Ancient_and_modern_York_a_guide

M0DERN YORK. 5
given rise to a good deal of discussion. But if it be true,
as it appears to be,* that the river Ouse, which passes
through it, was anciently called Ure and Your, it is easy
to conceive the formation of the word Yourke, by the
addition of the termination wick from the Saxon name of
the place, Evor-wic or Efer-wic. The disuse of the Saxon
language after the Norman conquest, sufficiently accounts
for a change having taken place.
The statements of history and tradition are amply con
firmed by the discovery, in and about this city, of Roman
temples, altars, baths, tablets, urns, coffins, coins, weapons,
tiles, bricks, and sculptures. It is generally supposed
that the extent of the walls of Roman York was little, if
at all, less than the present walls, and that they occupied
both sides of the river,f More remains of Roman work
manship of various kinds have been found in the neigh
bourhood of Micklegate bar than in any other part of
the city, and, remarks the estimable antiquarian from
whom we quote, " on passing on the road to the next
Roman station, Calcarea (Tadcaster), might be formed,
more than a mile in length, consisting of Roman relics,
which might not inappropriately be called the street of
tombs." Drake was of opinion that Micklegate bar had
been built by the Romans, and in the plate of the bar
which illustrates his Eboracum, the arch is expressly
described as a Roman arch. He also thought that the
Mount, outside the bar, was a Roman vallum, thrown up
at brow-shot to defend that entrance to the town. The
wall, on the north side of the river, is supposed to extend
from the south or south-west side of the multangular tower,
(now in the Museum gardens,) near to that part where
Coney-street adjoins Jubbergate, and from this point the
wall appears to have passed at right angles in a line from
Jubbergate, crossing Feasegate, then crossing the new
Fish Market, proceeding probably on the west of St.
* See Camden's Britannia, a.d. 1590.
t Rev. C. Welbelored.
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