Nowt So Queer as York
from the Yorkshire Proverb
“There’s nowt so queer as folk!”
About the Walking Tour & the Nowt So Queer Project
Nowt So Queer is more than just a walking tour—it’s a journey through the heart of York’s queer history, told through poetry, performance, and the voices of those whose stories have long been forgotten or overlooked. This project is deeply tied to my ongoing research, which blends queer theory, historical research, and creative exploration. As a poet and performance maker, I’m exploring the queer past of York by walking through it, listening to it, and—most importantly—reimagining it through poetry and narrative.
The tour takes you through the streets of York, uncovering queer connections to iconic literary figures like Percy Shelley, the Brontë sisters, Oscar Wilde, and W.H. Auden. But this isn't just about historical facts—it's about the personal, emotional stories of those who lived, loved, and defied societal norms. At each stop, you’ll engage with poems and writing prompts, reflecting on the city’s queer history in a creative, interactive way. This walk is part of a larger, ongoing effort to create a digital queer archive of York, preserving these stories for future generations and inviting everyone to contribute their own voice to the narrative.
The Nowt So Queer project is my response to York’s rich yet hidden queer history, a way of turning the city into an ever-evolving, living archive. The walking tour is just the beginning—a small piece of a much larger puzzle that includes the development of an app, Nowt So Queer As York, which will allow you to explore the queer history of the city wherever you are. Through this project, I aim to bring queer history to the forefront, blending art, history, and community to build a space where queer voices can thrive.