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York
York maps
Historic maps of York and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all York maps
York area books
Displaying 1 of 26 books about York and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of York
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of York.
There are 14 shared memories to read.
Add your memory of York
or of a photo of York.
Working in The Shambles
I was working at Deco in Stonegate the year they moved to the last shop at the end of stonegate, bordering Whip-ma-whop-ma Gate (wonderful name). I had been working for the people who owned Deco, selling 1930's pottery, glass and Jewellery, for a year. The shop was well known and we sold Clarice Cliff and Susie Cooper pottery, Crown Devon, Royal Dux, you name it, if it was 30s and collectable, we sold it. When they moved to the Shambles, the shop was bigger, the rent was actually less than Stonegate then. I remember telling my Granddad about it. He told me he had worked in the exact same shop when he was a lad, only it was a butchers then, as most of the shops down there were at that time. The name "Shambles" comes from the Saxon "Fleshammels", which means, "the street of the butchers", it was listed in the Domesday Book and has been in continuous existance for 900 years.... Read more
Horror Uniform
One memory of my time spent at St Peter's as a border (my house been The Rise )were the God awful brown blazers purchased from Moss Bros (of York). It wasn't that they were uncomfortable that was the problem, it was the rule that they had to be worn constantly. The school week was Monday to Saturday lunch time, after which we as borders were allowed into York itself, BUT we had to wear the uniform (on a Saturday) which marked you out as a St Peter's pupil, and gave you an invisible bull's eye to mark you out to all the local kids who took great pleasure in spitting, hitting and generally beating us up. Woe betide anyone caught by a prefect or even an 'off duty' teacher who caught you out of uniform while in York, a swift detention from the teacher (or a slap from the prefect)would follow on the Monday morning. So strict (verging on anal) was the school regarding their 'precious' uniform that on arriving for breakfast one... Read more
Childhood
My dad Les Witty was born in York. After he came out of the Army we settled in York, firstly we had a house in Hanover Street, then moved to Chudleigh Road where my grandad had a house just 2 doors away from us. I spent a lot of time with Gramps, he was my best mate. I would help in the garden, and ate most of the things he had grown all except for sprouts - I still don't like them ugh! I loved living in York, most days I would be in the Castle Museum, a place that I loved, or else I would be down by the River Ouse where there were willow trees and my pals and I would make little dens underneath them. The area we lived in was Leeman Road, and when the river broke its banks and the whole road flooded we had to walk across on planks of woods to the shops and school - great fun.
Working in Stonegate
My first real job, not counting student employment, was working in Godfrey's Book Shop, Stonegate, York. The shop was at that time the largest antiquarian bookstore in the North of England - unfortunately it no longer exists. It was owned by Mr. Duffield and managed by Mr. Jan Janieurek. Originally from Poland, Jan was an extremely knowledgeable book man who had trained at Blackwells, Oxford. He actually encouraged the staff to browse among the books and read, even borrow what interested us. What a treat for a twenty-one year old book lover! I loved working in that three storey, Tudor building which was full of nooks and crannies and unexpected treasures. I was responsible for tracking down out of print books which we did not have in stock but which customers had requested and advertise the books which we wanted to sell through the trade magazine - "The Clique". The staff all had specific responsibilities but we all (Charles, Brenda and Andrew and I) served in the shop as required.... Read more
School Days
This photo reminds me of two wonderful years I spent at York Technical College in Clifford St. I always found the tower fascinating, but never learned its history until many years later. I love York, even though I live half a world away now, I always visit the city when in England.
Monk Bar 1955.
As I was living near Monk Bar in 1955, seeing the photo brought back some good memories. I lived at 28 Monkgate (behind the photographer on the left) in 1955. My sister still lives nearby - through the Bar, turn left at what used to be Saville's Chemists and then round the back of Goodramgate into St. Andrewgate. The scene in the photo has not changed all that much. You cannot drive through the Bar itself anymore. The Bay Horse on the left is still there but the Post Office next to it just out of shot was removed for a road widening scheme, as was St. Maurice's Church out of shot on the right where I attended with family. Though I have been living in the US since 1987, I do get back to York fairly regularly and so keep up to date with what's going on. Bulmer's is still there on the right but the fish shop on the left where I would buy fish... Read more
Lendal Tower And Lendal Bridge
This picture is of Lendal Tower and part of Lendal bridge, over the River Ouse.
Memories of John Browne
I don't exactly have a memory of Walmgate but I know my GGGGrandfather John Browne was born in the house here. Would love to converse with anyone with any knowledge of this memory. I do know through extensive investigation via internet that John Browne was the Clerk of Works of York Minster when a fire occured. He also was a teacher of drawing and lithographs. John Browne was an artist and author of York Minster. He and his family lived in 21 Blake St until his death about 1870 thereabouts. I live in Australia and its a long way from York. Any Browne's out there related to John Browne's family please acknowledge. Would love to exchange information on his son John Browne who went to Australia.
York looks like a beautiful place.
Thank you for this memory.
