4 6 
THE CHURCH AND PARISH OF 
the choosing of churchwardens, the visitation of the Arch¬ 
deacon, and on Perambulation Day; and went to law when its 
rights were infringed. To meet expenses rates were levied 
and collected by the parish officials. At each meeting after the 
election of overseers, “ Lights " were nominated for the next 
election, and these in turn became overseers. On January ist, 
1901, the City of York for rating purposes became one parish, 
and Parish Overseers ceased to exist, and thus the last link of 
the old parochial life was merged in the City Council. 
The great event in parish life was Perambulation Day, which 
took place on Ascension Day. The Ramble, as it was some¬ 
times called, was looked forward to with keen delight by 
young and old. The rector, churchwardens, feoffees, overseers, 
clerk, sexton, constable, and the other parish officials met the 
parishioners in the Vestry, whilst the boys and girls gathered 
outside. Within the vestry aie and bread were dispensed, 
then the officials gathered the willows and wands for touching 
or pricking the boundary, some took ladders to assist over 
obstacles, and others carried refreshments for support on the 
way. 
Proceeding to the “ Grapes/’ now “ Crown,” which was 
within and marked the eastern limit of the parish of S. Martin, 
the ceremony began with tracing the boundary southwards, 
keeping on the outside of it as far as possible. Through houses 
and yards and along Fetter Lane the procession wended its 
way to a boundary plate (now gone) some 40 feet east of S. 
Martin's Lane, then turning northwards along the garden 
behind house, 15 Micklegate, in and out and westward by the 
narrow passage adjoining the churchyard, crossed S. Martin’s 
Lane, then by stableyard at rear of house, 21 Micklegate, and 
outside of what is now S. Martin’s Square to another boundary 
plate in Trinity Lane, and so on to Micklegate. The proces¬ 
sion passed through the side door of Micklegate House to 
Tanner Row, where there is a boundary plate, turned to the 
left as far as another boundary plate (now gone) opposite 
Smithson’s Buildings, and then northwards crossed the end of 
Friar’s Gardens on Toft Green to the City r Walls. 
The area now occupied by the old railway station was, in 
early days, the King’s Tofts, it was the market place, and also 
