Taken over Mustow Street, this picture shows the Mediaeval Abbey Gate which faces across the car park, up Angel Hill to the Corn Hill. The Traverse and Corn Exchange are seen in the right of centre along with the Market Place.

The grid iron pattern of the streets planned in the 14th century is clearly seen. This is a typical pattern of new towns built since the days of ancient Greece and can be found all over the world.

The town was built to house the growing number of Abbey workers who were needed to provide the goods and services for the large numbers of pilgrims who were visiting the town at that time.

In the photograph several phases of the development of the town can be seen. First the Mediaeval and Tudor town houses - many with Georgian frontages occupy the centre of the picture. Second, Georgian and Victorian town houses are to the right, particularly the bottom right of the picture. Third, the modern infill of offices, shopping complexes and car parking. Note that the large scale of modern buildings is out of keeping with the rest of the town and the pressure put on the mediaeval street plans by the presence of cars. For this reason the most popular shopping streets have become pedestrianised. Many tourists now arrive by coach and walk to visit the Abbey grounds and the Corn Hill area of town.