and quartered on 7 April 1595. Another Catholic priest, Nicholas Postgate, was hanged, drawn and quartered there in 1679. One of the last women to be burned at the stake was Elizabeth Broadingham, who had already been killed with her lover, in 1790.

By the beginning of the 19th century, it was felt that the gallows did not create a good first impression for visitors to the city. The last hanging at Knavesmire was in 1801, after which the gallows were moved to a more discreet (although still public) location near the castle. A paved area with a small plaque today marks the position in which the scaffold stood.

Current usage

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/KnavesmireYork.jpg" caption="South Bank"] ::

The Knavesmire is used for recreation and for public events. It is a popular site for dog-walking, and a large part of it is occupied by York Racecourse. The York Races were first moved to the Knavesmire from Clifton in 1731. Since January 2012 it has been the location of the York Parkrun, a free 5k running event held every Saturday morning.

The Little Knavesmire is the home of Ovington CC.

References

References

  1. "Common Lands and Strays".
  2. "York Tyburn - York's Historic Place of Execution".
  3. Location of York Tyburn{{nowrap. {{coord. 53.94634. -1.101469. scale:5000
  4. "Exploring The Knavesmire York".
  5. (November 2013). "City of York Historic Characterisation Project - 2013, Character area statements". [[City of York Council]].
  6. (4 September 2017). "Food, music, a special guest and 40,000 pints – York Beer Festival is back". YorkMix.
  7. (14 September 2016). "York Beer Festival 2016: What you should know - and what you should drink...". [[The Press (York).
  8. "Horse Racing in York".
  9. "Executions in York". York Museums Trust.
  10. (2011). "Curiosities of York". Amberley.
  11. ""Henry Walpole S.J.", The Jesuits in Britain".
  12. (2004-09-23). "The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography".
  13. (24 August 2009). "Grim past of Knavesmire as the site of the York gallows". York Press.
  14. (17 August 1968). "Racing prizes from the past". The Times.
  15. (28 April 2011). "Sign hung at site of famous gallows". The Yorkshire Post.
  16. "York parkrun".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

villages-and-areas-in-the-city-of-yorkparks-and-commons-in-yorkexecution-sites-in-england