THE CHURCH STAIRS

THE CHURCH STAIRS From an 90 year old postcard.  The scene is almost the same  today except for the figures Often called the 199 steps. The `stairs`, for so they are properly called, lead from Church Street in the old town, up to the church of St. Mary. The stairs have been a feature of the town for many hundreds of years, said to date from 1270, and in the year 1370 the officials of the town were made to appear before the North Riding Sessions to answer the charges of not repairing the King`s Highway from the `foot of the church stairs` leading into town.  Originally built of timber, and brightly painted they were re-built in stone in 18th. century. In 1863 during renovations, the number of steps were increased from 194 to 199. The stairway to the church was the preferred way of funeral processions, rather than by way of Green Lane on a carriage.

 
 
 
 
 

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