Yorkshire and the Humber Manual

The front cover of Streets for All: Yorkshire and the Humber which shows people in the market place in Whitby, Yorkshire Yorkshire and the Humber is one of the most diverse of the English regions. The southwest it is heavily urbanised, while to the north and east, there are extensive rural areas. This diversity is reflected in the character of the buildings and streets of its villages, towns and cities.  A key contributor to this has been the underlying geology. 

Throughout history, the region’s geology has supplied a wide range of stone for its buildings (including sandstones, limestone and ironstone) and its clays have influenced a diverse palette of brick types and roofing materials.

Prior to the industrial era the building materials – including paving materials – were locally sourced. River cobbles, sandstone and limestone setts were all applied and still survive, especially in the region’s many market towns and villages. 

In some parts, its industrial processes have contributed to the materials seen in the streetscape. Industrial towns and cities also have distinctive plans, predominantly built on loose grid patterns or created as a sequence of streets linking squares and spaces. In contrast, York’s plan is medieval with its tight network of streets and alleys enclosed by the city walls. These distinct characters have to be thoroughly understood if they are to be properly conserved