Walking Tour: Percy Bysshe Shelley's York

A short walking tour in which I tell you about Percy Shelley's 1811 stay in York, giving you an idea of what he was up to, what the working-class people he was living with were up to, and what York looked like in the early nineteenth century. I'll be using evidence from his letters and biographies, as well as trade directories, local newspapers, and 19th-century illustrations of York.

Afterwards, we might (if there's space; it can get busy on Saturdays) get coffee in the Waterstones cafe opposite where Shelley stayed on Coney Street, and then get the shuttle bus to the PBFA national book fair if anyone wants to make a full literary day of it!

Have a look at an abridged video version.

We'll meet at the front of Museum Gardens from around 10:45 and then set off at 11.

Let me know if you have any questions! I've never done a walking tour before so I can't promise it'll be amazing, but I'll try my best and hopefully we'll all enjoy it!! Thanks :D

PS: The agenda below is only a rough estimate of how long things will take, and more to help you see the amount of walking. It's a pretty short route, but there will be a fair bit of standing around whilst I talk.

Cover image is from Henry Cave, Antiquities of York, 1813.

Host or Publisher Chloe Wilcox