The Battle of York [1]

But Which Battle?

We all know about the Battle of Marston Moor. Don't we?

In 1644, during the English Civil War, York was besieged. Royalist troops in the city were surrounded by a combined English Parliamentarian and Scottish army.

Eventually another Royalist army commanded by Prince Rupert attempted to come to the rescue. On hearing that Rupert was on his way, the allies abandoned the siege and, on the 2nd of July, gathered at Marston Moor to the west of York. 

In sheer numbers of men involved, Marston Moor is thought to be the largest battle every fought on English soil. It started at around 7pm and lasted about two hours. Even in that short time the Royalists lost 4000 men killed, and had 1500 taken prisoner. The Scots' and Parliamentarian casualties were much lighter; perhaps as few as 300 killed.

The Royalist defeat at Marston Moor meant that they had effectively lost control of the North of England. The battle also boosted the reputation of the Parliamentarian cavalry commander, Oliver Cromwell.

Between Poppleton and Hammerton on the railway line between York, Harrogate and Leeds ...

... you can spy three closed stations. In order they are (top to bottom) Hessay, Marston Moor and Wilstrop.

Another conflict to the south-east of the City is of particular interest to this blog.

It is from next month that the latest round in the on-going Battle of Heslington Hall comes to a blood spattered conclusion.

fbb wrote an extended series of blogs about buses to York University starting with "fbb goes to University (1)" [read again]. Only the keenest will want to read the whole lot.

Suffice it to say that First York ruled the roost with services 4 and 5 to the Heslington campus, later ftr route 4 with its appallingly bad articulated buses.

Then along came a reinvented York Pullman with competitive route 44.

Transdev took Pullman over and a deal was struck with the University which (sort of) pushed First York into the long grass. Transdev had exclusive access to the private road (Lakeside Way) linking the original campus with the developing Heslington East site and the Sport Village near the Grimston Bar Park and Ride.

In term time the 44 runs every 8 minutes Monday to Friday, every 10 on Saturday and every 15 on Sunday. The vacation service is every 15 minutes seven days a week.

The next skirmish saw First service 4 extended to developing Heslington East campus but NOT via the private roads.

This runs Monday to Saturday at least every ten minutes and every 15 on Sunday.

And yes, there are simply too many buses. To add to the mix First also runs buses to East on route 6 via Tang Hall and used to toddle along the Hull Road to to the Sport Village ...

... but the 14 was withdrawn soon after fbb's 2013 visit.

But it's all change from Sunday 2nd August because First have won the new five year contract with the University including that exclusive right to use Lakeside Drive.

Transdev are now sidelined.

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Bracknell Pull-Out Fill-In

If you missed the shock headlines, First Bus have announced the closure of their Bracknell operation. Information is now filtering through about how its services will be covered by other operators.

First Bus service 94 fom Blacknell via Crowthorne, Sandhurst and Blackwater to Camberley ...

... will be operated by Stagecoach from 29th August.

The timetable is similar.

From the same date, however, Courtney buses have registered a half-hourly 194, again via the same route.

Courtney have also registered a revised 171 and 172 to replace First's Bracknell town services.

No mention on-line, yet, of First's 90 ...

... which has been sold to Reading buses.

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 Next Eboracum blog : Tuesday 14th July