Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate

About Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate

First recorded in 1505 as “Whitnourwhatnourgate, thought to mean “neither-one-thing-nor-the-other street”, this tiny lane was widened around 1750 and repaved in York stone by the Civic Trust in 1984. With only three official addresses along its 24-metre length, it’s a quick but iconic photo stop linking Colliergate with the bustle of Pavement. A York Civic Trust plaque explains its quirky name and history.