Knavesmire

Situated in the south-west of the city, some distance outside the historic walls, Knavesmire's low-lying position makes it liable to severe flooding in times of heavy rain.{{cite report|last1=MacRae |first1=Claire |editor1-last=Sydes |editor1-first=Bob |title=City of York Historic Characterisation Project - 2013, Character area statements |date=November 2013 |url=http://www.york.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/3564/area_74_-_york_racecourse_and_knavesmirepdf.pdf |accessdate=20 May 2019 |publisher=City of York Council}} As a consequence, it remained undeveloped as the city expanded around it.

The Knavesmire was the site of York Golf course for many years.

During the Second World War, parts of the Knavesmire were farmed, while other parts were used for military purposes including an anti-aircraft battery and a prisoner of war transit camp which was located near the grandstand.

Knavesmire was also the site of Knavesmire Secondary School, which then became one of the campuses of The College of Law till 2014. Millthorpe School uses the Knavesmire for cross country running. Knavesmire Primary School is located on Campleshon Road, at the southern end of Knavesmire Road.

In 1864 a letter was sent to the York press from H. J. Jenkinson of the Leeds football club suggesting that the citizens of York form a football team and that they should play a friendly match on Knavesmire.

Between 2009 and 2022, it was also home to Yorkshire's largest beer festival.{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkmix.com/food-drink/food-music-special-guest-40000-pints-york-beer-festival-back/|title=Food, music, a special guest and 40,000 pints – York Beer Festival is back|publisher=YorkMix|date=4 September 2017|accessdate=20 April 2018}} The annual York CAMRA Beer & Cider Festival was held in a marquee on Knavesmire opposite the Grandstand.{{cite news|url=http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/14733716.York_Beer_Festival_2016__What_you_should_know___and_what_you_should_drink___/|title=York Beer Festival 2016: What you should know - and what you should drink...|work=York Press|date=14 September 2016|accessdate=20 April 2018}}

File:York's Tyburn at Knavesmire.jpg

File:Dick turpin jumping hornsey tollgate.jpg was hanged at Knavesmire in 1739]]

For many years, Knavesmire was the site of public hangings in York. The gallows were erected in 1379, a few miles outside the city on the main southern approach road (now known as the A1036 Tadcaster Road).{{cite web |url=http://www.historyofyork.org.uk/themes/horse-racing-in-york |title=Horse Racing in York |website=www.historyofyork.org.uk |accessdate=6 February 2012}} The execution site was often referred to as "York Tyburn" after the original Tyburn gallows in Middlesex.{{cite web|title=Executions in York|url=http://www.historyofyork.org.uk/themes/executions-in-york|website=History of York|publisher=York Museums Trust|accessdate=5 March 2015|location=York, England}}{{cite book |last1=Brandon |first1=Ed |title=Curiosities of York |date=2011 |publisher=Amberley |isbn=978-1445627717}}

Probably the most famous people to be executed there were Rhys ap Maredudd, a Welsh nobleman and rebel, hanged in 1292, and Dick Turpin, who was hanged in 1739. Catholic priests Alexander Rawlins and Henry Walpole were hanged, drawn and quartered on 7 April 1595.{{Cite web |url=http://www.jesuit.org.uk/profile/henry-walpole-sj |title="Henry Walpole S.J.", The Jesuits in Britain |access-date=3 February 2019 |archive-date=21 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821230813/http://www.jesuit.org.uk/profile/henry-walpole-sj |url-status=dead }} Another Catholic priest, Nicholas Postgate, was hanged, drawn and quartered there in 1679. One of the last women to be burned at the stake was Elizabeth Broadingham, who had already been killed with her lover, in 1790.{{Citation |title=The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |date=2004-09-23 |url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/65513 |work=The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |pages=ref:odnb/65513 |editor-last=Matthew |editor-first=H. C. G. |place=Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/65513 |access-date=2023-02-11 |editor2-last=Harrison |editor2-first=B.|url-access=subscription }}

By the beginning of the 19th century, it was felt that the gallows did not create a good first impression for visitors to the city.{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=Stephen |title=Grim past of Knavesmire as the site of the York gallows |url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/4561406.grim-past-of-knavesmire-as-the-site-of-the-york-gallows/ |access-date=2 December 2023 |work=York Press |date=24 August 2009}} The last hanging at Knavesmire was in 1801, after which the gallows were moved to a more discreet (although still public) location near the castle.{{cite news |last1=Bannister |first1=Judith |title=Racing prizes from the past |work=The Times |issue=67332 |date=17 August 1968 |page=16|issn=0140-0460}} A paved area with a small plaque today marks the position in which the scaffold stood.{{cite news |title=Sign hung at site of famous gallows |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/sign-hung-at-site-of-famous-gallows-1934083 |access-date=2 December 2023 |work=The Yorkshire Post |date=28 April 2011}}

File:KnavesmireYork.jpg]]

The Knavesmire is used for recreation and for public events. It is a popular site for dog-walking, and a large part of it is occupied by York Racecourse. The York Races were first moved to the Knavesmire from Clifton in 1731. Since January 2012 it has been the location of the York Parkrun, a free 5k running event held every Saturday morning.{{cite web |url=http://www.parkrun.org.uk/york/home |title=York parkrun |website=www.parkrun.org.uk |accessdate=5 February 2012}}

The Little Knavesmire is the home of Ovington CC.

{{commons category}}

{{Parks and open spaces in York}}

Category:Villages and areas in the City of York

Category:Parks and commons in York

Category:Execution sites in England