In the 8th century the Episcopal school of York was the resort of students from France and Germany. In the 17th century an attempt was made, without success, to establish a university at York. There have long been many public schools in York. St. Peter's school, under the management of the dean and chapter, was founded by Queen Nary in 1557 ; it is free to 16 boys, and has three exhibitions of 50/. a year for three years to Oxford, Cambridge, or Durham. Archbishop Holgate's Free school was founded in the time of Henry VIIL The Blue-Coat school for boys, founded in 1705, is supported chiefly by annual subscriptions ; in connection with it is the Gray-Coat school for girls, who are trained for domestic service. The Roman Catholics have a school for the higher classes of females, and also a Charity school. The York Collegiate school is a proprietary school of recent date. The Yorkshire School for the Blind is an insti tution founded as a memorial of the late Mr. Wilberforce. There are numerous National, British, and Infant schools; the York and Ripon Diocesan Training school for masters; a Female Training school ; a school of Design ; a Quakers' school for girls; a school of Industry ; a Spinning school ; and several schools supported by private endowments. The public subscription library is the property of about 350 members, and contains nearly 20,000 volumes in various branches of literature and science. The dean and chapter of the cathedral possess an extensive and very valuable library.
The Yorkshire Philosophical Society was established in the year 1822, having for its general object the promotion of science in the county; its more particular object being to elucidate the geology of Yorkshire. Its museum embraces all the departments of natural history, and is rich in antiquarian relics of various periods discovered iu York and the neighbourhcod. The institution building was designed by W. Wilkins, Esq., and opened in 1S30. The principal front, towards the river, is about 200 feet in extent, of Doric architecture, with a central portico supported on four columns, resting on a basement of stone steps. The interior of the building contains a theatre, a lecture room, a library, a council-room, and various apartments for the collections of specimens in the museum.
The York Institute of Popular Science and Literature, founded in 1827, occupies a spacious building erected about 1846. There is an sericulture' society. inetitntions of York are the County Hospital, founded in the year 1740, the first established north of the Trent; the Dispensary ; the York Lunatic Asylum ; the Retreat, for members of the Society of Friends; and the Eye Infirmary. The principal charitable establishments in the city are—Ingram's Hospital for 10 poor widows ; Wilson's Hospital for 10 poor women ; the Old Maid's Hospital, founded by Mary Wandesford, spinster, for 10 maiden gentlewomen; Middleton's Hospital for 20 widows of freemen ; the Orphanage, established by the Duchess of Leeds for 12 orphan children; the Penitentiary; and Lady Hewley's Hospital for 10 poor aged women.
Several fairs are held annually at York for cattle and horses; one for cattle is held every fortnight. There are also large markets for wool and leather during stated seasons. At Christmas there is a large horse-fair. The chief weekly market is held on Saturday. Anises are held in March, July, and December; quarter and petty sessions and a county court are held ; and there is a savings bank.
The Guildhall is a floe gothic building erected in the year 1446, 90 feet in length and 43 feet in width, consisting of three aisles : the roof, which is panelled and adorned with knots exhibiting coats of arms and grotesque figures, is supported by two rows of octagonal oak pillars, five in each row. The Assembly-Room, considered one of the finest in the kingdom, was built in 1736, after a design from Palladio, by Richard, earl of Burlington ; the large room is 112 feet long by 40 feet wide. In the rear of the Assembly-Room, and con nected with it, is the Festival Concert-Room, erected in 1824 for the accommodation of the public during the great musical festivals. The Collegiate School is an elegant building in the Tudor style, by the late John Harper. The Theatre was erected by Tate Wilkinson in 1765.
Among otter buildings in the city worthy of mention, are the llansion-House, the residence of the lord mayor ; the Merchants' Hall ; the De Grey rooms; the Yorkshire club-hotue • the Lecture Hall, for the use of the Temperance Society, and for meeting% lectures, &e. ; the stations of the Great Northern and the York and North Midland railways; and the Yorkshire Insurance Company's office. A covered fish-market is in Church-street. The swimming and shower baths, adjoining the museum-garden, are the property of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society. The swimming-bath measures 120 f-et long b7 80 feet wide.
Baran' g meettnsa are held in the spring and the autumn on the Knaeessnire, a plain about a mile from the city, where la a grand stand, erected io 1754. The cavalry barracks in the Fulford-road, erected in 1796, occupy 12 acres of ground. The grneral cemetery is In the Fulford-road.
The Archbishop of York is primate of England. His ecclesiastical province includes the diocesan of Carlisle, Chester, Durham, Manchester, Sodor and Man, and York. The diocese of York comprises the county of York, except a part which is in the diocese of Ripon ; it is divided into the archdesconries of York, East Riding, and Cleveland, and contains 545 benefices. The chapter consists of a dean, the three archdeacons, chancellor, precentor, succentor, fear canons realdeutiary, 21 canons non-resident or prebendaries, and four minor canons. The income of the Archbishop of York is fixed at 10,0001. : his place is at Itishopthorpe, near York.
ORK. (Totiosrro.)