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Eye of York

The Eye of York is the name for the oval piece of grass surrounded by Clifford’s Tower, the Crown Court and the Castle Museum. Once known as the Eye of the Ridings, it was at the centre of political activity for the county; parliamentary elections were held on the site until the 19th century.

Age Range

Suitable for all ages

About Eye of York

The Eye of the Ridings, later known as the Eye of York, was first created in 1777 when the castle bailey or courtyard was grassed over to form the oval lawn that exists today. Danish Vikings first divided Yorkshire into the three areas known as the ridings, historically East, West and North Yorkshire. The word ‘riding’ was derived from an Old Norse word meaning ‘a third’.

The Eye of York was once an area within York Castle. Old medieval buildings were replaced in the 18th century with the ones you see today: the Crown Court from 1777; and the Castle Museum, which is inside the old Debtor’s Prison and Female Prison buildings. No trace survives of later Victorian Prison buildings which were added around the site to deal with an increase in the number of felons. Constructed between 1825 and 1835, the huge prison complex was closed and demolished by the City Council in 1934.

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