York quickly became one of the most important cities in Roman Britain, and after 211 became the capital of the province Britannia Inferior.

Constantine the Great—later responsible for making Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire—was first proclaimed Emperor in the city.

After the Romans York was taken by the Angles and was renamed Eoforwic c.

Captured by the Vikings 866, the city quickly took on a new identity as Jorvik (pronounced “Yor-vik”) and experienced a major urban revival as a centre of Viking trade and settlement in northern England.

Industry finally came to York with the arrival of the railways in the 1830s, and owing to its strategic position approximately halfway between London and Edinburgh on the East Coast Main Line, the city became a major headquarters, junction and works for the railways, a role which it continues to this day.

The other major industry of the city was confectionery; the Rowntree’s works, now owned by Nestlé, is the only one still producing but a delicious chocolatey smell still wafts through the city when the wind is in the right direction.