Three Sites in the City of York1

Abstract

The final identification of what is known as the ‘Birthplace’ of Guy Fawkes has not only settled a question much disputed in York, but has led to the discovery of a number of small facts of wider significance.It has been generally known since 1933 that Edward Fawkes, father of Guy, was a tenant of the Dean and Chapter, and that his house stood in Stonegate, for in that year the late Rev. Angelo Raine published a complete transcript of a lease made on 8 July 1579 by the Dean and Chapter to Edith Fawkes, widow, of a dwelling house in Stonegate late in her husband's tenure and occupation. Mr Raine was confident that further research would enable this house to be identified. The research has now been undertaken, and the house is found to have been on the northwest side of the street, and to be represented today by nos. 32-34 Stonegate (currently occupied by Mearas, carpet specialists, A. Simpson-East, tailor, and the Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant). All the premises appear to have been entirely rebuilt from the ground level since the sixteenth century.