Using a commentary, this film provides a brief outline of the history of York from its origins to recent times, highlighting historic places and buildings. Titles: 'An Anglo-Danish Film', 'York', 'A film by Patrick Olsen', 'written and spoken by Mike Gill'. The film opens at the point where the River Ouse meets the Fosse. The commentary runs through the various invaders and name changes, beginning with the Romans, the Vikings and the Normans. The film...

Using a commentary, this film provides a brief outline of the history of York from its origins to recent times, highlighting historic places and buildings. Titles: 'An Anglo-Danish Film', 'York', 'A film by Patrick Olsen', 'written and spoken by Mike Gill'. The film opens at the point where the River Ouse meets the Fosse. The commentary runs through the various invaders and name changes, beginning with the Romans, the Vikings and the Normans. The film moves on to show portions of the city including the Roman Tower, the stone coffins beneath and the city walls. The museum gardens are seen, and the commentary mentions the proclamation of the Emperor Constantine here in 306. The differences between the original Roman parts of the walls and the latter additions are highlighted. At the Bath House a young man poses nude. The narrator runs through the invasions of the Picts, the Scots, the Vikings, and the Normans who re-built parts of York after ravaging it in 1066. At St Mary's Abbey people are looking around on a sunny day, and the Roman Column is shown. At St Mary's the signs of the zodiac are discussed before looking at York Minster and its history. The different layers of the city walls are shown and then it is on to Micklegate Bar and the four gates. This image is accompanied by a commentary which states the heads of traitors were place on wooden stakes as a warning to visitors and city dwellers alike. The commentary sates Henry VIII arrived on a visit through Bootham Bar with its Elizabethan House. The film moves on to feature Clifford's Tower, Holy Trinity Church with its famous door knocker, and the fourteenth century Guildhall. From Mary Clitheroe House the stocks in Holy Trinity Church are seen, as well as the oldest row of cottages on Lady Row, Goodramgate. Next is York Minster and nearby Petergate before the Shambles are shown with people in medieval dress. The hooks above the doors are pointed out which were originally meat carcases used to hang. The name "Shambles" comes from the Saxon "Fleshammels", which means 'Street of Butchers'. Two plaques are shown: the birthplace of Guy Fawkes and the site where Dick Turpin was hanged in St George's Church yard. The film closes with a view of Monk Bar with the Minster towering behind it. (filmed 26th Aug. - 1st Sept. 1974)