York: Day 2

Yorkshire Museum

The skeleton of a Moa - extinct for 500 years. This one is thought to be the most complete Moa skeleton in any museum today.

Skeleton of the Dodo. Extinct since the 1680s. This skeleton is one of the very first complete skeletons found of the bird on the island Mauritius. Dodos were much smaller than I thought they were. They are more the size of a large chicken.

The skull of a Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger). The last one died in a zoo in 1936.

The York Helmet (AD 875-900). 

This helmet is the most splendid surviving example of its type in Europe. It was probably made for a member of Eoforwic’s Anglian royal family. His name, OSHERE, is inscribed above the intricately-cast nose guard. The helmet was found by Andy Shaw, a JCB operator on 12th May 1982. It had been carefully buried inside a wood-lined pit. We will never know why, but perhaps Oshere had retired as a warrior. ‘IN. NOMINE. DNI. NOSTRI. IHV. SCS. SPS. D. ET. OMNIBUS. DECAMPS. AMEN. OSHERE. XPI.’ This abbreviated Latin inscription may be translated as ‘In the name of our Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit, God and with all we pray. Amen. Osier. Christ.’ Found near Coppergate, York.

The Gilling Sword (AD 800-899). 

There was an Anglian settlement and abbey at Gilling with links to Northumbria’s royal family. This sword, with its silver-gilt handle, may have owned by King Oswiu, or one of his earls. Gary Fridd, a nine-year old boy, discovered the sword in the River Swale whilst out walking with his dog. He appeared with the sword on Blue Peter. It is the only object in the museum to have a Blue Peter badge. Found near Gilling West, North Yorkshire.

The Escrick Ring (AD 400-600)

This unique ring, with its large central sapphire, belonged to a member of the Northumbrian ruling class. It may have been a gift from a Merovingian royal, whose territory covered France, where it was probably made. It was found by metal-detectorist Michael Greenhorn in 2009. He carefully unearthed it, discovering a tiny fragment of red glass that had fallen out. Found near Escrick, North Yorkshire.

The Cawood Sword (AD 1066-1154)

French fashion changed the face of weaponry. This sword, with its mysterious inscription, combines contemporary Norman designs with those inherited from the Viking world. It was discovered adjacent to the site of the Archbishop of York’s summer palace in Cawood in 1860. Such as its quality, it may well have belonged to him or one of his retinue. Found near Cawood, North Yorkshire.

Reliquary Pendant (AD 1450-1500)

This incredible gold and sapphire reliquary pendant - the finest piece of medieval gold-working every found in England - was discovered near Middleham Castle in 1985. It was probably commissioned and worn by a woman of considerable status who was resident or visitor at the castle. Anne Beauchamp, mother in law of King Richard, and Richard’s own mother, Cecily Neville, have both been suggested as potential owners of the jewel. In a moulded border surrounding the central scene, an inscription in Latin reveals the hopes and fears of the Jewel’s owner. Translated it uses the words spoken by John the Baptist at the baptism of Christ: ‘Behold the Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us’. Two words are particularly significant. TETRAGRAMMATON refers to the name of God in Hebrew; ANANIZAPTA is a magic word, used as a charm to protect against epilepsy. Found near East Park, Middleham, North Yorkshire.

Wood carving on a building on Castlegate Road near the Shambles.

The National Railway Museum:

Queen Adelaide’s saloon (used during the 1840s).

Queen Adelaide, Queen Victoria’s aunt, was one of the first royals to travel by train. This carriage was designed for her, and it was built with extra space at one end so she could lie down. Very few special arrangements were made for her journeys - her carriage was simply attached to an ordinary passenger train.

This is a life-size model of the Chunnel

The Channel Tunnel runs for 31.4 miles beneath the English Channel. It includes the longest section of underwater tunnel in the world. It was constructed by 13,000 workers over 6 years, and is now recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers.The tunnel opened in 1994, and now carries 48,000 people between the UK and France every day.