Read about some of our past events
Still waiting to be written up...
February 22 Treasurer’s House and the rise of the Green family, Glennis Whyte
November 9th Guy Fawkes, the Gunpowder Plot and York – an illustrated talk by Tony Morgan
On November 5th each year we celebrate the failure of the Gunpowder Plot with bonfires
and fireworks but how much do we really know about the history behind this fascinating event? Author Tony Morgan will cover Guy Fawkes's childhood, the events of the Gunpowder Plot
and many local connections.
(read Linda Haywood's fascinating article about Fawkes connections to Bishopthorpe - HERE)
February 22 Treasurer’s House and the rise of the Green family, Glennis Whyte
November 9th Guy Fawkes, the Gunpowder Plot and York – an illustrated talk by Tony Morgan
On November 5th each year we celebrate the failure of the Gunpowder Plot with bonfires
and fireworks but how much do we really know about the history behind this fascinating event? Author Tony Morgan will cover Guy Fawkes's childhood, the events of the Gunpowder Plot
and many local connections.
(read Linda Haywood's fascinating article about Fawkes connections to Bishopthorpe - HERE)
Raban Maur (left), supported by Alcuin (middle), dedicates his work to Archbishop Otgar of Mainz (Right) Carolingian Manuscript c. 831
The Search for Alcuin's York - Dr Mary Garrison, 18th January 2020
Mary Garrison is a good friend of FFH and has spoken to us before on Alcuin, but we asked her to return because she is currently writing a book on him and her research has extended her knowledge and understanding.
Alcuin was one of the most learned and influential men of the early Middle Ages and was remembered by contemporaries as 'the most learned man anywhere to be found'.
Mary painted a vivid portrait of this scholar whose legacy survives today in the liturgy and the style of manuscript lettering. His love of books created one of most important libraries of the middle age and he was one of the finest teachers of the eighth century. 'The light of understanding is natural to human minds', he said, 'just as flint has a spark within it by nature, but the understanding remains dormant like the spark in the flint without the frequent attention of the teacher.'
Alcuin (c 730/40-804) was a great teacher from York's Minster school and became one of the most influential men of his century, renowned throughout Europe for his learning. He was a principal advisor to the Frankish Emperor Charlemagne, and was later Abbot of Tours. If Northumbria in supposed decline could produce so great a figure, what else might be lost from view? That Alcuin's achievements were unique may be true, but that he was alone in the quality of his education, a single solitary flame in the darkness of a dying kingdom, seems on the face of it unlikely.
Alcuin himself provides us with a lyrical description of his own city of York. It was a city with 'high walls and towers' - (download Mary's translation HERE) an indication, backed up by recent excavations, that the walls of the Roman fortress still stood. York was adorned with the ancient Minster of St Peter with its fine new altar decked with 'gold, silver and jewels' placed on the site of the baptism in 627 of the first Christian king of Northumbria, Edwin (see BA April). There was also a great new church of the Alma Sophia, or Holy Wisdom, perhaps a centrally-planned building like Charlemagne's own palace building at Aachen, although all trace of it has vanished. It too was lavishly furnished, and the works had been supervised by Alcuin himself and his colleague Eanbald.York in Alcuin's time was clearly flourishing.
The library of York's Minster school, compiled mainly by Alcuin's mentor Archbishop Ælberht (767-78), was one of the most extensive in Europe, containing books by authors ranging from Jerome and Athanasius to Gregory the Great, and from John Chrysostom to Aristotle, Virgil, Cicero and Boethius. The curriculum at York was wide. Alongside Latin grammar, rhetoric and time-reckoning, students also learned logic, astronomy, geometry, arithmetic, maybe even history and natural history.
This curriculum was transferred by Alcuin to Charlemagne's court at Aachen and later to Tours, reintroducing books and subjects which had been neglected for centuries. As late as the 830s there were still requests to York from continental Europe for the loan of books. Read a short article about Alcuin's York by Dominic Tweddle HERE
You can hear Mary Garrison in discussion with Melvin Bragg on 30th March edition of 'In Our Time' on Radio 4 HERE You can also hear Mary talking about Alcuin on this BBC programme HERE
Read more about Mary and her research HERE
Mary Garrison is a good friend of FFH and has spoken to us before on Alcuin, but we asked her to return because she is currently writing a book on him and her research has extended her knowledge and understanding.
Alcuin was one of the most learned and influential men of the early Middle Ages and was remembered by contemporaries as 'the most learned man anywhere to be found'.
Mary painted a vivid portrait of this scholar whose legacy survives today in the liturgy and the style of manuscript lettering. His love of books created one of most important libraries of the middle age and he was one of the finest teachers of the eighth century. 'The light of understanding is natural to human minds', he said, 'just as flint has a spark within it by nature, but the understanding remains dormant like the spark in the flint without the frequent attention of the teacher.'
Alcuin (c 730/40-804) was a great teacher from York's Minster school and became one of the most influential men of his century, renowned throughout Europe for his learning. He was a principal advisor to the Frankish Emperor Charlemagne, and was later Abbot of Tours. If Northumbria in supposed decline could produce so great a figure, what else might be lost from view? That Alcuin's achievements were unique may be true, but that he was alone in the quality of his education, a single solitary flame in the darkness of a dying kingdom, seems on the face of it unlikely.
Alcuin himself provides us with a lyrical description of his own city of York. It was a city with 'high walls and towers' - (download Mary's translation HERE) an indication, backed up by recent excavations, that the walls of the Roman fortress still stood. York was adorned with the ancient Minster of St Peter with its fine new altar decked with 'gold, silver and jewels' placed on the site of the baptism in 627 of the first Christian king of Northumbria, Edwin (see BA April). There was also a great new church of the Alma Sophia, or Holy Wisdom, perhaps a centrally-planned building like Charlemagne's own palace building at Aachen, although all trace of it has vanished. It too was lavishly furnished, and the works had been supervised by Alcuin himself and his colleague Eanbald.York in Alcuin's time was clearly flourishing.
The library of York's Minster school, compiled mainly by Alcuin's mentor Archbishop Ælberht (767-78), was one of the most extensive in Europe, containing books by authors ranging from Jerome and Athanasius to Gregory the Great, and from John Chrysostom to Aristotle, Virgil, Cicero and Boethius. The curriculum at York was wide. Alongside Latin grammar, rhetoric and time-reckoning, students also learned logic, astronomy, geometry, arithmetic, maybe even history and natural history.
This curriculum was transferred by Alcuin to Charlemagne's court at Aachen and later to Tours, reintroducing books and subjects which had been neglected for centuries. As late as the 830s there were still requests to York from continental Europe for the loan of books. Read a short article about Alcuin's York by Dominic Tweddle HERE
You can hear Mary Garrison in discussion with Melvin Bragg on 30th March edition of 'In Our Time' on Radio 4 HERE You can also hear Mary talking about Alcuin on this BBC programme HERE
Read more about Mary and her research HERE
November 9th Guy Fawkes, the Gunpowder Plot and York – an illustrated talk by Tony Morgan
On November 5th each year we celebrate the failure of the Gunpowder Plot with bonfires
and fireworks but how much do we really know about the history behind this fascinating event? Author Tony Morgan will cover Guy Fawkes's childhood, the events of the Gunpowder Plot
and many local connections.
(read Linda Haywood's fascinating article about Fawkes connections to Bishopthorpe - HERE)
On November 5th each year we celebrate the failure of the Gunpowder Plot with bonfires
and fireworks but how much do we really know about the history behind this fascinating event? Author Tony Morgan will cover Guy Fawkes's childhood, the events of the Gunpowder Plot
and many local connections.
(read Linda Haywood's fascinating article about Fawkes connections to Bishopthorpe - HERE)
Churches and Chapels in Heslington
The small community Heslington provides an interesting study of English religious belief and practice. Until 1869, the village was divided between the parishes of St Lawrence, near Walmgate Bar, and St Paul’s in the village. But in the mid-19th century there were also three non-conformist churches; a Wesleyan Methodist Association, a Wesleyan Methodist Chapel and an Independent Chapel. In the 20th century, a chapel was established for Catholics and St Paul’s was imaginatively re-modelled to provide a modern ecumenical environment, suitable for most denominations.
In October 2019, we were treated to a well researched study of this fascinating subject by one of our members; the former scientist and retired Anglican priest, Dr Peter Mott, who still takes occasional services at Heslington parish church.
Heslington is an Anglo-Saxon name, interpreted as “Settlement by the hazel trees”, which means it dates from long before “Great Heathen Army” of Vikings occupied York in 867. The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book, which lists two Norse Lords of the Manor; Folcar, and Orm son of Gamal. Both were major Northumbrian landowners who lived elsewhere.
After the “harrying of the North” by William the Conqueror, most Norse lords were dispossessed and their lands given to Norman supporters of the King. Count Alan of Brittany (William’s nephew, and lieutenant at the Battle of Hastings) became the 4th largest landowner in England, including 5 carucates in Heslington (a carucate was the area that could be cultivated in a year by one team of 8 oxen - about 120 acres).
King William appointed Thomas of Bayeux as Archbishop of York in 1070, after the death of Archbishop Aeldred. He rebuilt and re-organised York Minster, but objected when Count Alan established a Benedictine monastery (St. Mary’s) in the grounds of St. Olave’s Church, of which both men claimed to be patron. The King decided in favour of Count Alan, but to compensate, he gave Archbishop Thomas properties in Fishergate, Clifton and 4 carucates in Heslington.
In addition to building a new Minster, Archbishop Thomas also re-organised the canons (cathedral clergy), giving each their own land (prebendary) to support them. His successors continued this practice, and in about 1150, the Archbishop awarded his Heslington manor to the new Prebendary of Ampleforth and it is likely that the Prebend (Canon) built the first Heslington Church. Two surviving pictures of the original church show it was built in the Norman style with rounded arches, rather than pointed arches of the Gothic, which began to be used at the turn of the 13th Century. In 1388, 2 bells were installed, cast by John Porter of York. These are all that remain of the Medieval Church - except possibly the snowdrops in the former churchyard.
Methodism is said to have been introduced into Heslington in 1812. A chapel was opened by the Wesleyan Association in the 1830s and was still in use in 1851, but no more is known of it. In the 1840s two more chapels were built; by the Wesleyan Methodists in 1844 on the west side of Main Street, and by the Independents in 1847 on the east side. The Independent chapel was acquired by the Primitive Methodists and registered by them in 1887. The Wesleyan chapel closed in 1949 and became the Village Meeting Room in 1954.
In 1858 a new larger Parish Church was built in Heslington in memory of the Lord of the Manor, Yarburgh Yarburgh and paid for by his sister, Mrs. Alicia Lloyd, and her son George who had inherited the Heslington estate, and now changed his name to a single Yarburgh. (He inherited the title of Lord Deramore from his older brother in 1890.) The new Church was built in Victorian Gothic (specifically 14th Century Decorated) style.
A beautiful mosaic was installed behind the altar in 1880, made by the Italian Antonio Salviati (who also made the mosaic reredos in Fulford Church). It shows the four Gospel-writers: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, with symbolic floral mosaics inbetween. The central design is a Maltese Cross, in recognition that Heslington’s patron, Saint Paul, shipwrecked on the Island of Malta. The encaustic tiled floor was also installed at this time, and the stained glass windows showing the Nativity and Resurrection of Christ are in memory of Mary Elizabeth Bateson de Yarburgh, who died in 1884.
In the 1960s, the old vicarage was sold to the Roman Catholics for a Carmelite community and Catholic chaplaincy centre; there is now a chapel where services are held regularly for the friars and the university Catholic community.
With the arrival of the University, the parish church needed enlarging, and in 1973, St Paul’s church was radically and very successfully re-configured and enlarged to a design by Ronald Sims.
You can read an illustrated transcript of Peter Mott’s talk HERE
In October 2019, we were treated to a well researched study of this fascinating subject by one of our members; the former scientist and retired Anglican priest, Dr Peter Mott, who still takes occasional services at Heslington parish church.
Heslington is an Anglo-Saxon name, interpreted as “Settlement by the hazel trees”, which means it dates from long before “Great Heathen Army” of Vikings occupied York in 867. The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book, which lists two Norse Lords of the Manor; Folcar, and Orm son of Gamal. Both were major Northumbrian landowners who lived elsewhere.
After the “harrying of the North” by William the Conqueror, most Norse lords were dispossessed and their lands given to Norman supporters of the King. Count Alan of Brittany (William’s nephew, and lieutenant at the Battle of Hastings) became the 4th largest landowner in England, including 5 carucates in Heslington (a carucate was the area that could be cultivated in a year by one team of 8 oxen - about 120 acres).
King William appointed Thomas of Bayeux as Archbishop of York in 1070, after the death of Archbishop Aeldred. He rebuilt and re-organised York Minster, but objected when Count Alan established a Benedictine monastery (St. Mary’s) in the grounds of St. Olave’s Church, of which both men claimed to be patron. The King decided in favour of Count Alan, but to compensate, he gave Archbishop Thomas properties in Fishergate, Clifton and 4 carucates in Heslington.
In addition to building a new Minster, Archbishop Thomas also re-organised the canons (cathedral clergy), giving each their own land (prebendary) to support them. His successors continued this practice, and in about 1150, the Archbishop awarded his Heslington manor to the new Prebendary of Ampleforth and it is likely that the Prebend (Canon) built the first Heslington Church. Two surviving pictures of the original church show it was built in the Norman style with rounded arches, rather than pointed arches of the Gothic, which began to be used at the turn of the 13th Century. In 1388, 2 bells were installed, cast by John Porter of York. These are all that remain of the Medieval Church - except possibly the snowdrops in the former churchyard.
Methodism is said to have been introduced into Heslington in 1812. A chapel was opened by the Wesleyan Association in the 1830s and was still in use in 1851, but no more is known of it. In the 1840s two more chapels were built; by the Wesleyan Methodists in 1844 on the west side of Main Street, and by the Independents in 1847 on the east side. The Independent chapel was acquired by the Primitive Methodists and registered by them in 1887. The Wesleyan chapel closed in 1949 and became the Village Meeting Room in 1954.
In 1858 a new larger Parish Church was built in Heslington in memory of the Lord of the Manor, Yarburgh Yarburgh and paid for by his sister, Mrs. Alicia Lloyd, and her son George who had inherited the Heslington estate, and now changed his name to a single Yarburgh. (He inherited the title of Lord Deramore from his older brother in 1890.) The new Church was built in Victorian Gothic (specifically 14th Century Decorated) style.
A beautiful mosaic was installed behind the altar in 1880, made by the Italian Antonio Salviati (who also made the mosaic reredos in Fulford Church). It shows the four Gospel-writers: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, with symbolic floral mosaics inbetween. The central design is a Maltese Cross, in recognition that Heslington’s patron, Saint Paul, shipwrecked on the Island of Malta. The encaustic tiled floor was also installed at this time, and the stained glass windows showing the Nativity and Resurrection of Christ are in memory of Mary Elizabeth Bateson de Yarburgh, who died in 1884.
In the 1960s, the old vicarage was sold to the Roman Catholics for a Carmelite community and Catholic chaplaincy centre; there is now a chapel where services are held regularly for the friars and the university Catholic community.
With the arrival of the University, the parish church needed enlarging, and in 1973, St Paul’s church was radically and very successfully re-configured and enlarged to a design by Ronald Sims.
You can read an illustrated transcript of Peter Mott’s talk HERE
Yorkshire Museum Visit to see the Heslington Hoard
A lucky group of FFH members visited the Yorkshire Museum on 2nd October to see some of the Heslington Hoard of 2,871 Roman coins, which were found during construction the University library.
An additional and unexpected treat was a detailed talk by Andrew Woods, Senior Curator and numismatics specialist, who explained the composition of coins in the hoard, what they tell us about life in Roman York and possible reasons for them being placed in an urn on Heslington Hill.
FFH has a special connection with these coins, as our members Peter Mott, Charles Patmore and Robert Visick were part of the group of volunteers who cleaned and recorded the coins.
We have a page on this website where you can read more about them - just click HERE
A lucky group of FFH members visited the Yorkshire Museum on 2nd October to see some of the Heslington Hoard of 2,871 Roman coins, which were found during construction the University library.
An additional and unexpected treat was a detailed talk by Andrew Woods, Senior Curator and numismatics specialist, who explained the composition of coins in the hoard, what they tell us about life in Roman York and possible reasons for them being placed in an urn on Heslington Hill.
FFH has a special connection with these coins, as our members Peter Mott, Charles Patmore and Robert Visick were part of the group of volunteers who cleaned and recorded the coins.
We have a page on this website where you can read more about them - just click HERE
St Oswald's Church - A Victorian Gem!
We spent a splendid September morning examining the architectural and artistic detail of this grand Victorian church. Conservation Architect Ian Hayton, explained the French influence behind J C Prichett's design, and Louise Wheatley described the stained glass, font and funerary monuments.
On first entering the church, it gives the impression of being a typical urban barn-like church, but it came to life with with Ian and Louise's expertise. Behind the Altar is a stunning Venetian glass mosaic reredos by Salviati, with an adjacent stained glass window by Clayton and Bell depicting St Oswald.
We looked closely at the two fine carved oak memorials to local men killed in the Great War, and were designed by Walter Brierley, and large lozenge shaped hatchments recording major local land owners Robert Oats and William Richardson, were brought to the church from the old church (see HERE).
High above the parishioners, beautifully carved and painted musician-angels and priests look down from the top of the columns.
Outside, carved stone heads adorn just about every possible location, and are thought to be representations of local people, possible benefactors who paid for the new church. We looked at these as we made our way to the church hall for a slide show of high quality photographs of the stained glass windows and an exhibition of photographs of the musician-angels.
A really good event was topped by coffee and a splendid cake made by Louise Wheatley, pictured here.
You can read more about the church and see pictures of some of its treasures HERE
The church today is too large for its congregation and funds are being sought for essential structural and functional repairs, and to re-configure the interior to provide flexibility for a range of uses, including a large space for weekly worship, concerts, exhibitions, etc; small sanctuary for private prayer; meeting rooms; community café open most days; arts venue; training facilities. Read more about these plans HERE
We spent a splendid September morning examining the architectural and artistic detail of this grand Victorian church. Conservation Architect Ian Hayton, explained the French influence behind J C Prichett's design, and Louise Wheatley described the stained glass, font and funerary monuments.
On first entering the church, it gives the impression of being a typical urban barn-like church, but it came to life with with Ian and Louise's expertise. Behind the Altar is a stunning Venetian glass mosaic reredos by Salviati, with an adjacent stained glass window by Clayton and Bell depicting St Oswald.
We looked closely at the two fine carved oak memorials to local men killed in the Great War, and were designed by Walter Brierley, and large lozenge shaped hatchments recording major local land owners Robert Oats and William Richardson, were brought to the church from the old church (see HERE).
High above the parishioners, beautifully carved and painted musician-angels and priests look down from the top of the columns.
Outside, carved stone heads adorn just about every possible location, and are thought to be representations of local people, possible benefactors who paid for the new church. We looked at these as we made our way to the church hall for a slide show of high quality photographs of the stained glass windows and an exhibition of photographs of the musician-angels.
A really good event was topped by coffee and a splendid cake made by Louise Wheatley, pictured here.
You can read more about the church and see pictures of some of its treasures HERE
The church today is too large for its congregation and funds are being sought for essential structural and functional repairs, and to re-configure the interior to provide flexibility for a range of uses, including a large space for weekly worship, concerts, exhibitions, etc; small sanctuary for private prayer; meeting rooms; community café open most days; arts venue; training facilities. Read more about these plans HERE
Nurserymen - The First Greens of Fishergate! Botanists, Nurserymen and Gardeners.
Our Festival of Ideas Event for 2019
On 15th June, Judy Nicholson presented her in-depth research to a packed audience of over 90 members and visitors, our biggest-ever! (Thank goodness we were able to use the church hall's PA system for the first time)
Using many illustrations of garden design, plant catalogues, maps, drawings and photographs, Judy wove a complex story of how nurseries began in the gardens of the Dominican Friary in Toft Green, where Aldermen George and John Telford established a nursery garden around 1665, and flourished until 1816, when the Backhouse family took over the site. Backhouses stayed until George Hudson bought them out so he could build his new station (now the council offices) and Backhouses moved to the Riggs nursery in Fishergate. Riggs sold some of their land for the York Cemetery.
Judy told the story very thoroughly and her display of related material was examined in detail by our audience. This may be the first time that this story has been told. Thanks also to Louise Wheatley for her flowery cake!
(in case you are wondering, we called Judy's talk 'The First Greens of Fishergate' because Fishergate Ward is represented by Andy D'Agorne and Dave Taylor, the first Green Party councillors to be elected to the City of York Council)
Our Festival of Ideas Event for 2019
On 15th June, Judy Nicholson presented her in-depth research to a packed audience of over 90 members and visitors, our biggest-ever! (Thank goodness we were able to use the church hall's PA system for the first time)
Using many illustrations of garden design, plant catalogues, maps, drawings and photographs, Judy wove a complex story of how nurseries began in the gardens of the Dominican Friary in Toft Green, where Aldermen George and John Telford established a nursery garden around 1665, and flourished until 1816, when the Backhouse family took over the site. Backhouses stayed until George Hudson bought them out so he could build his new station (now the council offices) and Backhouses moved to the Riggs nursery in Fishergate. Riggs sold some of their land for the York Cemetery.
Judy told the story very thoroughly and her display of related material was examined in detail by our audience. This may be the first time that this story has been told. Thanks also to Louise Wheatley for her flowery cake!
(in case you are wondering, we called Judy's talk 'The First Greens of Fishergate' because Fishergate Ward is represented by Andy D'Agorne and Dave Taylor, the first Green Party councillors to be elected to the City of York Council)
My year as York’s Sheriff -
Verna Campbell on the Role and Regalia'
April 13th 2019
One of our first members, Verna Campbell, had the honour of being York’s Sheriff for 2018-19, so we couldn’t resist the opportunity to ask her to talk about having a year of her life taken over by civic duties.
Verna is well known to many as the former head of Naburn Primary School and is an active member of York Civic Trust, among many other roles. Her husband, Colin (Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of York), added an extra dimension to the morning, telling us candidly of his experience in the role of Sheriff’s consort.
Verna said she and Colin thought long and hard before accepting the invitation to take on the role, not just because of the huge amount of time it would take, but also their obligation to attend so many ceremonial, civic, church, military and guild functions as well as a wide range of community events – including this one!
She spoke movingly about the emotional effect of the combined Mayor and Sheriff ‘making’ ceremony, when the historic importance of the role to the history of York became abundantly clear. The previous sheriff and consort were dis-robed, and the regalia carefully placed on Verna and Colin, the robes feeling heavy in weight and history. (a summary of the history of the role and ceremonial accoutrements is at the end of this report)
Verna and Colin gave accounts of some of the events they undertook, including formal processions; eg. Legal Sunday, Remembrance Day, and the award of Freedom of the City to 2 Signal Regiment. Formal dinners, often required speeches too, and then there were Livery (Guild) Societies, Shrove Tuesday, Venison Feast, Church services…etc. Most of these are obligations where attendance of the sheriff is expected, even if she didn’t want really to be there.
We were delighted that Verna and Colin (and the Mayor) were among the readers at our event to commemorate the centenary of the Armistice at Fishergate School, bringing gravitas and poignancy as they read accounts of the unveiling of the school’s memorial in 1924.
Less formal and often very enjoyable events included unveiling the plaque marking the offices of York’s Suffragettes in Coney Street, the International Shared Meal, Diwali, the Under 11 Chess Challenge, a Tea Dance at Grimston Court, and a visit to Barley Studios to see the new stained glass for Westminster Abbey, designed by David Hockney to celebrate the Queen’s long reign.
Because of the need to ensure the security of the regalia and keep it neat and tidy, the official car chauffeurs Verna and Colin to and from events, and on this occasion, Janet Easton was their ‘Civic Support Officer’. Janet also spoke movingly about her role as custodian of both the role and regalia.
But the role is not always as glamorous as it may appear; particularly when the lift in the wonderfully refurbished Mansion House breaks down (as it did a number of times) leaving them stranded and phoning desperately for help! As well as having to listen to excruciating speeches, Verna said that they sometimes wondered why they had been invited to events at all, as the organisers and participants paid them scant attention.
But overall, the year had been an amazing experience, representing the city and placing her at the heart of York’s civic heritage and pride. Verna and Colin were also pleased to be able to choose Sheriff’s Charities; My Sight York, The Island and York Music Hub, raising money through the year for causes close to their heart. At the end of their term, they had raised over £40,000! Thanks Verna and Colin, we were delighted to hear about your very special year.
The role and he regalia…
The role of Sheriff dates back to the late Anglo-Saxon period of king Edgar (957 – 975) when the country was divided into Shires, with a Shire Reeve appointed to oversee justice and collect the king’s revenue across the county of Yorkshire, which was first referred to in official documents around this time.
The Norman’s continued the role and its importance is reflected in the Magna Carta, where 27 out of 63 clauses refer to the Sheriff’s powers.
The first Lord Mayor of York was Thomas Smith. He was granted this title in 1389 by Richard II (1367-1400) who also presented him with a sword when visiting the City, instructing that it could be carried point upright in procession, or pointing down when the king was present.
Richard II visited York on a number of occasions and granted the city greater freedoms and privileges. Most importantly, in 1396 he gave the city its most significant royal charter, which promoted it to the status of a county in its own right: ‘the county of the city of York’, ending the sheriff of Yorkshire’s powers over the city. Two annually elected sheriffs of York were controlled by the mayor.
York's Lord Mayor is second only to the Lord Mayor of London in precedence and the Sheriff holds the oldest office of Sheriff in England and Wales.
The roles of Mayor and Sheriff continued through the centuries, but the 1888 County Boroughs Act introduced a more democratic system of local government and the Mayor and Sheriff became largely ceremonial. Some towns abolished the role of Sheriff after the Local Government Act of 1972, but York continued the tradition as a symbol of the city’s historic status.
The Victoria County History lists the city's insignia as; two swords of state, a cap of maintenance, a great mace, four sergeants' maces, gold chains for the lord mayor and lady mayoress, a jewel worn with the lord mayor's chain, a lady mayoress's staff, a sheriff's chain and badge, sheriff's and under-sheriff's staffs, sheriff's lady's chain, three livery collars and badges, and a porter's staff.
The first sword was made in the early 15th century, and belonged to the Emperor Sigismund of Bohemia, the Holy Roman Emperor (1368-1437); at his death it passed to the Dean and Canons of Windsor; the Dean later gave it to one of his canons, Henry Hanslap, a native of York. Hanslap presented it to the city in 1439. The sword was redecorated in 1586, as recorded on the blade, and frequently repaired.
The second sword was given to the city in 1545 by Sir Martin Bowes, a native of York and Lord Mayor of London, in gratitude for the city's agreement to preserve St. Cuthbert's Church. It was extensively repaired in the early 17th century. Two other swords were in existence until at least 1796 but have been lost: one was given by Richard II in 1389 to be carried before the mayor, the other was used by him when he 'went abroad or stirred from home'.
The first Cap of Maintenance, worn by the sword-bearer on state occasions, is said to have been given by Richard II in 1393. New ones were bought in 1445 and 1580, and more recently, by George V in 1915, but the city still possesses the cap of 1580. The Cap worn today was given to the city by the queen in 2012.
A mace or maces were apparently borne before the mayor and sheriffs before that privilege was granted in the charter of 1396. There were at first six serjeants-at-mace, but later only four; a macebearer carries the great mace.
A great mace was certainly in existence during the 15th century, but a new one was made in 1580; another and larger one was made in 1647 and is the great mace still in use. The smaller mace disappeared during the 18th century. The four sergeants' maces, called 'city seals', are of comparatively modern date.
The lord mayor's gold chain of office was bequeathed to the city by a former lord mayor, Sir Robert Watter, in 1612. The lady mayoress's gold chain was given by Marmaduke Rawden in 1670. The jewel to be worn with the lord mayor's chain was given by Sir J. S. Rymer in 1914. The lady mayoress's 'staff of honour' was given by Alderman Richard Towne in 1726; it was reputed to have belonged to an Indian potentate and replaced an old staff.
The sheriff's gold chain and badge were given by Alderman Thomas Walker in 1893. The sheriff's and under-sheriff's staffs were given by Reginald Teasdale, under-sheriff, in 1921, and the sheriff's lady's chain by J. H. Turner in 1919. The three silver livery collars are worn by the sword-bearer, mace-bearer, and staff-bearer. They were formerly worn by the city waits and were in regular use by 1565; in 1566 a fourth collar was made when the number of waits was increased. They were repaired and partially remade in 1585, and two of the existing collars may be of that date. By the early 16th century the waits also wore the city arms on their sleeves, as did other civic officers later. The porter's staff was in use by at least 1679, a date with which it is inscribed.
Christopher Rainger
Chair of FFH
June 2019
Verna Campbell on the Role and Regalia'
April 13th 2019
One of our first members, Verna Campbell, had the honour of being York’s Sheriff for 2018-19, so we couldn’t resist the opportunity to ask her to talk about having a year of her life taken over by civic duties.
Verna is well known to many as the former head of Naburn Primary School and is an active member of York Civic Trust, among many other roles. Her husband, Colin (Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of York), added an extra dimension to the morning, telling us candidly of his experience in the role of Sheriff’s consort.
Verna said she and Colin thought long and hard before accepting the invitation to take on the role, not just because of the huge amount of time it would take, but also their obligation to attend so many ceremonial, civic, church, military and guild functions as well as a wide range of community events – including this one!
She spoke movingly about the emotional effect of the combined Mayor and Sheriff ‘making’ ceremony, when the historic importance of the role to the history of York became abundantly clear. The previous sheriff and consort were dis-robed, and the regalia carefully placed on Verna and Colin, the robes feeling heavy in weight and history. (a summary of the history of the role and ceremonial accoutrements is at the end of this report)
Verna and Colin gave accounts of some of the events they undertook, including formal processions; eg. Legal Sunday, Remembrance Day, and the award of Freedom of the City to 2 Signal Regiment. Formal dinners, often required speeches too, and then there were Livery (Guild) Societies, Shrove Tuesday, Venison Feast, Church services…etc. Most of these are obligations where attendance of the sheriff is expected, even if she didn’t want really to be there.
We were delighted that Verna and Colin (and the Mayor) were among the readers at our event to commemorate the centenary of the Armistice at Fishergate School, bringing gravitas and poignancy as they read accounts of the unveiling of the school’s memorial in 1924.
Less formal and often very enjoyable events included unveiling the plaque marking the offices of York’s Suffragettes in Coney Street, the International Shared Meal, Diwali, the Under 11 Chess Challenge, a Tea Dance at Grimston Court, and a visit to Barley Studios to see the new stained glass for Westminster Abbey, designed by David Hockney to celebrate the Queen’s long reign.
Because of the need to ensure the security of the regalia and keep it neat and tidy, the official car chauffeurs Verna and Colin to and from events, and on this occasion, Janet Easton was their ‘Civic Support Officer’. Janet also spoke movingly about her role as custodian of both the role and regalia.
But the role is not always as glamorous as it may appear; particularly when the lift in the wonderfully refurbished Mansion House breaks down (as it did a number of times) leaving them stranded and phoning desperately for help! As well as having to listen to excruciating speeches, Verna said that they sometimes wondered why they had been invited to events at all, as the organisers and participants paid them scant attention.
But overall, the year had been an amazing experience, representing the city and placing her at the heart of York’s civic heritage and pride. Verna and Colin were also pleased to be able to choose Sheriff’s Charities; My Sight York, The Island and York Music Hub, raising money through the year for causes close to their heart. At the end of their term, they had raised over £40,000! Thanks Verna and Colin, we were delighted to hear about your very special year.
The role and he regalia…
The role of Sheriff dates back to the late Anglo-Saxon period of king Edgar (957 – 975) when the country was divided into Shires, with a Shire Reeve appointed to oversee justice and collect the king’s revenue across the county of Yorkshire, which was first referred to in official documents around this time.
The Norman’s continued the role and its importance is reflected in the Magna Carta, where 27 out of 63 clauses refer to the Sheriff’s powers.
The first Lord Mayor of York was Thomas Smith. He was granted this title in 1389 by Richard II (1367-1400) who also presented him with a sword when visiting the City, instructing that it could be carried point upright in procession, or pointing down when the king was present.
Richard II visited York on a number of occasions and granted the city greater freedoms and privileges. Most importantly, in 1396 he gave the city its most significant royal charter, which promoted it to the status of a county in its own right: ‘the county of the city of York’, ending the sheriff of Yorkshire’s powers over the city. Two annually elected sheriffs of York were controlled by the mayor.
York's Lord Mayor is second only to the Lord Mayor of London in precedence and the Sheriff holds the oldest office of Sheriff in England and Wales.
The roles of Mayor and Sheriff continued through the centuries, but the 1888 County Boroughs Act introduced a more democratic system of local government and the Mayor and Sheriff became largely ceremonial. Some towns abolished the role of Sheriff after the Local Government Act of 1972, but York continued the tradition as a symbol of the city’s historic status.
The Victoria County History lists the city's insignia as; two swords of state, a cap of maintenance, a great mace, four sergeants' maces, gold chains for the lord mayor and lady mayoress, a jewel worn with the lord mayor's chain, a lady mayoress's staff, a sheriff's chain and badge, sheriff's and under-sheriff's staffs, sheriff's lady's chain, three livery collars and badges, and a porter's staff.
The first sword was made in the early 15th century, and belonged to the Emperor Sigismund of Bohemia, the Holy Roman Emperor (1368-1437); at his death it passed to the Dean and Canons of Windsor; the Dean later gave it to one of his canons, Henry Hanslap, a native of York. Hanslap presented it to the city in 1439. The sword was redecorated in 1586, as recorded on the blade, and frequently repaired.
The second sword was given to the city in 1545 by Sir Martin Bowes, a native of York and Lord Mayor of London, in gratitude for the city's agreement to preserve St. Cuthbert's Church. It was extensively repaired in the early 17th century. Two other swords were in existence until at least 1796 but have been lost: one was given by Richard II in 1389 to be carried before the mayor, the other was used by him when he 'went abroad or stirred from home'.
The first Cap of Maintenance, worn by the sword-bearer on state occasions, is said to have been given by Richard II in 1393. New ones were bought in 1445 and 1580, and more recently, by George V in 1915, but the city still possesses the cap of 1580. The Cap worn today was given to the city by the queen in 2012.
A mace or maces were apparently borne before the mayor and sheriffs before that privilege was granted in the charter of 1396. There were at first six serjeants-at-mace, but later only four; a macebearer carries the great mace.
A great mace was certainly in existence during the 15th century, but a new one was made in 1580; another and larger one was made in 1647 and is the great mace still in use. The smaller mace disappeared during the 18th century. The four sergeants' maces, called 'city seals', are of comparatively modern date.
The lord mayor's gold chain of office was bequeathed to the city by a former lord mayor, Sir Robert Watter, in 1612. The lady mayoress's gold chain was given by Marmaduke Rawden in 1670. The jewel to be worn with the lord mayor's chain was given by Sir J. S. Rymer in 1914. The lady mayoress's 'staff of honour' was given by Alderman Richard Towne in 1726; it was reputed to have belonged to an Indian potentate and replaced an old staff.
The sheriff's gold chain and badge were given by Alderman Thomas Walker in 1893. The sheriff's and under-sheriff's staffs were given by Reginald Teasdale, under-sheriff, in 1921, and the sheriff's lady's chain by J. H. Turner in 1919. The three silver livery collars are worn by the sword-bearer, mace-bearer, and staff-bearer. They were formerly worn by the city waits and were in regular use by 1565; in 1566 a fourth collar was made when the number of waits was increased. They were repaired and partially remade in 1585, and two of the existing collars may be of that date. By the early 16th century the waits also wore the city arms on their sleeves, as did other civic officers later. The porter's staff was in use by at least 1679, a date with which it is inscribed.
Christopher Rainger
Chair of FFH
June 2019
The Ecology and History of Fulford Ings – a guided walk led by Andrew Vevers
21st May 2019
At least 40 members and friends enjoyed a beautiful evening walking through Fulford Ings, from Old St Oswald's to Water Fulford Hall, with interesting ecological, environmental and historical information provided by local Environmental Consultant, Andrew Vevers. As so often happens, our intelligent members asked questions and added their knowledge along the way too.
Andrew explained some of the issues involved in managing the protected areas of SSSI and the importance of the Ings to wildlife and plant ecology. When we arrived at the modern course of Germany Beck, Lynn Harper gave an impromptu account of the battle of Fulford, which took place nearby on 20th September 1066. (thanks Lynn!)
Nearby, Chris Rainger pointed out the sumps of timber posts on the bed of the river - all that remains of the wharf which once operated there and then Andrew found a Tansy Beetle, much to the delight of us all. Picture below.
We walked as far as Water Fulford Hall and saw the line of stones along the bed of the river, the remains of a much larger wharf which brought coal and other bulky or heave items to the village and surrounding area and probably exported grain and produce from local farms. A concrete landing still stands in the middle of the wharf, with two bollards marked ONB (Ouse Navigation Board), pictured below.
We walked back along the path on the eastern side of the Ings, which runs next to the boundary of village properties, some very large. Many people commented on what a lovely time they had enjoyed and how nice it was to see families with children on one of our events.
To read Chris Rainger's paper on re-routing Germany Beck and the wharves served by Landing Lane, click HERE
Left photo shows the Water Fulford Hall Landing with the remains of the long wharf wall in the river bed behind. ONB stands for Ouse Navigation Board. Right photo shows a Tansy Beetle on a Tansy plant.
21st May 2019
At least 40 members and friends enjoyed a beautiful evening walking through Fulford Ings, from Old St Oswald's to Water Fulford Hall, with interesting ecological, environmental and historical information provided by local Environmental Consultant, Andrew Vevers. As so often happens, our intelligent members asked questions and added their knowledge along the way too.
Andrew explained some of the issues involved in managing the protected areas of SSSI and the importance of the Ings to wildlife and plant ecology. When we arrived at the modern course of Germany Beck, Lynn Harper gave an impromptu account of the battle of Fulford, which took place nearby on 20th September 1066. (thanks Lynn!)
Nearby, Chris Rainger pointed out the sumps of timber posts on the bed of the river - all that remains of the wharf which once operated there and then Andrew found a Tansy Beetle, much to the delight of us all. Picture below.
We walked as far as Water Fulford Hall and saw the line of stones along the bed of the river, the remains of a much larger wharf which brought coal and other bulky or heave items to the village and surrounding area and probably exported grain and produce from local farms. A concrete landing still stands in the middle of the wharf, with two bollards marked ONB (Ouse Navigation Board), pictured below.
We walked back along the path on the eastern side of the Ings, which runs next to the boundary of village properties, some very large. Many people commented on what a lovely time they had enjoyed and how nice it was to see families with children on one of our events.
To read Chris Rainger's paper on re-routing Germany Beck and the wharves served by Landing Lane, click HERE
Left photo shows the Water Fulford Hall Landing with the remains of the long wharf wall in the river bed behind. ONB stands for Ouse Navigation Board. Right photo shows a Tansy Beetle on a Tansy plant.
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Annual General Meeting + 'The Minster in Close-up' - Catherine Sotheran's amazing photographs of angels, sinners, saints and beasts high up on the Minster. 16th March 2019
Over 40 people came to our AGM, which was followed by a slide show of Catherine Sotheran's incredible photographs of the strange and beautiful carved stone grotesques high up on the Minster and Chapter House, after which, we sat down for a very sociable lunch (thanks to everyone who brought a delicious contribution and our small army of members who effortlessly did the kitchen work)
Our Chairman, Chris Rainger, presented his report on the year, and what a year it has been! Since our inaugural meeting in October 2011, our Society has attracted attention for the high standard of its events and the quality of speakers. But 2018 will be remembered as a very special year, when our very moving Great War commemoration at Fishergate School included contributions from pupils, staff, FFH members, and the current Lord Mayor, the Sheriff and her Consort, two local councillors, and leading local journalist, Stephen Lewis. The event marked our fifth publication on the men remembered on local memorials, bringing this major research project to a close with a 200 page book on the 86 former pupils listed on the Fishergate School memorial. (copies are still available of all our books, use the Contact Us page to ask for a copy)
Other highlights included Paula Ware and Kelly Hunter of Malton Archaeological Practice, talking about the Neolithic and Roman finds at the Germany Beck housing development. Our very own local medieval scholar, Louise Wheatley, shared her latest research on ‘’Who’s Who in Fulford’, discovering the people living in the area or owned land here soon after the church was built.
City Archaeologist and a very good friend of FFH, John Oxley, looked back over his ‘Life in Ruins!’ Most of his working life has been in York, where his contribution to the conservation and public understanding the city’s history has been immeasurable.
Peter Mott’s May told the story of Heslington’s Victorian vicar and composer, Frederick Peel and members were given an extra treat when organist and physicist, Peter Main, played some of his Hymns.
1795 AND ALL THAT! was our Festival of Ideas event. Judy Nicholson gave a very well researched and illustrated talk on the impact of the arrival of the Cavalry Barracks. Her accompanying exhibition drew from a family archive to give us a view of the life of a cavalryman - and life in Fishergate. And a couple of weeks later, we climbed to the roof of the Keep in Fulford Barracks, when Major James Watt showed us around the austere late-Victorian barrack buildings. We also visited the Kohima Museum, where Brian Ward and our founding chairman, Bob Cook told us about that brutal battle, which halted the Japanese invasion of India during WW2.
We spent a lovely evening in July, walking with Louise beyond Fordlands Lane, where we all peered over hedges looking for clues to the development of this man-made landscape, and it was a beautiful day for Fulford Show, so fewer visitors than previous years come to the shelter of the Scout Hut to see Judy’s Cavalry Barracks exhibition and other displays on the Fishergate School Great War Memorial and local Suffragettes. As always, the folders of local houses, shops and streets drew a lot of interest.
Good weather worked in our favour at the Fishergate Summer Fair near the Millennium Bridge, where Judy’s River Ouse photographs drew many questions and recognition. Reminiscence was also at a premium in September, when Barbara King’s talk on Fulford’s lost shops aroused a keen interest from the large audience, with many people adding to the story.
2018 not only saw the centenary of the Armistice, but it also marked 100 years since the first women were able to vote in a General Election. Researcher, Michael Waters, told us about some of the activities of local women who took part in the long campaign, including Fishergate School teacher, Annie Coultate, whose Great-Great-Granddaughter, Catherine Djimramadji, joined us and brought Annie’s warming pan - the only memento she has of her!
We ended the year with our usual very sociable pre-Christmas meal, where we also enjoyed Judy’s river Ouse quiz and an ingenuous and funny magic show by Roger Martin.
Here are some of Catherine's amazing photos. You can see many more in her book, available from York Explore.
Over 40 people came to our AGM, which was followed by a slide show of Catherine Sotheran's incredible photographs of the strange and beautiful carved stone grotesques high up on the Minster and Chapter House, after which, we sat down for a very sociable lunch (thanks to everyone who brought a delicious contribution and our small army of members who effortlessly did the kitchen work)
Our Chairman, Chris Rainger, presented his report on the year, and what a year it has been! Since our inaugural meeting in October 2011, our Society has attracted attention for the high standard of its events and the quality of speakers. But 2018 will be remembered as a very special year, when our very moving Great War commemoration at Fishergate School included contributions from pupils, staff, FFH members, and the current Lord Mayor, the Sheriff and her Consort, two local councillors, and leading local journalist, Stephen Lewis. The event marked our fifth publication on the men remembered on local memorials, bringing this major research project to a close with a 200 page book on the 86 former pupils listed on the Fishergate School memorial. (copies are still available of all our books, use the Contact Us page to ask for a copy)
Other highlights included Paula Ware and Kelly Hunter of Malton Archaeological Practice, talking about the Neolithic and Roman finds at the Germany Beck housing development. Our very own local medieval scholar, Louise Wheatley, shared her latest research on ‘’Who’s Who in Fulford’, discovering the people living in the area or owned land here soon after the church was built.
City Archaeologist and a very good friend of FFH, John Oxley, looked back over his ‘Life in Ruins!’ Most of his working life has been in York, where his contribution to the conservation and public understanding the city’s history has been immeasurable.
Peter Mott’s May told the story of Heslington’s Victorian vicar and composer, Frederick Peel and members were given an extra treat when organist and physicist, Peter Main, played some of his Hymns.
1795 AND ALL THAT! was our Festival of Ideas event. Judy Nicholson gave a very well researched and illustrated talk on the impact of the arrival of the Cavalry Barracks. Her accompanying exhibition drew from a family archive to give us a view of the life of a cavalryman - and life in Fishergate. And a couple of weeks later, we climbed to the roof of the Keep in Fulford Barracks, when Major James Watt showed us around the austere late-Victorian barrack buildings. We also visited the Kohima Museum, where Brian Ward and our founding chairman, Bob Cook told us about that brutal battle, which halted the Japanese invasion of India during WW2.
We spent a lovely evening in July, walking with Louise beyond Fordlands Lane, where we all peered over hedges looking for clues to the development of this man-made landscape, and it was a beautiful day for Fulford Show, so fewer visitors than previous years come to the shelter of the Scout Hut to see Judy’s Cavalry Barracks exhibition and other displays on the Fishergate School Great War Memorial and local Suffragettes. As always, the folders of local houses, shops and streets drew a lot of interest.
Good weather worked in our favour at the Fishergate Summer Fair near the Millennium Bridge, where Judy’s River Ouse photographs drew many questions and recognition. Reminiscence was also at a premium in September, when Barbara King’s talk on Fulford’s lost shops aroused a keen interest from the large audience, with many people adding to the story.
2018 not only saw the centenary of the Armistice, but it also marked 100 years since the first women were able to vote in a General Election. Researcher, Michael Waters, told us about some of the activities of local women who took part in the long campaign, including Fishergate School teacher, Annie Coultate, whose Great-Great-Granddaughter, Catherine Djimramadji, joined us and brought Annie’s warming pan - the only memento she has of her!
We ended the year with our usual very sociable pre-Christmas meal, where we also enjoyed Judy’s river Ouse quiz and an ingenuous and funny magic show by Roger Martin.
Here are some of Catherine's amazing photos. You can see many more in her book, available from York Explore.
‘The House Built on Love and Chocolate’ - Goddards and the Terry family
An illustrated talk by Glennis Whyte (National Trust) on 16th February
Just 2 days after Valentine’s Day, our talk was on ‘Goddards – A House Built on Love and Chocolate’. How appropriate!
National Trust volunteer and researcher, Glennis Whyte, gave us a breezy insight into the lives of the chocolate manufacturing Terry Family and the house built in 1927 for Noel and Kathleen Terry on Tadcaster Road, with views across the racecourse to their huge new sweet factory on Bishopthorpe Road.
The name of the house was derived from Noel's grandmother, Frances Goddard, the first wife of Sir Joseph Terry. Grade 1 Listed, Goddards was the final work of architect Walter Brierley, who built a strong reputation for his Arts and Crafts designs. (Photo; National Trust)
The beautifully restored garden was designed by George Dillistone and both are popular with visitors for their relaxed domestic atmosphere.
The house still retains many of the original features, including its Arts and Crafts wallpapers, panelling and the staircase with oak carving. The drawing room has a splendid barrel ceiling, similar to Brierley’s own home, with the plasterwork in both houses attributed to George Bankart. Goddards was constructed by the York firm William Anelay using beautiful locally handmade bricks, sometimes arranged in geometric patterns, and the decorative chimney stacks are typical Brierley features.
The Terrys furnished their home with Noel's collection of mid-18th century Georgian furniture and clocks, which are now displayed at Fairfax House. It is thought that his enthusiasm for antiques was partly inspired by his father-in-law, the prominent York industrial miller, (Henry) Ernest Leetham, who had been a collector of porcelain and jade. [FFH chairman’s note: the Fishergate Ring, found at the Glassworks in 1930, was presented to the Yorkshire Museum by Kathleen Terry (nee Leetham) and her sisters in 1951, but it is not known how they came to have it. Perhaps the Glassworks owner gave it to the sisters knowing their late father’s antiquarian interests? Read more HERE ]
Noel Terry was the great-grandson of Joseph Terry, who founded the family confectionery business and was brought up at Trentholme, on the Mount, the home of his maternal grandfather, E.P. Brett of Brett brothers Brewery. Kathleen Leetham lived at Aldersyde (near the modern Tesco’s) a large house that her father commissioned in 1895.
Noel and Kathleen's courtship was difficult: they had fallen in love when very young and, at the time, Noel's financial future was not promising. However, Kathleen came of age in 1913 and they married in 1915. By that time Noel had enlisted into the army and was posted to France, where he was wounded at the Somme while serving with the 5th West Yorkshire Regiment. He returned home safely and by 1925 they had two sons, Peter and Kenneth, and a daughter, Betty.
In 1927 they moved into Goddards, where their youngest son Richard was born the following year. Noel's position within the company had improved markedly after WW1 and in 1923 he had become an active director of Terry's. During the 1930s Noel became managing director and it was at this time that the company introduced two of their most famous products – Terry's All Gold and the Chocolate Orange. When production was interrupted by the Second World War Noel became a Controller with the Royal Observer Corps and was awarded an MBE in 1943. After becoming Chairman in 1960, Noel continued to work at Terry's until 1970, and his son Peter, who had joined Terry's in 1945, became deputy managing director.
Their son Kenneth served in the RAF and was awarded the DFC in 1942. He died in 1944 and is commemorated on the local war memorial (also designed by Brierley). Both Noel and Kathleen died in 1980 and the house was sold to the National Trust in 1984 and used as their regional offices. The gardens were opened in 2006 and the house in 2012, with the layout designed to present it as it was in the family’s happy and prosperous 1930s.
Report by Chris Rainger, based on Glennis’s talk and Wikipedia entry on Goddards
Find more information about visiting Goddards at:www.nationaltrust.org.uk/goddards-house-and-garden
An illustrated talk by Glennis Whyte (National Trust) on 16th February
Just 2 days after Valentine’s Day, our talk was on ‘Goddards – A House Built on Love and Chocolate’. How appropriate!
National Trust volunteer and researcher, Glennis Whyte, gave us a breezy insight into the lives of the chocolate manufacturing Terry Family and the house built in 1927 for Noel and Kathleen Terry on Tadcaster Road, with views across the racecourse to their huge new sweet factory on Bishopthorpe Road.
The name of the house was derived from Noel's grandmother, Frances Goddard, the first wife of Sir Joseph Terry. Grade 1 Listed, Goddards was the final work of architect Walter Brierley, who built a strong reputation for his Arts and Crafts designs. (Photo; National Trust)
The beautifully restored garden was designed by George Dillistone and both are popular with visitors for their relaxed domestic atmosphere.
The house still retains many of the original features, including its Arts and Crafts wallpapers, panelling and the staircase with oak carving. The drawing room has a splendid barrel ceiling, similar to Brierley’s own home, with the plasterwork in both houses attributed to George Bankart. Goddards was constructed by the York firm William Anelay using beautiful locally handmade bricks, sometimes arranged in geometric patterns, and the decorative chimney stacks are typical Brierley features.
The Terrys furnished their home with Noel's collection of mid-18th century Georgian furniture and clocks, which are now displayed at Fairfax House. It is thought that his enthusiasm for antiques was partly inspired by his father-in-law, the prominent York industrial miller, (Henry) Ernest Leetham, who had been a collector of porcelain and jade. [FFH chairman’s note: the Fishergate Ring, found at the Glassworks in 1930, was presented to the Yorkshire Museum by Kathleen Terry (nee Leetham) and her sisters in 1951, but it is not known how they came to have it. Perhaps the Glassworks owner gave it to the sisters knowing their late father’s antiquarian interests? Read more HERE ]
Noel Terry was the great-grandson of Joseph Terry, who founded the family confectionery business and was brought up at Trentholme, on the Mount, the home of his maternal grandfather, E.P. Brett of Brett brothers Brewery. Kathleen Leetham lived at Aldersyde (near the modern Tesco’s) a large house that her father commissioned in 1895.
Noel and Kathleen's courtship was difficult: they had fallen in love when very young and, at the time, Noel's financial future was not promising. However, Kathleen came of age in 1913 and they married in 1915. By that time Noel had enlisted into the army and was posted to France, where he was wounded at the Somme while serving with the 5th West Yorkshire Regiment. He returned home safely and by 1925 they had two sons, Peter and Kenneth, and a daughter, Betty.
In 1927 they moved into Goddards, where their youngest son Richard was born the following year. Noel's position within the company had improved markedly after WW1 and in 1923 he had become an active director of Terry's. During the 1930s Noel became managing director and it was at this time that the company introduced two of their most famous products – Terry's All Gold and the Chocolate Orange. When production was interrupted by the Second World War Noel became a Controller with the Royal Observer Corps and was awarded an MBE in 1943. After becoming Chairman in 1960, Noel continued to work at Terry's until 1970, and his son Peter, who had joined Terry's in 1945, became deputy managing director.
Their son Kenneth served in the RAF and was awarded the DFC in 1942. He died in 1944 and is commemorated on the local war memorial (also designed by Brierley). Both Noel and Kathleen died in 1980 and the house was sold to the National Trust in 1984 and used as their regional offices. The gardens were opened in 2006 and the house in 2012, with the layout designed to present it as it was in the family’s happy and prosperous 1930s.
Report by Chris Rainger, based on Glennis’s talk and Wikipedia entry on Goddards
Find more information about visiting Goddards at:www.nationaltrust.org.uk/goddards-house-and-garden
Fishergate School Armistice Commemoration
We held an amazingly successful event at Fishergate school on 10th November, where some 90 people came to hear readings from our new book about the school and the 86 former pupils named on the Great War memorial in the entrance porch.
The exhibition of photographs of Fishergate and the school, including pages from the headmaster's Log Book, also generated a lot of interest, with one elderly gentleman saying this was the first time he had stepped inside the school since the 1930s.
We were privileged that the Lord Mayor and Sheriff (Verna Campbell, pictured right) of York came to give readings, along with our two Green councillors and Stephen Lewis, of the York Press. But best of all were readings by Fishergate school pupils and Brownies from 1st St Margaret's.
Huge thanks to all - now we can enjoy the peace!
You can download a transcript of the readings and see pictures HERE
Copies of our new 240 page book about the lives, families and military service of the 86 men and their school are available for just £10 + £5 postage.
Email ffhyork.localhistory@gmail.com to make arrangements for payment and delivery, or use the Contact Box HERE
Also, see our WW1 Page HERE
We held an amazingly successful event at Fishergate school on 10th November, where some 90 people came to hear readings from our new book about the school and the 86 former pupils named on the Great War memorial in the entrance porch.
The exhibition of photographs of Fishergate and the school, including pages from the headmaster's Log Book, also generated a lot of interest, with one elderly gentleman saying this was the first time he had stepped inside the school since the 1930s.
We were privileged that the Lord Mayor and Sheriff (Verna Campbell, pictured right) of York came to give readings, along with our two Green councillors and Stephen Lewis, of the York Press. But best of all were readings by Fishergate school pupils and Brownies from 1st St Margaret's.
Huge thanks to all - now we can enjoy the peace!
You can download a transcript of the readings and see pictures HERE
Copies of our new 240 page book about the lives, families and military service of the 86 men and their school are available for just £10 + £5 postage.
Email ffhyork.localhistory@gmail.com to make arrangements for payment and delivery, or use the Contact Box HERE
Also, see our WW1 Page HERE
Our 2017 Festival of Ideas conference on the 'Historic Mystery of Old St Oswald's Church' was fantastically successful!
Read more on our Old St Oswald's page and listen (HERE) to
Prof Jane Hawkes talking about the Anglo-Saxon cross which was found built into the nave in 1980, when the building was being converted into a private house.
A full report on the 1980s archaeological investigations and the history of the church will be published by the Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society in 2020.
Read more on our Old St Oswald's page and listen (HERE) to
Prof Jane Hawkes talking about the Anglo-Saxon cross which was found built into the nave in 1980, when the building was being converted into a private house.
A full report on the 1980s archaeological investigations and the history of the church will be published by the Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society in 2020.
How Feisty Local Women Won the Vote
Our October 2018 meeting was a wonderfully informative and interesting talk by Mike Waters about the campaign for women to have equal voting rights. A fuller report will follow shortly, but you can read Mike's script HERE We also heard from Catherine Djimramadji, the great-great granddaughter of Annie Coultate, the Fishergate School senior teacher who set up the York branch of the Women's Social and Political Union. Open our webpage with more on York's suffragettes, HERE |
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In July 2018, members visited Imphal Barracks and the Kohima Museum (open Thursday mornings).
We climbed the stairs to the top of the Keep, which was built to be the armoury and walked among the late-Victorian buildings, led by our 1st Chairman, Bob Cook, and Brian Ward, we ended with Bob's talk about the terrifying battle of Kohima, which prevented the Japanese invasion of north east India during WW2.
Many thanks to Major Jim Watt for his generous hospitality.
FFH members photographed standing in front of the 1796 Coadstone cast sculpture which originally stood on top of the Cavalry Barracks entrance.
Click HERE to open our webpage on the barracks
We climbed the stairs to the top of the Keep, which was built to be the armoury and walked among the late-Victorian buildings, led by our 1st Chairman, Bob Cook, and Brian Ward, we ended with Bob's talk about the terrifying battle of Kohima, which prevented the Japanese invasion of north east India during WW2.
Many thanks to Major Jim Watt for his generous hospitality.
FFH members photographed standing in front of the 1796 Coadstone cast sculpture which originally stood on top of the Cavalry Barracks entrance.
Click HERE to open our webpage on the barracks
Our 2018 Festival of ideas event was...
1795 and all that! - The Coming of the Cavalry to Fulford.
Judy Nicholson gave a vivid talk to 65 members and friends about the cavalry and infantry barracks and the impact of their presence on local people.
Barbara King and Judy also mounted a very interesting display of images and maps, which will be on show again at Fulford Show.
Louise made another of her fabulous cakes, this time iced with the Union flag, very appropriate! (image courtesy Catherine Sotheran)
1795 and all that! - The Coming of the Cavalry to Fulford.
Judy Nicholson gave a vivid talk to 65 members and friends about the cavalry and infantry barracks and the impact of their presence on local people.
Barbara King and Judy also mounted a very interesting display of images and maps, which will be on show again at Fulford Show.
Louise made another of her fabulous cakes, this time iced with the Union flag, very appropriate! (image courtesy Catherine Sotheran)
York's favourite archaeologist, John Oxley, told 60 people at our April meeting about his 'Life in Ruins'....more details soon....
And our wonderful Louise Wheatley made him an archaeology cake! |
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1951 - York's Part in the Festival of Britain and the Revival of the Mystery Plays
Margaret Scott gave us a very interesting talk in March about how York celebrated the 1951 Festival of Britain, the main event of which was the revival of the medieval Mystery Plays, the first time they had been performed in the city since the 16th century.
Many local people took part, including Judy Dench, who played an angel, and the production was a huge success.
You can look for relatives and friends in the cast list HERE.
Fore more information, see the York Mystery Play Archive HERE
This picture of Lucifer (Satan), played by John van Eyssen, and his demons is from the repeat production in 1954.
Image courtesy Nation Centre for Early Music.
Margaret Scott gave us a very interesting talk in March about how York celebrated the 1951 Festival of Britain, the main event of which was the revival of the medieval Mystery Plays, the first time they had been performed in the city since the 16th century.
Many local people took part, including Judy Dench, who played an angel, and the production was a huge success.
You can look for relatives and friends in the cast list HERE.
Fore more information, see the York Mystery Play Archive HERE
This picture of Lucifer (Satan), played by John van Eyssen, and his demons is from the repeat production in 1954.
Image courtesy Nation Centre for Early Music.
Germany Beck Archaeological Investigations
Over 70 people came to hear Paula Ware and Kelly Hunter talk about the archaeological investigations at the controversial Germany Beck housing site on 20th January 2018. Everyone had a great time looking at the finds they brought along, including the earliest Neolithic pot found in York, a Roman Trumpet Brooch, Civil War musket Balls, medieval coins and an early 20th Century Tram Wheel, masquerading as a shield boss!
Read more about the site HERE
Over 70 people came to hear Paula Ware and Kelly Hunter talk about the archaeological investigations at the controversial Germany Beck housing site on 20th January 2018. Everyone had a great time looking at the finds they brought along, including the earliest Neolithic pot found in York, a Roman Trumpet Brooch, Civil War musket Balls, medieval coins and an early 20th Century Tram Wheel, masquerading as a shield boss!
Read more about the site HERE
We presented our biographies of the seven men named on the Heslington Church Great war memorial window on 18th November 2017.
Seven people read a script edited from each man's biography, including Prof. Gavin Thomas, pictured here, interspersed by local people describing the village they would have known. It was a very moving occasion.
For a photograph of the window and extracts from the biographies, please see our WW1 page HERE
Seven people read a script edited from each man's biography, including Prof. Gavin Thomas, pictured here, interspersed by local people describing the village they would have known. It was a very moving occasion.
For a photograph of the window and extracts from the biographies, please see our WW1 page HERE
Our 2017 Christmas Social was a very sociable success!
As well as sharing lovely food with members new and old, we tried to spot photographs of date plaques on local buildings.
Click HERE to see how many you can identify.
As well as sharing lovely food with members new and old, we tried to spot photographs of date plaques on local buildings.
Click HERE to see how many you can identify.
Cecily Spall’s Talk to FFH on ‘Our Area – After the Romans Left’
14th October 2017 - A report by Rosemary Newman
Cecily Spall’s talk focused on both earlier and current thinking about change within this area during the Anglian period (5th-9th Century) after the Romans left York around 410AD.
Although the departure of the Romans from the city of Eboracum was swift this outlying area was less affected, with evidence of a continued pattern of rural settlement and trade that had existed from Neolithic times.
This has been shown by past projects, more recent geophysics and new discoveries at Heslington East, Lamel Hill, Heslington Hill (misnamed Siward’s How) and in the Fishergate area. This is not so true of Fulford where fewer Anglian finds have been made, possibly reflecting the denser later development there. The notable exceptions are the cross shaft at old St Oswald’s and the Fulford gold Shilling.
While Anglian remains in York itself are limited, recent geophysics has revealed the signature of a settlement pattern of small sunken-featured dwellings or ‘Grubenhauser’ stretching from East Heslington across to Sherburn, similar to those found on the Wolds, with cremations present. East Heslington itself has yielded evidence of both burial and cremations, and Anglian settlement with metal working, together with weaving tools, Anglian wrist clasps (Copper Alum) and post-Roman iron penannular broches.
Anglian C8th and C9th burials (about 40 skeletons) were found in the 1980s at Lamel Hill, in the grounds of The Retreat, and at nearby Belle Vue House. Lamel Hill was itself the site of Roman cremation; more recently a badly damaged Roman wall was uncovered here. At the 2002 excavation of Heslington Hill behind the Morrell Library some mid-Anglian (C5-C7th) finds of pottery vessels/sherds, glass beads, a knife, and animal bones dating to the same period were found. However, there were no human bones evident, suggesting this was a likely domestic settlement area with meat and grain production, the site being abandoned in the mid C6th when Fishergate (Eoforwic) grew in importance. Read more about this HERE.
The origin and purpose of Heslington Hill (Siward’s How) is still uncertain. It has been suggested that it was early medieval burial ground but more investigation is planned. The ridge and furrow visible from the road to the west of the site dates from the C11th and passes under the mound.
In Fishergate itself there is evidence of small enclosed fields showing a rural setting before entering urban York, a number of which contain Roman cremation burials.
The Blue Bridge Lane excavation of 1999- 2001 uncovered many Saxon cess pits later used to deposit working remains of antler combs, buckles, and spinning and weaving tools, as well as similar lost personal items and beads. The nearby Fishergate House site excavation revealed not only 200 skeletons of the C12-C16 (from old St Helen’s) but also a female Anglian inhumation (dated c.680-930 AD, with the data indicating the earlier end of this range).
Read all about the Blue Bridge Lane investigations here: http://www.mgassocs.com/mono/001/index.html
One significant Anglian find in Fulford has been the Fulford Gold Shilling dated 620-650 AD, although how it came to be there is anyone’s guess. What the evidence from the research and recent finds at Heslington East and West, and Fishergate reveals is the continuity of settlement and the importance of trade after the Romans left. This was followed by with a gradual movement down from Heslington Moraine to the lower level of the present village, and to Fulford and Fishergate (Eoforwic).
We are particularly grateful to Cecily, as she gave this talk just after taking her dogs to the vet following an attack by another dog early that morning. She also had to contend with the very poor acoustics of the church, rather than our usual meeting place. We are pleased t report that the dogs are recovering well from their ordeal.
Cecily Spall BSc MA MIfA FSA Scot, is a Director of FAS Heritage, based in Hospital Fields Rd. York.
14th October 2017 - A report by Rosemary Newman
Cecily Spall’s talk focused on both earlier and current thinking about change within this area during the Anglian period (5th-9th Century) after the Romans left York around 410AD.
Although the departure of the Romans from the city of Eboracum was swift this outlying area was less affected, with evidence of a continued pattern of rural settlement and trade that had existed from Neolithic times.
This has been shown by past projects, more recent geophysics and new discoveries at Heslington East, Lamel Hill, Heslington Hill (misnamed Siward’s How) and in the Fishergate area. This is not so true of Fulford where fewer Anglian finds have been made, possibly reflecting the denser later development there. The notable exceptions are the cross shaft at old St Oswald’s and the Fulford gold Shilling.
While Anglian remains in York itself are limited, recent geophysics has revealed the signature of a settlement pattern of small sunken-featured dwellings or ‘Grubenhauser’ stretching from East Heslington across to Sherburn, similar to those found on the Wolds, with cremations present. East Heslington itself has yielded evidence of both burial and cremations, and Anglian settlement with metal working, together with weaving tools, Anglian wrist clasps (Copper Alum) and post-Roman iron penannular broches.
Anglian C8th and C9th burials (about 40 skeletons) were found in the 1980s at Lamel Hill, in the grounds of The Retreat, and at nearby Belle Vue House. Lamel Hill was itself the site of Roman cremation; more recently a badly damaged Roman wall was uncovered here. At the 2002 excavation of Heslington Hill behind the Morrell Library some mid-Anglian (C5-C7th) finds of pottery vessels/sherds, glass beads, a knife, and animal bones dating to the same period were found. However, there were no human bones evident, suggesting this was a likely domestic settlement area with meat and grain production, the site being abandoned in the mid C6th when Fishergate (Eoforwic) grew in importance. Read more about this HERE.
The origin and purpose of Heslington Hill (Siward’s How) is still uncertain. It has been suggested that it was early medieval burial ground but more investigation is planned. The ridge and furrow visible from the road to the west of the site dates from the C11th and passes under the mound.
In Fishergate itself there is evidence of small enclosed fields showing a rural setting before entering urban York, a number of which contain Roman cremation burials.
The Blue Bridge Lane excavation of 1999- 2001 uncovered many Saxon cess pits later used to deposit working remains of antler combs, buckles, and spinning and weaving tools, as well as similar lost personal items and beads. The nearby Fishergate House site excavation revealed not only 200 skeletons of the C12-C16 (from old St Helen’s) but also a female Anglian inhumation (dated c.680-930 AD, with the data indicating the earlier end of this range).
Read all about the Blue Bridge Lane investigations here: http://www.mgassocs.com/mono/001/index.html
One significant Anglian find in Fulford has been the Fulford Gold Shilling dated 620-650 AD, although how it came to be there is anyone’s guess. What the evidence from the research and recent finds at Heslington East and West, and Fishergate reveals is the continuity of settlement and the importance of trade after the Romans left. This was followed by with a gradual movement down from Heslington Moraine to the lower level of the present village, and to Fulford and Fishergate (Eoforwic).
We are particularly grateful to Cecily, as she gave this talk just after taking her dogs to the vet following an attack by another dog early that morning. She also had to contend with the very poor acoustics of the church, rather than our usual meeting place. We are pleased t report that the dogs are recovering well from their ordeal.
Cecily Spall BSc MA MIfA FSA Scot, is a Director of FAS Heritage, based in Hospital Fields Rd. York.
Our Exhibition at Fulford Show - August 2017
These photos speak for themselves - showing visitors pouring over our displays and information folders in the Scout Hut (thanks Scouts) and talking to our members.
Big thanks to Judy Nicholson, Louise Wheatley, Geoff Shearsmith, Rosemary Newman Barbara King, Martin Lomas and others for helping to make the day such a success.
Louise sold all her Fulford Biscuits too!
These photos speak for themselves - showing visitors pouring over our displays and information folders in the Scout Hut (thanks Scouts) and talking to our members.
Big thanks to Judy Nicholson, Louise Wheatley, Geoff Shearsmith, Rosemary Newman Barbara King, Martin Lomas and others for helping to make the day such a success.
Louise sold all her Fulford Biscuits too!
Germany Beck Community Archaeology
Archaeologists working on the housing site in Fulford have discovered Romano-British field systems and a range of finds from this period and other items which show that people have lived here since soon after the end of the Ice Age, including flints and a Neolithic 'Mortlake' type pot - thought to be the earliest dated pot for York or its environs.
We will be starting our programme of 2018 meetings with Paula Ware, Director of Malton Archaeology, telling us about the site and showing us some of the exciting finds. The meeting will be on Saturday 20th January at 10am at St Oswald's Church Hall.
Read more about the Germany Beck site on this website HERE
Archaeologists working on the housing site in Fulford have discovered Romano-British field systems and a range of finds from this period and other items which show that people have lived here since soon after the end of the Ice Age, including flints and a Neolithic 'Mortlake' type pot - thought to be the earliest dated pot for York or its environs.
We will be starting our programme of 2018 meetings with Paula Ware, Director of Malton Archaeology, telling us about the site and showing us some of the exciting finds. The meeting will be on Saturday 20th January at 10am at St Oswald's Church Hall.
Read more about the Germany Beck site on this website HERE
Our 5th Annual General Meeting
Our annual general meeting was held on 2nd April 2017. Read the Chairman's Report HERE.
The meeting was followed by the launch of our Fulford Main Street Walking Trail, with Judy Nicholson (pictured speaking below) and Barbara King giving a short talk on some highlights from the leaflet, illustrated by Martin Lomas' beautiful drawings.
Click HERE to read more about Fulford and our new leaflet
Our annual general meeting was held on 2nd April 2017. Read the Chairman's Report HERE.
The meeting was followed by the launch of our Fulford Main Street Walking Trail, with Judy Nicholson (pictured speaking below) and Barbara King giving a short talk on some highlights from the leaflet, illustrated by Martin Lomas' beautiful drawings.
Click HERE to read more about Fulford and our new leaflet
Battle Talk
On 17th September, just a few days before the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Fulford, Chris Rock gave us a very interesting talk on the Battle of Stamford Bridge.
Chris put the invasion by the king of Norway, Harald Hardrada and the deposed earl of Northumberland, Tostig Godwinson, nicely in context with the national power struggle after the death of Edward the Confessor.
This is one of the big 'what if' questions in history, as Harold Godwinson may have defeated William of Normandy's invasion at Hastings if only he hadn't travelled north to crush the invaders.
For more information on the Battle of Stamford Bridge and Heritage Society see their website here.
On 17th September, just a few days before the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Fulford, Chris Rock gave us a very interesting talk on the Battle of Stamford Bridge.
Chris put the invasion by the king of Norway, Harald Hardrada and the deposed earl of Northumberland, Tostig Godwinson, nicely in context with the national power struggle after the death of Edward the Confessor.
This is one of the big 'what if' questions in history, as Harold Godwinson may have defeated William of Normandy's invasion at Hastings if only he hadn't travelled north to crush the invaders.
For more information on the Battle of Stamford Bridge and Heritage Society see their website here.
Our Walk along the New Walk, 9 August
Led by Margaret Scott
The walk began at the junction of the Foss and Ouse, the promontory where in 1858 cannons captured at Sebastopol were placed as a war memorial for York men of the Crimean War. (They were removed in 1941.)
The first part of the New Walk was formed by a path from here to the King’s Staith in 1730, by tree planting and river-bank levelling.
It was so popular with the gentry that in 1738 a blue-painted bridge was installed to allow the Walk to continue after crossing the Foss. No-one knows why it was blue! Various bridges have replaced it, the current one dates from 1929.
The City Council has maintained the levelling and the tree-planting along the river for nearly 300 years. Limes, elms and horse-chestnut have mixed with other more water tolerant ones; sadly elms have gone since 1980.
The Walk was created into empty fields and later, nursery gardens. With the exception of Lady Well and bath (at the river end of Sandringham Street), which was recorded in 1701 and John Carr’s building the Pikeing Well (at the river end of Hartoft Street) in 1752 there were no features. Even the end was just a pond. The point was to turn round and admire the view walking back into York.
The streets facing the Ouse and running away from the river were built as developers decided. New Walk Terrace began in 1825, Alma Terrace in 1855 (a year after that Crimean battle). 1879 – 1900 saw Marlborough Villas, Frances Street, Ambrose Street, Holly Terrace, Lastingham Terrace, and the 1930s saw Grange Garth built around Fulford Grange.
The houses were needed as the military grew, with the Cavalry Barracks, the Infantry Barracks and the Northern Command HQ. A military hospital was built there from 1854 – just before the Crimean War – with the main building finished in 1862. A civilian hospital was added. The Army left in 1958 and the hospital closed in 1976.
The Army’s Ordnance Works was a big feature at the south end of the Walk, behind the prominent brick wall. In 1887 a wharf was built on the Ouse to allow ‘the powder boat’ to sail up from Woolwich. Boats unloaded into trucks at the water’s edge and the little horse-drawn railway pulled gunpowder and other supplies into the Works. The railway was uncovered during changes in the riverside for the Millennium Bridge.
The Walk was built alongside a tidal Ouse, busy with sailing boats trying to avoid underwater shoals to reach York. A towing path was moved to the west side. It took several tides to come up the Ouse from Hull. 20 years after the Walk’s extension southwards, in 1757 Naburn Lock was built to level out the flows, manage river traffic and collect tolls. A second bigger lock had to be built to take steam boats, in 1888, and later the City Council owned profitable steam tugs to pull barges up river. There were sailing boats well into the 20th century.
A ferry crossed the Ouse from the New Walk, first mentioned in the 18th century but later for workers to get to their jobs in the military, the railway and Terrys. The location varied over the years, and rowing was overtaken by diesel eventually.
The walk finished beyond the Millennium Bridge, which cost £4.2 million. In the 1960s the ground was lifted by ten feet (through tipping) and levelled off to minimise flooding. It retains the name Love Lane and the old fields are now much ‘sanitised’. Lilac House is the former New Walk Tavern, where weary boatmen could wait out the tide.
Led by Margaret Scott
The walk began at the junction of the Foss and Ouse, the promontory where in 1858 cannons captured at Sebastopol were placed as a war memorial for York men of the Crimean War. (They were removed in 1941.)
The first part of the New Walk was formed by a path from here to the King’s Staith in 1730, by tree planting and river-bank levelling.
It was so popular with the gentry that in 1738 a blue-painted bridge was installed to allow the Walk to continue after crossing the Foss. No-one knows why it was blue! Various bridges have replaced it, the current one dates from 1929.
The City Council has maintained the levelling and the tree-planting along the river for nearly 300 years. Limes, elms and horse-chestnut have mixed with other more water tolerant ones; sadly elms have gone since 1980.
The Walk was created into empty fields and later, nursery gardens. With the exception of Lady Well and bath (at the river end of Sandringham Street), which was recorded in 1701 and John Carr’s building the Pikeing Well (at the river end of Hartoft Street) in 1752 there were no features. Even the end was just a pond. The point was to turn round and admire the view walking back into York.
The streets facing the Ouse and running away from the river were built as developers decided. New Walk Terrace began in 1825, Alma Terrace in 1855 (a year after that Crimean battle). 1879 – 1900 saw Marlborough Villas, Frances Street, Ambrose Street, Holly Terrace, Lastingham Terrace, and the 1930s saw Grange Garth built around Fulford Grange.
The houses were needed as the military grew, with the Cavalry Barracks, the Infantry Barracks and the Northern Command HQ. A military hospital was built there from 1854 – just before the Crimean War – with the main building finished in 1862. A civilian hospital was added. The Army left in 1958 and the hospital closed in 1976.
The Army’s Ordnance Works was a big feature at the south end of the Walk, behind the prominent brick wall. In 1887 a wharf was built on the Ouse to allow ‘the powder boat’ to sail up from Woolwich. Boats unloaded into trucks at the water’s edge and the little horse-drawn railway pulled gunpowder and other supplies into the Works. The railway was uncovered during changes in the riverside for the Millennium Bridge.
The Walk was built alongside a tidal Ouse, busy with sailing boats trying to avoid underwater shoals to reach York. A towing path was moved to the west side. It took several tides to come up the Ouse from Hull. 20 years after the Walk’s extension southwards, in 1757 Naburn Lock was built to level out the flows, manage river traffic and collect tolls. A second bigger lock had to be built to take steam boats, in 1888, and later the City Council owned profitable steam tugs to pull barges up river. There were sailing boats well into the 20th century.
A ferry crossed the Ouse from the New Walk, first mentioned in the 18th century but later for workers to get to their jobs in the military, the railway and Terrys. The location varied over the years, and rowing was overtaken by diesel eventually.
The walk finished beyond the Millennium Bridge, which cost £4.2 million. In the 1960s the ground was lifted by ten feet (through tipping) and levelled off to minimise flooding. It retains the name Love Lane and the old fields are now much ‘sanitised’. Lilac House is the former New Walk Tavern, where weary boatmen could wait out the tide.
Frankie Howerd gets a plaque
FFH is delighted that a blue plaque has been placed on 53 Hartoft Street, Fishergate, to mark the birthplace of the actor and comedian, Frankie Howerd.
The plaque was unveiled on 26th July by the Mayor of York, Dave Taylor and Tang Hall born actor Mark Addy and is one of many across the city installed by the Civic Trust.
Frankie Howerd was born in 1917 and lived at No. 53 Hartoft Street until he was three years old. His father, was Francis Alfred and his mother was Edith Florence. The family name was Howard, but he changed it "to be different".
He lived in Hartoft Street until he was three years old and he later went to Shooter's Hill Grammar School in Woolwich.
He was just 13 when he made his first stage appearance, but his early hopes of becoming a serious actor were dashed when he failed an audition for RADA. He adapted his surname during his military service in WW2.
He was famous for his seemingly off -the-cuff remarks to the audience, especially in the show Up Pompeii! and his television work was characterised by making asides directly to the camera and by his monologues and verbal tics such as "Oooh, no missus" and "Titter ye not".
FFH is delighted that a blue plaque has been placed on 53 Hartoft Street, Fishergate, to mark the birthplace of the actor and comedian, Frankie Howerd.
The plaque was unveiled on 26th July by the Mayor of York, Dave Taylor and Tang Hall born actor Mark Addy and is one of many across the city installed by the Civic Trust.
Frankie Howerd was born in 1917 and lived at No. 53 Hartoft Street until he was three years old. His father, was Francis Alfred and his mother was Edith Florence. The family name was Howard, but he changed it "to be different".
He lived in Hartoft Street until he was three years old and he later went to Shooter's Hill Grammar School in Woolwich.
He was just 13 when he made his first stage appearance, but his early hopes of becoming a serious actor were dashed when he failed an audition for RADA. He adapted his surname during his military service in WW2.
He was famous for his seemingly off -the-cuff remarks to the audience, especially in the show Up Pompeii! and his television work was characterised by making asides directly to the camera and by his monologues and verbal tics such as "Oooh, no missus" and "Titter ye not".
Alex and Lizzy who live in the house now
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The Civic Trust Plaque
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Actor, Mark Addy, Cllr Dave Taylor and others gathered for the unveiling of the plaque on Frankie Howerd's house on 26th July 2016
York Historical Atlas
The former Director of York Archaeology Trust, Dr Peter Addyman gave a very interesting illustrated talk on 18th June on the newly published York Historical Atlas. This was our Festival of Ideas event and was attended by some 45 people, many of whom were not FFH members.
Soon after joining YAT as its founding Director, the Chairman, Maurice Barley, suggested that Peter should begin compiling the York edition of the Historic Towns Atlas, suggesting it could be fitted in to his spare time. That was 43 years ago and the publication is a triumph of scholarship that describes the current understanding of the history of York and is so much better for the knowledge that has been accumulated by academics and archaeologists over the years.
The York Historic Towns Atlas is based on the remarkably detailed 1852 Ordnance Survey map of York and traces the history of the city from its Roman origins to the 21st century. Its editor Peter Addyman described working with a group of expert colleagues to create the Atlas and explained its significance to our understanding of the city today.
Peter set the Atlas in the context of the other publications in the series across Europe and brought copies of Central London, Winchester and other cities for everyone to look at.
The Atlas has 11 maps, period by period, bringing together topographical, archaeological, historical and cartographic evidence to present a clear picture of what is known of the city through time. In addition, 9 sheets of plates present numerous illustrations, including the earliest medieval images of York, reproductions of early maps and plans, views of the city and its buildings, and the latest aerial records.
A substantial scholarly gazetteer explains every name on the maps, ancient or modern, and for each period there is an introductory essay by the specialist contributing authors:
Patrick Ottaway (Roman York),
Richard Hall and Ailsa Mainman (Anglian York; Anglo-Scandinavian York),
David Palliser and Sarah Rees-Jones (York 1066-1272 and 1272-1536),
William Sheils (York 1536-1840 and York since 1840).
An article about the Atlas appeared in the York Press on 3rd Feb 2016. click here
The former Director of York Archaeology Trust, Dr Peter Addyman gave a very interesting illustrated talk on 18th June on the newly published York Historical Atlas. This was our Festival of Ideas event and was attended by some 45 people, many of whom were not FFH members.
Soon after joining YAT as its founding Director, the Chairman, Maurice Barley, suggested that Peter should begin compiling the York edition of the Historic Towns Atlas, suggesting it could be fitted in to his spare time. That was 43 years ago and the publication is a triumph of scholarship that describes the current understanding of the history of York and is so much better for the knowledge that has been accumulated by academics and archaeologists over the years.
The York Historic Towns Atlas is based on the remarkably detailed 1852 Ordnance Survey map of York and traces the history of the city from its Roman origins to the 21st century. Its editor Peter Addyman described working with a group of expert colleagues to create the Atlas and explained its significance to our understanding of the city today.
Peter set the Atlas in the context of the other publications in the series across Europe and brought copies of Central London, Winchester and other cities for everyone to look at.
The Atlas has 11 maps, period by period, bringing together topographical, archaeological, historical and cartographic evidence to present a clear picture of what is known of the city through time. In addition, 9 sheets of plates present numerous illustrations, including the earliest medieval images of York, reproductions of early maps and plans, views of the city and its buildings, and the latest aerial records.
A substantial scholarly gazetteer explains every name on the maps, ancient or modern, and for each period there is an introductory essay by the specialist contributing authors:
Patrick Ottaway (Roman York),
Richard Hall and Ailsa Mainman (Anglian York; Anglo-Scandinavian York),
David Palliser and Sarah Rees-Jones (York 1066-1272 and 1272-1536),
William Sheils (York 1536-1840 and York since 1840).
An article about the Atlas appeared in the York Press on 3rd Feb 2016. click here
Fulford Biscuits in the paper!
Louise Wheatley was featured in the York Press in September 2015 in a feature about the Fulford Biscuits that the FFH have been researching - and Louise has been cooking!
Download a copy of a leaflet on the Fulford Biscuit here.
Louise Wheatley was featured in the York Press in September 2015 in a feature about the Fulford Biscuits that the FFH have been researching - and Louise has been cooking!
Download a copy of a leaflet on the Fulford Biscuit here.
Lord Deramore's Primary School in Heslington have built replica WW1 trenches as part of their projects to learn about the conflict - More on this link
Our Fourth Annual General Meeting, 19th March 2016
Chairman’s Report
I must begin by expressing my very special thanks to Barbara, Judy, Louise and Roger for their outstanding work in researching, writing and publishing our biographies of the 86 Fishergate and Fulford men named on the St Oswald’s WW1 memorial. The subsequent exhibition at the York Cemetery Chapel, which we shared with other groups and interesting speakers, greatly impressed the many visitors who saw it, including the MP for York Central, Rachael Maskell.
As you will probably be aware, we eventually agreed a 75% reduction in the cost of the 64 photographs from the King’s Book of York Heroes; to £4.64each. This was, I think, mainly due to the intervention of Dean Vivienne Faull, and it allowed us to use good quality digital copies of the photographs of the men in our biographies. I worked on preparing one of the booklets for publication and was taken aback at the power of these images, as their faces looked back at me across time and I read the brief details of their cruelly truncated lives.
The committee are very grateful to FFH members who gave very generously towards the cost of the King’s Book photographs. Their donations, together with a grant from the Western Front Association and the (reasonably) healthy state of our funds, subsidised the cost of the pamphlets so we sold many more than we thought was possible - 87 and rising!
Judy, Barbara and Robert are now gathering information on the lives of the seven men named on the Heslington church WW1 memorial window. During the year we were given photographs of the area from the Jim Murphy collection, so they are combining these and other images with the biographies to give a picture of early 20th century life in Heslington. Please let them know if you have anything which may be useful, and also if you would like to join them with this interesting research project.
We have recently made contact with Fishergate School, in preparation for research into the lives of the 87 former pupils listed on the memorial in the school porch. We have been given access to the Head Teacher’s log books, and we are hoping to involve former pupils and parents to show how the war affected the school. We will also need to approach the Minster Library for more photographs. Again, please let us know if you are interested in joining this research team.
In July, many of our members took part in the geophysical investigations at the Sir John Hunt Memorial Cottage Homes. This Festival of Archaeology event came about following a suggestion by Paul Durdin after last year’s AGM. The results confirmed that the area was mostly cultivated in ridge and furrow strips, and the only specific sign of occupation was at the north-western corner, close to where Roman building materials had been found in 2014.
The year has been filled with interesting walks and talks. My favourite combined both when Mr Jagger showed us around Water Fulford Hall and Judy and Barbara explained the complex history of the hall and its owners. Other highlights included Mary Garrison bringing the 8th century alive with a lively explanation of Alcuin, York’s Anglian period ecclesiastical scholar, and Jane Cullen on the Backhouse Nurseries in York.
Louise organised two evening visits to Heslington Hall and she also gave us a typically scholarly examination of Jacobian York, based around the Heslington Hall painting of Mrs. Brooke that she successfully encouraged the art gallery to purchase last year.
On the northern fringes of Heslington, we learnt much about the Siward’s Howe area during a walk led by Jon Kenny and supported by Al Oswald. Al is leading a further walk in April this year, beginning where we left off at Green Dykes Lane and heading towards Lamel Hill.
In June, the internationally distinguished Professor Sir John Lawton led us on a walk into the Heslington Outgang, explaining the landscape history and ecology of this ancient trackway. In June this year we will have another visit to Heslington, when Nick Allen will lead us on an evening walk around the village.
More recently, Judy Nicholson finally persuaded me to apply the experience of a life-long watery career and to join her in a talk on the river Ouse through time. Judy’s appreciation of the social, economic and political significance of the river was an inspiration, and I hope you all enjoyed mixing her insights with my ramblings on tide levels, ships and navigation problems.
Thanks to the generosity of local Scouts, our Fulford Show exhibition was both larger and drier than previous years. Hundreds of people saw the exhibits and some visitors gave us yet more interesting personal stories to add to the Fulford and Heslington village history files.
Terry Court, Martin Lomas and I have been preparing a small walking guide to Main Street, Fulford. Much of the information is drawn from the Fulford village files, and Martin’s wonderful artwork has created a new standard for the genre!
Our meetings are very well attended, and as Louise Wheatley will explain in her finance and membership report, we have a (reasonably) sound foundation for our activities. This is largely due to the generosity of our members – many thanks to you all.
One important area where we need help is the FFH website. I am grateful to Margaret Scott for giving it life support, but we desperately need a new ‘webmaster’ to keep it up to date with reports on our activities, details of forthcoming events and information about our area. Please let me know if you are able to help. (it’s a weebly, which may mean something to someone!)
We are very keen to support members in their local history research and would welcome new faces on the steering committee. Please let me know if you are interested.
This is a wonderful group, with interesting and warm-hearted members. I look forward to seeing you all at our talks and walks during the coming year. Do Get Involved!
Chris Rainger
Chairman, March 2016
Chairman’s Report
I must begin by expressing my very special thanks to Barbara, Judy, Louise and Roger for their outstanding work in researching, writing and publishing our biographies of the 86 Fishergate and Fulford men named on the St Oswald’s WW1 memorial. The subsequent exhibition at the York Cemetery Chapel, which we shared with other groups and interesting speakers, greatly impressed the many visitors who saw it, including the MP for York Central, Rachael Maskell.
As you will probably be aware, we eventually agreed a 75% reduction in the cost of the 64 photographs from the King’s Book of York Heroes; to £4.64each. This was, I think, mainly due to the intervention of Dean Vivienne Faull, and it allowed us to use good quality digital copies of the photographs of the men in our biographies. I worked on preparing one of the booklets for publication and was taken aback at the power of these images, as their faces looked back at me across time and I read the brief details of their cruelly truncated lives.
The committee are very grateful to FFH members who gave very generously towards the cost of the King’s Book photographs. Their donations, together with a grant from the Western Front Association and the (reasonably) healthy state of our funds, subsidised the cost of the pamphlets so we sold many more than we thought was possible - 87 and rising!
Judy, Barbara and Robert are now gathering information on the lives of the seven men named on the Heslington church WW1 memorial window. During the year we were given photographs of the area from the Jim Murphy collection, so they are combining these and other images with the biographies to give a picture of early 20th century life in Heslington. Please let them know if you have anything which may be useful, and also if you would like to join them with this interesting research project.
We have recently made contact with Fishergate School, in preparation for research into the lives of the 87 former pupils listed on the memorial in the school porch. We have been given access to the Head Teacher’s log books, and we are hoping to involve former pupils and parents to show how the war affected the school. We will also need to approach the Minster Library for more photographs. Again, please let us know if you are interested in joining this research team.
In July, many of our members took part in the geophysical investigations at the Sir John Hunt Memorial Cottage Homes. This Festival of Archaeology event came about following a suggestion by Paul Durdin after last year’s AGM. The results confirmed that the area was mostly cultivated in ridge and furrow strips, and the only specific sign of occupation was at the north-western corner, close to where Roman building materials had been found in 2014.
The year has been filled with interesting walks and talks. My favourite combined both when Mr Jagger showed us around Water Fulford Hall and Judy and Barbara explained the complex history of the hall and its owners. Other highlights included Mary Garrison bringing the 8th century alive with a lively explanation of Alcuin, York’s Anglian period ecclesiastical scholar, and Jane Cullen on the Backhouse Nurseries in York.
Louise organised two evening visits to Heslington Hall and she also gave us a typically scholarly examination of Jacobian York, based around the Heslington Hall painting of Mrs. Brooke that she successfully encouraged the art gallery to purchase last year.
On the northern fringes of Heslington, we learnt much about the Siward’s Howe area during a walk led by Jon Kenny and supported by Al Oswald. Al is leading a further walk in April this year, beginning where we left off at Green Dykes Lane and heading towards Lamel Hill.
In June, the internationally distinguished Professor Sir John Lawton led us on a walk into the Heslington Outgang, explaining the landscape history and ecology of this ancient trackway. In June this year we will have another visit to Heslington, when Nick Allen will lead us on an evening walk around the village.
More recently, Judy Nicholson finally persuaded me to apply the experience of a life-long watery career and to join her in a talk on the river Ouse through time. Judy’s appreciation of the social, economic and political significance of the river was an inspiration, and I hope you all enjoyed mixing her insights with my ramblings on tide levels, ships and navigation problems.
Thanks to the generosity of local Scouts, our Fulford Show exhibition was both larger and drier than previous years. Hundreds of people saw the exhibits and some visitors gave us yet more interesting personal stories to add to the Fulford and Heslington village history files.
Terry Court, Martin Lomas and I have been preparing a small walking guide to Main Street, Fulford. Much of the information is drawn from the Fulford village files, and Martin’s wonderful artwork has created a new standard for the genre!
Our meetings are very well attended, and as Louise Wheatley will explain in her finance and membership report, we have a (reasonably) sound foundation for our activities. This is largely due to the generosity of our members – many thanks to you all.
One important area where we need help is the FFH website. I am grateful to Margaret Scott for giving it life support, but we desperately need a new ‘webmaster’ to keep it up to date with reports on our activities, details of forthcoming events and information about our area. Please let me know if you are able to help. (it’s a weebly, which may mean something to someone!)
We are very keen to support members in their local history research and would welcome new faces on the steering committee. Please let me know if you are interested.
This is a wonderful group, with interesting and warm-hearted members. I look forward to seeing you all at our talks and walks during the coming year. Do Get Involved!
Chris Rainger
Chairman, March 2016
Our Third Annual General Meeting, 21st March 2015
Chairman’s Report
This has been a great year for FFH. We have become recognised as a dynamic and enterprising local history group and we are firmly ‘on the map’ with the great and good of York’s history establishment!
As Louise Wheatley will tell you in her report, we have reasonably sound finances and a growing membership, with good numbers of people coming to our interesting and stimulating programme of monthly meetings. Huge thanks to Louise for her recent Newsletter and for planning and arranging the speakers. Also, many thanks to everyone who helps to make these events such a sociable treat. Suggestions for future meetings and walks will be very welcome.
One major event of 2014 was the conference on Anglian Fishergate, where over 90 people heard fascinating talks by leading specialists, followed by a wide ranging discussion chaired by City Archaeologist, John Oxley.
The ‘buzz’ around the conference led to Yorkshire Museum inviting us to partner an Art-Fund sponsored event where the Fishergate Ring was shown to local people at the Novotel. Particular thanks to Anne Akeroyd and Louise Wheatley for helping to distribute flyers around Fishergate to publicise the event. Since then, I have been working with the museum on the design of a poster about the ring, copies of which will be given to us shortly.
The centenary of the First World War has loomed large throughout 2014. Roger Thompson presented biographies of some of the men named on the St Oswald’s memorial to our November meeting, where we also had an interesting display of WW1 memorabilia and an exhibition on York women during the war by pupils from The Mount School.
Roger, Barbara King and Judy Nicholson have been working hard throughout the year on researching and compiling short biographies of all 86 men named on the Fulford memorial. The research has been quite complicated, but also very worthwhile. The stories they have uncovered have been both interesting and harrowing.
A small grant from the Western Front Association will help with the cost of publishing the biographies to commemorate these men. Edited and prepared for publication by Louise, the edition covering the 26 Fulford men will be available for sale at the AGM. It is hoped to publish the Fishergate section at an event York Cemetery Chapel in November.
An unfortunate issue has arisen during the WW1 research work. The Minster Library has refused to allow us copies of photographs, at cost price, of men pictured in the King’s Book of Heroes, and has insisted on charging us their normal, unaffordable, fee. We are still trying to resolve this matter through negotiation and have asked the Dean for help in reaching an amicable settlement.
As well as excellent presentations in the church hall, we have also had some great walking tours, including old St Oswald’s church (which I sadly missed), led by Alan Francis and Roger Walton, and New Walk Terrace area led by Margaret Scott. Rob Griffiths led us around the grounds of The Retreat, where we learned about the history of the site and the hospital’s pioneering approach to treating mental illness.
Judy and Barbara took us on the second of their detailed and fascinating walks along Fulford Main Street. On this occasion, we looked at the buildings on the west side and learned of the families and business that occupied them over the years. Judy and Barbara have accumulated an amazing archive on the village which is proving very useful for other research, including the WW1 project. People are still giving them information, including the former owner of the Saddle Inn during the campaign to prevent its re-development.
We struggled with a windy afternoon at Fulford Show, but the WW1 displays were very well received and we sold a good number of ‘Fulford type’ biscuits to raise funds for the group.
Another battle of Fulford has recently been lost and the large housing development and road realignment at Germany Beck looks set to go ahead. Some pre-works archaeology has already been undertaken along the route of the access road and part of the development site. A couple of Roman brooches and medieval coins have been found, but nothing so far relating to the 1066 battle. City Archaeologist, John Oxley insisted on an extensive programme of archaeology being undertaken on the site, so we should find a lot more about early Fulford during the coming year.
The archaeological dig at Connaught Court found medieval and Roman fields and artefacts, suggesting there was a Roman trackway, defensive palisade and buildings nearby.
Judy’s recent presentation of her photos and Geoff Shearsmith’s postcard collection brought a record turn-out to hear about the history of the Cattle Market. Like so many of our meetings, the lively discussion added even more colour to the picture.
We recently won a council grant for a Community Notice Board at Fishergate shops. Sponsored by FFH, funding was also given by the Friends of New Walk and Friends of the Cemetery Trust and a generous contribution from Mirchiz restaurant.
Work has recently begun on writing and designing a Local History Train along Fulford Main Street.
We are very keen to support members undertaking local history research and would welcome anyone who wants to join the committee and/or become more involved in the activities of the group. Please let me know if you are interested.
I look forward to seeing many of you at our talks and walks during the coming year.
Chris Rainger
Chairman
Chairman’s Report
This has been a great year for FFH. We have become recognised as a dynamic and enterprising local history group and we are firmly ‘on the map’ with the great and good of York’s history establishment!
As Louise Wheatley will tell you in her report, we have reasonably sound finances and a growing membership, with good numbers of people coming to our interesting and stimulating programme of monthly meetings. Huge thanks to Louise for her recent Newsletter and for planning and arranging the speakers. Also, many thanks to everyone who helps to make these events such a sociable treat. Suggestions for future meetings and walks will be very welcome.
One major event of 2014 was the conference on Anglian Fishergate, where over 90 people heard fascinating talks by leading specialists, followed by a wide ranging discussion chaired by City Archaeologist, John Oxley.
The ‘buzz’ around the conference led to Yorkshire Museum inviting us to partner an Art-Fund sponsored event where the Fishergate Ring was shown to local people at the Novotel. Particular thanks to Anne Akeroyd and Louise Wheatley for helping to distribute flyers around Fishergate to publicise the event. Since then, I have been working with the museum on the design of a poster about the ring, copies of which will be given to us shortly.
The centenary of the First World War has loomed large throughout 2014. Roger Thompson presented biographies of some of the men named on the St Oswald’s memorial to our November meeting, where we also had an interesting display of WW1 memorabilia and an exhibition on York women during the war by pupils from The Mount School.
Roger, Barbara King and Judy Nicholson have been working hard throughout the year on researching and compiling short biographies of all 86 men named on the Fulford memorial. The research has been quite complicated, but also very worthwhile. The stories they have uncovered have been both interesting and harrowing.
A small grant from the Western Front Association will help with the cost of publishing the biographies to commemorate these men. Edited and prepared for publication by Louise, the edition covering the 26 Fulford men will be available for sale at the AGM. It is hoped to publish the Fishergate section at an event York Cemetery Chapel in November.
An unfortunate issue has arisen during the WW1 research work. The Minster Library has refused to allow us copies of photographs, at cost price, of men pictured in the King’s Book of Heroes, and has insisted on charging us their normal, unaffordable, fee. We are still trying to resolve this matter through negotiation and have asked the Dean for help in reaching an amicable settlement.
As well as excellent presentations in the church hall, we have also had some great walking tours, including old St Oswald’s church (which I sadly missed), led by Alan Francis and Roger Walton, and New Walk Terrace area led by Margaret Scott. Rob Griffiths led us around the grounds of The Retreat, where we learned about the history of the site and the hospital’s pioneering approach to treating mental illness.
Judy and Barbara took us on the second of their detailed and fascinating walks along Fulford Main Street. On this occasion, we looked at the buildings on the west side and learned of the families and business that occupied them over the years. Judy and Barbara have accumulated an amazing archive on the village which is proving very useful for other research, including the WW1 project. People are still giving them information, including the former owner of the Saddle Inn during the campaign to prevent its re-development.
We struggled with a windy afternoon at Fulford Show, but the WW1 displays were very well received and we sold a good number of ‘Fulford type’ biscuits to raise funds for the group.
Another battle of Fulford has recently been lost and the large housing development and road realignment at Germany Beck looks set to go ahead. Some pre-works archaeology has already been undertaken along the route of the access road and part of the development site. A couple of Roman brooches and medieval coins have been found, but nothing so far relating to the 1066 battle. City Archaeologist, John Oxley insisted on an extensive programme of archaeology being undertaken on the site, so we should find a lot more about early Fulford during the coming year.
The archaeological dig at Connaught Court found medieval and Roman fields and artefacts, suggesting there was a Roman trackway, defensive palisade and buildings nearby.
Judy’s recent presentation of her photos and Geoff Shearsmith’s postcard collection brought a record turn-out to hear about the history of the Cattle Market. Like so many of our meetings, the lively discussion added even more colour to the picture.
We recently won a council grant for a Community Notice Board at Fishergate shops. Sponsored by FFH, funding was also given by the Friends of New Walk and Friends of the Cemetery Trust and a generous contribution from Mirchiz restaurant.
Work has recently begun on writing and designing a Local History Train along Fulford Main Street.
We are very keen to support members undertaking local history research and would welcome anyone who wants to join the committee and/or become more involved in the activities of the group. Please let me know if you are interested.
I look forward to seeing many of you at our talks and walks during the coming year.
Chris Rainger
Chairman
Chairman Chris Rainger recaps the FFH year.
Second AGM March 15th 2014
Around 30 members turned up on a bright Saturday morning for our 2nd AGM. Our acting Chairman Chris Rainger opened the meeting by presenting his Chairman’s report (appended below), which was followed by short reports by our Treasurer Louise Wheatley and Webmaster Gavin Thomas. The committee was re-elected with Chris Rainger confirmed as the Chairman.
Also, committee member Barbara King and member Mary Maldon Owen revealed their first batch of Fulford Biscuits, using an ingredients list passed down through the Leng family and a recipe that Barbara and Mary, after many different variations, think was most like the original biscuit. Look out for batches of these for sale at future meetings!
Report of the Chairman (shortened for the WWW site), but available in full here. "This time last year, our first AGM elected John Hurd as Chair of the Society. He was leading us with great vigour and intellect, but was forced to resign due to ill health, so the steering committee elected me to be acting chair until this AGM. I’m delighted to report that John is making a good recovery and is hoping to become involved again before too long. One of John’s last actions for FFH was handing over some exquisite Stone-Age tools and other items, collected by the late Geoff Rounthwaite at Lingcroft Farm, Naburn, to the Yorkshire Museum.
This has been an exciting year for FFH, with growing membership and attendance at meetings and events. We have made a mark on the local history scene, and thanks to Gavin Thomas the website also has many more articles. We have also attracted grants to support our activities. One of our research projects which has been particularly successful is Barbara King and Judith Nicholson’s work on Fulford Main Street. They are gathering an increasing collection of family history stories, linked to past and present buildings in the village, and have received warm appreciation from local people as they draw together the family threads and make local history come alive. It was wonderful to see the pleasure of the people they gathered together last year in this hall to exchange stories and meet old friends. Judith and Barbara have developed an amazing filing system to manage the information they are continuing to gather, and this will be invaluable as the project moves towards some form of publication.
Main Street information and pictures also created much interest at Fulford Show, where the story of one family during WW1 was also presented, along with a variety of ‘Fulford-type’ biscuits made by Louise Wheatley. After the talk by Mary Malden-Owen in January, we now know much more about how changes in farming led to the foundation of a specialised biscuit making business in the village and shops selling them in the city.
We published our first local history walk around Fishergate during the summer and arranged a launch-event at the Postern Tower, with an exhibition of photographs, maps and drawings of the area opened by York MP, Hugh Bayley. This was arranged in association with the Friends of York Walls, and FFH members joined their volunteers in the daily opening the Tower for the British Council for Archaeology’s Archaeology Fortnight. Particular thanks are due to FFH member, Martin Lomas, whose help in designing and installing the exhibition was invaluable, and also to the Shepherd Family Trust for their generous grant. The Fishergate History Walk leaflet was partly funded by donations from local shops, pubs and other businesses, including Mecca Bingo, where we discovered that the archaeological finds from the site are being stored in the building. We are now working with City Archaeologist, John Oxley, to negotiate the transfer of these items to the Yorkshire Museum.
I have already mentioned some of the splendid monthly meetings over the year and I could fill this report reviewing all of them. Louise Wheatley deserves our heartfelt thanks for arranging such a fascinating and stimulating programme for us.
Roger Thompson is leading our preparations to commemorate WW1 and has successfully applied for a grant from the Western Front Association to support publication of a booklet later this year about the men listed on the Fulford and Heslington memorials. This dovetails well with the research and knowledge of committee members and others in FFH and will aim to give a rounded picture of the lives of these men. I hope you will continue to give us your support, and perhaps become drawn in to some of these activities. Every encouragement will be given to anyone who has an idea for their own research and we will help in any way we can."
Around 30 members turned up on a bright Saturday morning for our 2nd AGM. Our acting Chairman Chris Rainger opened the meeting by presenting his Chairman’s report (appended below), which was followed by short reports by our Treasurer Louise Wheatley and Webmaster Gavin Thomas. The committee was re-elected with Chris Rainger confirmed as the Chairman.
Also, committee member Barbara King and member Mary Maldon Owen revealed their first batch of Fulford Biscuits, using an ingredients list passed down through the Leng family and a recipe that Barbara and Mary, after many different variations, think was most like the original biscuit. Look out for batches of these for sale at future meetings!
Report of the Chairman (shortened for the WWW site), but available in full here. "This time last year, our first AGM elected John Hurd as Chair of the Society. He was leading us with great vigour and intellect, but was forced to resign due to ill health, so the steering committee elected me to be acting chair until this AGM. I’m delighted to report that John is making a good recovery and is hoping to become involved again before too long. One of John’s last actions for FFH was handing over some exquisite Stone-Age tools and other items, collected by the late Geoff Rounthwaite at Lingcroft Farm, Naburn, to the Yorkshire Museum.
This has been an exciting year for FFH, with growing membership and attendance at meetings and events. We have made a mark on the local history scene, and thanks to Gavin Thomas the website also has many more articles. We have also attracted grants to support our activities. One of our research projects which has been particularly successful is Barbara King and Judith Nicholson’s work on Fulford Main Street. They are gathering an increasing collection of family history stories, linked to past and present buildings in the village, and have received warm appreciation from local people as they draw together the family threads and make local history come alive. It was wonderful to see the pleasure of the people they gathered together last year in this hall to exchange stories and meet old friends. Judith and Barbara have developed an amazing filing system to manage the information they are continuing to gather, and this will be invaluable as the project moves towards some form of publication.
Main Street information and pictures also created much interest at Fulford Show, where the story of one family during WW1 was also presented, along with a variety of ‘Fulford-type’ biscuits made by Louise Wheatley. After the talk by Mary Malden-Owen in January, we now know much more about how changes in farming led to the foundation of a specialised biscuit making business in the village and shops selling them in the city.
We published our first local history walk around Fishergate during the summer and arranged a launch-event at the Postern Tower, with an exhibition of photographs, maps and drawings of the area opened by York MP, Hugh Bayley. This was arranged in association with the Friends of York Walls, and FFH members joined their volunteers in the daily opening the Tower for the British Council for Archaeology’s Archaeology Fortnight. Particular thanks are due to FFH member, Martin Lomas, whose help in designing and installing the exhibition was invaluable, and also to the Shepherd Family Trust for their generous grant. The Fishergate History Walk leaflet was partly funded by donations from local shops, pubs and other businesses, including Mecca Bingo, where we discovered that the archaeological finds from the site are being stored in the building. We are now working with City Archaeologist, John Oxley, to negotiate the transfer of these items to the Yorkshire Museum.
I have already mentioned some of the splendid monthly meetings over the year and I could fill this report reviewing all of them. Louise Wheatley deserves our heartfelt thanks for arranging such a fascinating and stimulating programme for us.
Roger Thompson is leading our preparations to commemorate WW1 and has successfully applied for a grant from the Western Front Association to support publication of a booklet later this year about the men listed on the Fulford and Heslington memorials. This dovetails well with the research and knowledge of committee members and others in FFH and will aim to give a rounded picture of the lives of these men. I hope you will continue to give us your support, and perhaps become drawn in to some of these activities. Every encouragement will be given to anyone who has an idea for their own research and we will help in any way we can."
John Oxley during his fascinating talk.
After the close of the formal AGM business, we were treated to a presentation by York City Archaeologist John Oxley on the Archaeology in and around York over the past year. This was a fascinating exposition of recent work in the City covering some aspects of the Hungate and King’s Square digs, including some wonderful evidence of the Viking reusing old boats in making their houses. More locally we discussed finding from the All Saint’s Fishergate dig (which is under the Barbican car park) showing the site of the church and the 17th century mass graves that were discovered that are likely Fairfax’s troops who died of infection during the siege of York in 1644. John closed with some comments on the Germany Beck development and stated that in his professional opinion as an archaeologist he thinks that it is ‘possibly’ the site for the Battle of Fulford, but that there isn’t enough hard evidence to support this site over a number of other in the area. He also showed a particularly revealing overlay of the contours of York over an OS map, which he used to shoe the lines of the York and Escrick glacial moraines that were important areas of raised land in prehistoric times. York sits on a break in the York moraine at the modern confluence of the Ouse and Foss and the aerial map reveals the wash through of the breakpoint likely formed the slightly higher ground to either site of the river, on which now sits the Fulford Road on one side and the Bishopthorpe Road on the other.
Finally the members had assembled a wonderful lunch spread which was enjoyed by the members while many interesting discussions about the FFH continued.
Finally the members had assembled a wonderful lunch spread which was enjoyed by the members while many interesting discussions about the FFH continued.
May 2013 Committee meeting
A full meeting of the committee and a new member to introduce, Chris Rainger, who led the Fishergate walking tour early this year and will be preparing some material for the site on Fishergate. Hence, the committee is now John Hurd (Chair), Judy Nicholson (Secretary), Louise Wheatley (Treasurer), Gavin Thomas (Web), and Anne Akeroyd, Barbara King, Chris Rainger and Dr. Robert Visick. The Chairman reported that he has submitted a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for some support for the FFH. We appear to be getting closer to tracking down the Boer War memorial that went missing from some cottages in Fulford - more on this later. Also, Chris will be launching his Fishergate walking tour leaflet on Wednesday 24th July at 2pm at Fishergate Postern Tower - come along and celebrate.
A full meeting of the committee and a new member to introduce, Chris Rainger, who led the Fishergate walking tour early this year and will be preparing some material for the site on Fishergate. Hence, the committee is now John Hurd (Chair), Judy Nicholson (Secretary), Louise Wheatley (Treasurer), Gavin Thomas (Web), and Anne Akeroyd, Barbara King, Chris Rainger and Dr. Robert Visick. The Chairman reported that he has submitted a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for some support for the FFH. We appear to be getting closer to tracking down the Boer War memorial that went missing from some cottages in Fulford - more on this later. Also, Chris will be launching his Fishergate walking tour leaflet on Wednesday 24th July at 2pm at Fishergate Postern Tower - come along and celebrate.
September committee meeting
Biggest news this month is that we have a new Chairman, John Hurd, who has taken over from Bob Cook who resigned due to being over-committed. We also welcome a new Committee member, Barbara King from Fulford. Barbara will be helping Louise Wheatley with the membership list. The Committee also consists of Robert Visick, Anne Akeroyd, Gavin Thomas and Judith Nicholson.
We hope to start 2013 with real membership of the group which is likely to be £5 per year, with £1 per meeting and £2 for visitors, unless we have to pay more for certain speakers. We now have a bank account and insurance, with an archival policy and health and safety policy underway. We also intend to apply for a lottery grant to help us to buy some equipment and get the group up and running, so we can begin to work on more projects in Fishergate, Fulford and Heslington. At the moment the projects we are working on include, WW1 memorials, the history of the Cavalry Barracks, buildings of note, oral history and Fulford biscuits.
We hope to start 2013 with real membership of the group which is likely to be £5 per year, with £1 per meeting and £2 for visitors, unless we have to pay more for certain speakers. We now have a bank account and insurance, with an archival policy and health and safety policy underway. We also intend to apply for a lottery grant to help us to buy some equipment and get the group up and running, so we can begin to work on more projects in Fishergate, Fulford and Heslington. At the moment the projects we are working on include, WW1 memorials, the history of the Cavalry Barracks, buildings of note, oral history and Fulford biscuits.
May Steering group meeting
At our second meeting we have made some working appointment for the next year so we have some structure in assembling and submitting our constitution. The acting Chairman of the FFH is Bob Cook, acting secretary Judith Nicholson, acting treasurer Louise Wheatley and acting Webmaster Gavin Thomas. Along with Anne Ackroyd and Robert Visick we will work toward gaining constitution for the society by the end of 2012. The programme is in place until the end of 2012, which is available on the Event page of this site. Also, we are working towards a stand at the Fulford Show which will be themed around the Fulford Biscuit, manufactured in the 19th century by the Leng family of Fulford as its a good excuse for people to make their favourite biscuits!
February Steering group meeting
We had our first steeting group meeting on the 8th February 2012 and have resolved to form a constitution and actually become a real society! Also, we firmed up the rest of the programme for 2012 which will be available here soon. We are excited that the York Historian Hugh Murray has agreed to lead a walk for the FFH around the York Cemetery in July.
Steering group
Following the January meeting we put out a call for members of a small steering committee which will now try and meet relatively frequently to coordinate FFH activities. The steering group at the moment consists of Louise Wheatley, Gavin Thomas, Judith Nichols, Anne Ackroyd, Robert Visick and Bob Cook. Informal minutes of our meetings will be posted on the site once we have arranged our first session.
FFH projects for 2012-2014
Following our January 20112 meeting we have decided to start a group project to learn more about the 77 soldiers named on the Fulford memorial for 1914-1918 and the 7 soldiers named on the 1914-1919 memorial window in
Heslington Church. We aim to produce short biographies for all of these
brave local men and use some of them as starting points for larger
activities following family history in the FFH area through involvement of local schools. Watch this space!
We also plan a more ambitious project "3000 Years Down on the Farm", which will involved an archeaological study of Lincroft Farm, which is being led by Louise Wheatley. Lots of potential activities to do here including some Time Team style geophysics!
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We also plan a more ambitious project "3000 Years Down on the Farm", which will involved an archeaological study of Lincroft Farm, which is being led by Louise Wheatley. Lots of potential activities to do here including some Time Team style geophysics!
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