Welcome to the website of the Fishergate, Fulford and Heslington Local History Society ( FFH for short ).
We are a group of people interested in the history and heritage of the south eastern quater of the city of York, including the Fishergate and Fulford Road area and the adjacent villages of Fulford and Heslington.
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You can become a member (form available here) for the very small sum of £5, which gives you reduced entry (£1) to our events. Non-members are very welcome, but we'll ask for £2 on the door. This just about covers our costs for the hall hire, but not much more, so we rely on donations and grants.  Tea and coffee and nice biscuits are usually served after our meetings.

Look on the Events page to see our programme of meetings and guided walks.  You don't have to be a member to come to our events, but we would be very pleased if you decided to join.
Our Events page also has links to other groups you may like.

Use the drop-down headings on the top of this page to find lots of interesting subjects about our area -. and don't miss the Event Reports Page for updates on what we have been up to
Read our 2017/18 Newsletter HERE 
​Beautifully designed and written by Louise Wheatley, it gives a summary of our wide-ranging activities over the past years.  It certainly amazed me how much we have done!
Also, the 2016/17 newsletter is HERE
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​Read about our conference on the 'The Historic Mystery of Old St Oswald's Church' via the Fulford page drop-down listings and hear Prof Jane Hawkes talk about the Anglo-Saxon cross HERE
OUR NEXT Event....
Saturday 23 November - 2.30 pm to 4.30pm
Are You Interested in the History of Your Fishergate Home?
Drop in anytime in the afternoon to Busk in Sandringham St.
Bring what you know (if anything) and we'll show you what we have found about the history of our area, its variety of houses, who lived in them, etc.
This event is intended to kick-start a research project where we will help each other to dig into the archives and internet sources, to build a picture of our special part of York. Read more on our Fishergate Page, HERE
(if you are interested but can't come on Saturday, please email us on ffhyork.localhistory@gmail.com, or put a message on the Contact Us box on this website)

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And More to look forward to....
8th December
End of Year Social at St Oswald's Church Hall - Sunday, 2pm - 4pm
Bring food and drink to share with your old friends and make new friends too!
Good conversation, an excellent Raffle (please bring a prize if you can) and other entertainments
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And to begin 2020.....
19th January
 The Search for Alcuin's York
Alcuin specialist, Dr Mary Garrison, paints a picture of York at the time of Alcuin.
What can we deduce about the city from his writings and visitors
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​More information about our 2019 and a taste of 2020 Programmes on our Events Page
Following our ​2014 Conference: Eoforwic: Anglian Fishergate
and Pre-Viking York, this event is unmissable!
​The York Archaeological Forum presents the annual
YORK ARCHAEOLOGY CONFERENCE 2019
DISCOVERING ANGLIAN YORK: DIGGING IN THE DARK?
Saturday 16th November 2019 - 10.30am to 5pm (Doors open 10am)
George Hudson Room, West Offices, Station Rise, York, YO1 6GA (venue is fully accessible)
Tickets £15 (must be booked in advance) (15 reduced-fee student places available at £5)
Full programme & tickets are available HERE
Outstanding Speakers: Ailsa Mainman, Mary Garrison, Ian Milsted, Andrew Woods,
Julian Richards, Richard Morris, John Oxley
News
​March 2019
  • Fulford Ring Saved  - ​Thanks to grants and public generosity, the beautiful medieval Fulford Ring has been purchased by the Yorkshire Museum and is now on display.  Click HERE to see it and read all about it.
December 2018
  • Archaeological investigations have begun at Fishergate Postern Tower as part of work to install an electricity supply to the building.  You can volunteer to take part, or pop in to see what's happening.  For pictures see the Friends of York Walls Website HERE
November 2018
  • ​Samples from our Fishergate School Great War book can be seen on our WW1 page HERE
  • New photos added to our Elmwood Street page, Click HERE
August 2018
  • Our colleagues at Red Tower and Fishergate Postern Tower have organised the first 'Festival of the Walls' on Saturday 11th August.  There are a number of Guided Tours, including our Chris Rainger, who is leading a walk around Fishergate, starting at the Postern Tower at 10.15am
  • Click HERE for a Festival Flyer
  • Click HERE for a pic of the walking tour listening to the history of Fishergate House
July 2018
  • During the recent beautiful weather, the low water level in the river Ouse has exposed the sunken remains of two wooden barges nestling under the willows along New Walk, approx. 200m downstream of the Millennium Bridge​.    See Photo Here Specialists from York Archaeological Trust have examined them and we are looking forward to seeing their report (which we will put on this website, of course)
February 2018
  • Allan Francis has written a fascinating history of Well House, which used to stand close to the old church of St Oswald in Fulford.  Read it HERE
  • Do you have a Suffragette in your family history? 
  • 2018 marks the 100th Anniversary of the 1st General Election where (some) women could vote, so we are beginning to look for people who were involved in our area.  Please use our Contact Box to get in touch if you have any information.
August 2017
  • We are delighted to hear that the fantastic website describing the important archaeological excavations at the Mecca Bingo Hall and Fishergate House, has been restored to working order.  Do have a look at it HERE
  • News just in - The developer has withdrawn their proposal for 79 Fulford Road, previously described below.  We await their new proposals with interest.
July 2017
  • ​The developer of 79 Fulford Road in Fishergate has submitted a planning application which includes reconstruction of 2 of the 3 arches from the old Theatre Royal as part of a café at the front of the housing & flats to be built on the site.  We don't particularly like the design of the flats as they will look very stark next to the Victorian terraces, but the application is very likely to be approved by the Council.  Read the developer's Heritage Statement which has a very interesting summary of the building's history - HERE
March 2017
  • Good News for Ordnance Lane!  The proposal to demolish the Edwardian Military Hospital accommodation buildings has been cancelled.   Let's hope the new plans will respect the historic integrity of the site.  Read a York Press article HERE.
  • ​Sadly, York Beer & Wine Shop in Sandringham Street, Fishergate, has closed after 32 years.  The owner, Jim Helsby has been a good friend to FFH and we will miss him and his wonderful selection of beer and wine and cheese.  Read more in this Press article. 
  • We have discovered this amazing film by Shepherd Construction about the building of the University - view it on u-tube HERE
February 2017
  • The stone 19th century masonry façade opposite the Priory Hotel in in Fishergate is under threat.  The owner has posted a notice seeking a decision on its possible demolition.  Not surprisingly, we want it preserved and incorporated sensitively into any redevelopment.  Read more HERE
  • Update - The council have listened to the many concerned comments and have posted an Article 4 Direction Notice, which means it cannot be demolished without Council consent.  Read a Press article HERE
January 2017
  • Good News for Ordnance Lane?  The proposal to demolish the Edwardian Military Hospital accommodation buildings has been stalled by the collapse of the firm the Council wanted to do the work.  Read a York Press article HERE
  • A new page has been added to this website with information about the old church of St Oswald in Fulford.  She page has links to most of the documents relating to the archaeology which was undertaken during the conversion of the church into a private house.  ​Click here to jump to the page  
  • ​Follow this link to read a report on our January meeting, where Jayne Rimmer of YAT gave a fascinating talk about using Tree-Ring sampling techniques to date timber framed buildings, with examples of some in York.  
  • A new link has also been added providing access to part of the (currently inaccessible) information on the archaeological excavations at Blue Bridge Lane, where the lost church of St Helen's was discovered. Here ​​
  • Another new link has been added providing access to the report on excavations at the lost church of All Saints Fishergate, on the corner of Fawcett Street.  Here
​November 2016
  • We have recently gained access to the records from the archaeology undertaken in 1980 when Old St Oswald's Church was converted into a private house.  We soon hope to publish a 'layperson's' version of the findings, including the profound implications for the origins of the church. 
July 2016
  • A very rare gold shilling dating from AD c.620-650 has been found in Fulford near the possible site of the 1066 battle - more evidence for Anglian settlement. For more details click here
  • We had a very interesting talk by Richard Green at our July meeting on Heslington Windmill and the restoration of Holgate Windmill, followed by a guided visit to Holgate windmill.  Click on the links for more information.
  • Watch a You Tube video about Holgate Windmill HERE
  • A text of the guided walk around Fishergate can be downloaded here.  The guided walk leaflet can be downloaded here.
  • Friends of York Walls have found the name of the Watchman at Fishergate Postern Tower in 1652.  He was Richard Wilson.  To read more see the this report on the York Quarter Sessions.
  • We Joined the Fishergate Ward Summer Fair at the field near Millennium Bridge on Sunday 3rd July 2016 and displayed our Fishergate Ring display boards. Picture
June 2016
  • Peter Addyman's talk on the newly published York Historical Atlas was a great success - picture
  • Our response to the Council Planning Application to demolish the former Military Hospital housing in Ordnance Lane
  • A report on the Heslington Hoard of 2,800 Roman coins, found in 1966 during construction of the university.
May 2016 November 2015
  • Publication of our WWI commemoration booklet, selected pages Fishergate pages - Download here.
September 2015 January 2015 May 2013 September 2012 July 2012 June 2012 April 2012 February 2012
Find out about our Area

Fulford

A linear village south of the City, with many 18th and 19th century houses and a 12th century former church. The site of the Battle of Fulford is at the south end of the village.

Fishergate & Fulford Road

Picture
An area of 19th and 20th century housing, from the City Walls, Fishergate Postern Tower and Fishergate Bar, running south down Fulford Road past Imphal Barracks and east to Walmgate Stray

Heslington

Dominated by Heslington Hall and the University of York, the village of Heslington retains the charm and county feel of a small rural farming village.