Getting to know York

The Shambles

But who says that all the stuff we learn has to come out of a book (or from wikipedia 10 minutes before the seminar)? This is where ‘The Know’ comes in; every week you will be offered a metaphorical plate of trivial nibbles to enhance your grey matter and impress all who know you.

So to get the ball rolling I thought that a good place to start might be the fair city of York. Whether you’ve just arrived or you’ve been here for a good few years you can never have too many facts to hand to whip out when taking your parents to Betty’s or stumbling drunkenly home from Toffs (presumably not with your parents this time).

York rides high in the national folk memory: next time you try and recall the colours of the rainbow with the mnemonic Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain it might be mildly interesting to know that the featured Richard is Richard Plantagenet, a member of the Royal family and although never King himself father to Edward IV and Richard III and to top it all off he was the third duke of York.

As if being remembered by every child with a paintbrush isn’t enough it’s also possible that Richard was the Grand Old Duke of York too. It’s thought that the song refers to a battle fought during the Wars of the Roses, although it’s probably small consolation given the fact that, along with a third of his army, Richard was killed. The city of York only makes a brief cameo in this story as the location for the displaying of some severed heads.

As a useful aside this particular nursery rhyme makes an excellent drinking game, simply miss out all the ups the first time, then downs, then both. It sounds easy but believe me you’re currently overestimating your drunken cognitive abilities.

If a mastery of this particular drinking game is not enough to prove your credentials as a true Yorkie then it’s also worth knowing that York Minster's full title is the Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St Peter in York – if that doesn’t impress your gran nothing will. Another relevant Sunday lunch fact is that York is twinned with Dijon; presumably the home of the mustard.

York is twinned with Dijon; presumably the home of the mustard.

Perhaps in true tabloid style we should end with the human angle of the city: Guy Fawkes, Judy Dench, Dick Turpin, W.H. Auden, and Steve McLaren. Although now I’ve listed them I feel there’s not that much more to say. They’re all from York: now it’s up to you to subtly drop them into conversation in the pub.

Nearing the end of this, the first column of the year, I feel a certain sense of anticipation about all things that none of us yet know. As custodian of the facts then I invite you to communicate to me your favorite piece of insane trivia or indeed any topic about which you feel lacking in the knowledge department. Next week birds, or maybe beards, or maybe something else entirely...

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