John Bull, Layerthorpe, 1979 (c) City of York Council
Update: If you’re interested in Layerthorpe, you may be interested in the Layerthorpe Project website, which I created after this page (published in 2012) generated a lot of interest. And many comments – see below. Visit the Layerthorpe project site for more detail on ‘Lost Layerthorpe’.
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I had an email last week (Oct 2012) from someone with fond memories of the Layerthorpe area, of visiting his aunt who lived in Hallfield Road. Over the years I’ve had a number of emails from people who remember this part of York. It has changed dramatically in recent decades, as all of them mention. I’m not sure it has been improved, but it has certainly altered.
Richard said: “I loved that area and so full of atmosphere with the terrace houses etc. A year or two ago I thought I would visit York and go and have a look at the Layerthorpe area. I got the shock of my life. It is all gone and turned into a business area.”
One thing that certainly wasn’t an improvement to the street was the demolition of the John Bull pub. A discussion on Twitter has reminded me of this, and of a video I found on YouTube – which I think I’ve mentioned before on these pages but mention again because it’s so good, and many people won’t have seen it.
It includes wider views of the street and surrounding area – note the gasometer.
This video (part 1 of 2) uploaded to YouTube by Argonaut35i. Produced by Old Dairy Studios, York.
Continued in John Bull video on YouTube – part 2
Thanks to @greatemancipato for reminding me how much the John Bull is still missed.
Local character
Just a little further along Layerthorpe was another pub, The Frog Hall. The building is still there, though no longer a pub.
It’s not just the buildings of course that make the place, it’s also the people. Trev sent me this photo and memories of one of its regulars:
“Jockey Peacock or Gilles used to live in Downhill Street Layerthorpe in early 1950’s. Jockey was quite a character in his day he operated a ‘Bookies’ shop and all so ran a coke and coal deliver service. Jockey liked to drink in the Frog Hall pub when Horis Colldrick? was the landlord (Welsh Rugby Player) also enjoyed a plate of fish and chips from ‘Di Prosser’ fish and chip store … believe his wife’s name was Lou.”
If you remember this gentleman or have other memories of the Layerthorpe area you’d like to share, please add a comment.
“Layerthorpe”in the 1940/50′,a working class area with a capital’W’.Full of small,minimalist terraced houses,usually rented,but often purchased. by ordinary ,hard working,proud
hard living ,admirable people,that I am grateful to have been counted alongside ,while I grew up.Their homes were not in any way “Posh”,but were warm, welcoming, usually with a pan of ‘Irish stew/cup of tay’on the go,and ‘If you are Irish, come into the parlour”,sing song at the “Bull Inn”their local,evenings/weekends.
I rue the wiping out of those houses and culture,but alive still at least in my generations memory’s.
My grandmother lived in Faber Street and I remember visiting every Friday after school. My mother grew up in that street with her 5 sisters. Her father died in 1926 as a result of being ‘gassed’ in the First World War. My gran was like you said – very proud and hardworking and rather scary to a five year old, but I can now understand why she was so forbidding. She worked hard all her life, sewing and even taking in washing. I have an old photo taken in the back yard of Faber street showing Gran and the six girls all in ‘Sunday best’ clothes.
Did you know that Romany gypsies often camped on waste ground near Faber street and they had dancing bears! My mother was often invited into their caravans and she even witnessed a knife fight between two of the young men.
Hi Sue, I lived in Rymer Street I am thinking if I know you but it is hard. I remember a Diegton? family all so a guy who delivered milk. Laycocks field was at the bottom also there was a store at the top of Rymer and Faber street it was called Ledlers I belive I only wish I could remember more how time flies by. Trev;
I was brought up in layerthorpe my mother owned the fruit and veg shop called Marians next to OSIS scrap yard, my grandmother owned the shop before my mother and we had the shop on the opposite side of the road on the corner of Redness street. My father Les Morrison also went in the Froghall pub when it was a male only bar to play dominoes for the pub. I can remember the pub in redness street, the
Layerthorpe club in Layerthorpe before wally Laverack built the other one in halfield road, does anyone remember the co-op on the corner and Rowantree’s apprentice school at the end of the street, there was a row of shops next to our shop , butchers,dia prossers fish shop, whittings sweet shop, clarks paper and toy shop .Further down was Mrs Wilson, s second hand clothes shop , gladsons garage and stirks furniture shop there was also a skin yard before the John bull and Mr Mercer tobacconists /paper shop then walkers coal and builders yard. I delivered evening papers for Mr Mercer all round Layerthorpe even to Cravens on the corner of Foss island road and Layerthorpe
The paper shop you refer to was on the corner of Downhill St and it was owned by my grandad, John James and gran. The shop also incorporated the bookies referred to in other posts as owned/run by Jocky Gillies(?). My gran lived there untill she passed away in 1973
I lived in Redness St and went to Bilton St School
Jockey had his Bookie’s shop at the corner of Bilton or Redness street later he moved to the bottom part of Hallfield road. Jockey also lived in Downhill street near the river end had a lorry parked out side his house. This is back in the 50’s.
Hi Mike, If you look on the new web-site of Layerthorpe you will see a photo;of Bilton Street and Layerthorpe it shows a shop this is where Jockey started his ‘Bookies’ shop then moved to the center house of three house between Hallfield road and St; Cuthberts out side the house is a bike or two this is where he moved to.
Hi Trev.
I can’t find a website for Layerthorpe. Please would you give me the web address? (I’m interested to know where Bilton Street is as an ancestor used to live there.)
I lived in Redeness St it was connected to Bilton St through pump passage. At the top both roads ran into one.
Hi Sandra, the website Trev mentions is here: http://layerthorpe-project.yorkstories.co.uk/ – it’s a work in progress but there are some photos of Bilton St from the city archives, see http://layerthorpe-project.yorkstories.co.uk/bilton-street-york/
Hello Mike, I remember your mum (Mrs Clark – tall lady), although I wasn’t very old and I suppose everyone looked tall to me then. I also lived in Redeness Street, No. 27, same side as the George IV and went to Bilton Street School from 1952 to 1956 when it then closed. I have just discovered the site and links. How wonderful it is.
Hello Sandra yes my Mam was reasonably tall. She was to me but I would have only been a shorty myself at that time. We lived at 42 Redness St and I went to Bilton St Sch at the same time. I was born in 49 and I think we left just before the school closed down. My Mam remarrying and we moved to Peter Hill Dr in Clifton
Hi Terry, we went to school together. Mrs Holmes used to own the fruit shop sometime before your mum. She was some relation to my grandma. I was also brought up in Layerthorpe and lived in Redeness Street and on the main road almost opposite your mum’s shop. Good to here you are still around.
Yes, the school only had two classes whilst I was there. I started when I was three and remember having a nap in the afternoons on canvas camp beds. Mrs Peace and I think Mrs Holmes were the names of the teachers. I was born in 1949 and was at the school until it closed in 1956.
I remember the canvas cots. Also you mentioned Rosie Loftus, my mam Joyce later married Frank Loftus and met him through his sister Rosie
Hi mike , I did a paper round for your gran did your grandad have only one leg , I remember the shop had toys as well, your gran always wore a pinny
Hi sandra, did you live next to the Durkins or is that you. ?
Hi Terry – it’s meeee! Wreglesworth (nee Durkin). We go back a long way don’t we? I live out at Dalby Forest these days, where my husband and I have a guest house. We have two grown up kids both living in York. I have only recently discovered this site and I am thrilled to read all the comments about the place I spent the first eleven years of my life!
Hi Terry yes my grandad only had one leg. I think he lost it to cancer but don’t quote me. Your post made me laugh as it brought back memories of my nana in her pinafore coat. She wore them all the time
Good to see I cannot spell ‘hear’ either! Ha ha.
Hello as you can tell I’m a Laverack I would be very interested to talk to you regarding layerthorpe it was a very big part of my dads life and mine. I probably have heard most of the stories but its nice to get a different perspective.
Hi Toby, thanks for your comment, I’ve just sent you an email.
Terry, what was your grandmother called? The one that had the fruit shop before your mother.
I remember the Co-op too. Going for a ‘bag’ of biscuits which were taken from a big, big tin propped up on the floor and put into a paper bag. Think you asked for a quarter of biscuits. That would have been quarter of a pound I think. You wouldn’t get many would you? Same with butter. I have seen my mother ask for quarter of butter and then a piece of butter was cut from a bigger block. Don’t think it was because people were poor. I think that was how it was dispensed. I remember someone asking for 5 cigarettes once when they obviously opened packets and sold them separately. Seemed like a big shop then but maybe that was because we were small eh!
There was another newsagent next to the Frog Hall called Skiners with a barber next door. I remember the Co-op store opposite the Co-op was Audin’s butcher shop next to that was Nicolsons bakery also there was a boys club I think one of the helpers at the club was called Gordon Godard. Also another barber shop at the top of Downhill Street.
Just remembered the name of the barber’s shop next to Skinner’s newsagent’s it was Eric Greenwood’s Barber shop.
Eric greenwood cut me and my brother Peters hair and he once cut my ear, he had a withered arm we nicknamed him the lug cutter, I never went there again went to newtons in east parade.
Really nice to see these comments about the Layerthorpe area. All I can remember is a breaker’s yard type of place, going there with a friend in about 1983 for a part for a Mini – and also, vaguely, the old ornate gasometer. And of course, hanging on there until the 1990s, the John Bull: http://yorkstories.co.uk/nobody-knew-heritage-value-john-bull-york/
Lisa, you refer to the gasometer. I have some interesting stuff but do not know how to get it on to here. Some local press articles about when my dad was in the Home Guard and guarding the gasometer at the time of the Baedecker Raids. Can you assist me please?
That sounds very interesting Sandra, thank you, I’ve sent you an email.
I was born in 1944 in chicory yard,layerthorpe.my grandfather,and then my father had masons bike shop.i have lots of happy memories from my childhood among the people and friends who lived there.when they knocked down layerthorpe they destroyed a great community.i remember all the local shops and characters as if it were yesterday.some of the best years of my life.
Dammit! I just wrote a long spiel and it got wiped. Now I’m going away to mope for a bit. Sorry.
Mainly, I’m not a real “Layerbout”; lived at Fulford House (now “Pavillion Hotel”), had 2 wonderful years there; worked at Northern Command Ordnance Depot.My wife nursed at Naburn……Love to All. QG
Was Ray Mason a member of your family?.
hello trev,my dad,who owned the bike shop was called Raymond,and I also had 2 brothers,the eldest was called Raymond also and the youngest was called david
Did your brother David Mason go to Tanghall JS in the late 50’s he would be about 61 now? From Martin Bainton
Hi Christopher, was your father the Rev. Bainton. I was christened at St Cuthberts.
No the Rev Bainton was my grandfather and Yes St Cuthberts was his Church and also where he died sadly.
Small world. It was your brother who I knew.It would be nice to have a reunion with ex Layerthope pats; but too late now I guess the only way now is to try and keep in touch is through York Stories a great web-site when I read about Layetthorpe,Tang Hall and Heworth I get a lump in the throat. Thanks Shelia.
Hi Shelia, A cross the road from your Dad’s bike shop was a factory can you remember the name of it?.
hi trev,do you mean taylors engineering works.my mum worked there for many years making tea for the (workers).Raymond died 1995,aged 54.very young.did you actualy live in layerthorpe,and when are we talking about.i have endless tales about layerthorpe.did you go to bilton street or tang hall schools,and were you a member of the (layerthorpe gang)a marauding gang of 10 year olds.lol.
Hi Sheila, just discovered this site – fantastic. What years were you at Bilton Street School?
As far as I know, Raymond Taylor is still about, living locally. Old Tom Mason would mend a puncture for 1/- (5p). The bikes for repair were stacked in a lean-to in Chicory Yard, at the rear of the shop. The cobbler nearby for several years was Carmelo Pasquale, an Italian prisoner of war who had married a local woman – he stayed in the area & died just a few years ago. The other local barber was Tom (Jock) Ferris at no.49, & the baker was Edward Brier Hardcastle at no.55, who died & was succeeded by George Deighton
hi david,old tom mason was my granddad and died in 1966. we lived down chicory yard at no6 ,near the river.my dad had a small holding at the bottom of the yard where he kept pigs and chickens which were killed for xmas.my granddad used to hire bikes out for a farthing(a long time ago).my dad, as a boy,when the bikes were not returned was sent out to find them.my how times and prices have changed.on the sidewall of our house there was machine gun bullet holes were they been trying to blow the gastanks up.our shop was an airaid shelter and my great granddad ,who lived with us at no6,refused to get out of bed when the window was blown in on him.thats layerthorpe grit.
hi dave,forgot to say,i was great friends with pasquales step daughters,pat, the eldest,emigrated to America,margeret died,and jesse still lives in heworth I believe.he also had a stepson,ernest, and his own son,vincent.
Hi Sheila…..I’m in New Zealand but lived in Fulford from 1967 to 1970. I played piano at the Layerthorpe Workingmens’ Club. I think DENNIS MASON was the president; ring any bells? Can you put me onto a link to that club? (When I joined, it was an old house…then they built a magnificent huge one. Last time I was in York I couldn’t find any trace of it! Cheers, Quentin.
Hi David did you have a sister called Jennifer? and lived down kids terrace
That’s right-are you the youngest of 3 lads? I know Peter was the eldest, & I remember your dad Les (worked on railway?) usually had large Ford saloons.
No I am the middle one, your right my dad worked at the railway, I can remember you playing table tennis for the boys club. I remember George who did the gym and there was a wood work teacher can’t remember his name.
The missing names are George Clipperton & the woodwork man was Harold Yates. I recall your mother was a good darts player
Hi David,George Deighton did he live in Faber Street and have a son called ‘Sam’. In the late 50’s 60’s(?) there was a model maker of model railway engines 6’gauge I believe the name was ‘Clark’his shop was near the John Bull. It is great to see people coming to this site about Layerthorpe. David do you remember a ‘Tommy Forth’ that lived in Hallfield road also a Jeff; Bowes that lived on the street that up by the Co-op store.
Does anyone remember the Senior family who lived in Bilton Street(?) or Redness street(?) Layerthorpe.
Yes Trevor I remember the Senior family. Rather a large family as I remember. Lived a few doors up to the Drakes.
Really means a lot to me to see these comments recently, this page has been here on the site since October 2012, it has been lovely to read over the last week all your memories of the area, thank you Sheila, Trev, David and Quentin, I hope your conversation continues and that you get answers to your questions.
Hello Trev,
I was at school with your younger brother Peter & recall your dad Ernest ‘Tabber’ having a pint in the Frog Hall. The model makers were Clarksons. George Deighton had a son Sam who was a good runner. He also had a daughter Pat who sadly died quite young. George took over the bakers shop at 55 Layerthorpe when Mr Hardcastle died.
Thanks David, I had forgotten about my father’s nickname “Tabber” Peter died several years ago.Pat Deighton did she not go to Australia for a short time there was another girl Pat Pavis remember her I believe she lived opposite Pat. How things come back to ones mind when someone jogs it. Thanks David.
I lived in Redeness Street until 1958. My dad was a builder and he kept pigs and chickens in Osbaldwick. My job as a lad was to collect the pig swill from people who lived in our street. I went to bilton Street school which was opposite my house. Then went to Tang hall. Then the avenue and on to burnholme sec mod.
I remember playing football on the waste ground. I went to the boys club and on the weekend camps to Naburn. In the summer we went Swanage and then Nash court in Shropshire.. I remember Brian Maso, was his nick name Basha? I went to school with Rose Senior, but did not know her very well. I have lots of memories. Two penorth of chips and some scraps please brings memories. Lots of othe thoughts if anyone wants to know. Trevor Keeler
Trevor, The boys club do you remember a Gordon Goddard he was a helper also a guy in charge called Ogalville (If I spelt it right)he was the ‘Skipper’of the club. Who was the table tennis gru at the time. I went to the camp at Swanage a couple of times with another lad from the same street I lived on his name Ray Frankland. Rose Senior was she from the large Senior family.Keep your thoughts coming there will never be another Layerthorpe better put the old Layerthorpe on paper while we can. Trev;
Trev, Yes I remember Gordon He took us running twice a week, Skipper got his hands badly burned doing the wiring for one of the club shows, he also gave me instruction on learning to ride my Lambretta. Yes Rose was from a very large family, they lived in Bilton street. My wife was in the same class as Rose. My friend Peter Dawson played table tennis in one of the leagues, I could play but I was no good in matches. Do you remember going to visit etonwick boys club? We got to sleep in the Etonwick College gym. Collecting bushes from Hungate for the bonfire was an annual event. Then guarding it so it stayed safe till bonfire night.
I never went to Etonwick Collage. Do you remember ‘Holmes’ Fruit and veg; shop near the scrap yard one of the family members went to the west coast of Canada Prince George I think can you remember who it was. From the mid 50’s to the mid 60’s several people left Layerthorpe for overseas.I have been meaning to ask Shelia (Nee Mason) about this.
Yes I remember the shop well. They sold us the first banana I had ever seen, I even tried to eat the skin!! I don’t remember anyone going overseas though. Think I knew of David Poole, slim lad good at table tennis. Also John &Peter Dale from Bilton street. Played football and cricket with them
My grandmother was related to Mrs Holmes from the fruit shop but I am not sure how.
Hi, your friend Peter Dawson lived in Redeness Street almost opposite where I lived.
Sandra Thanks for your news about Hazel Button. I wonder what she is doing now. I think I saw Peter Dawson a couple of times at the Boys Club after I moved. Where I worked we did split shifts and never got finished until 8pm. Once I turned 16 we finished at 9 or 9.30 sometimes 10 pm.
By then I was too worn out to do much but go home. These day with text and FaceTime it would be easier to keep in touch. Now I suppose it is Too late.. I was so happy to find this site and get at least a few snippets from the past. The picture David Poole sent me really made my grand children ask lots of questions…..
I think you must be a few years younger than me. I remember another girl from the street, her mane was Pat Barber. She was my age. Does her name ring any bells with you.
Hi Trevor,
You may remember my mother and father, Kay and Dennis Durkin. We had an Alsatian dog at the time we lived at No. 27 Redeness Street and am I right in thinking your parents had a black and white Collie? My parents are still alive – dad being 91 and mother 88. Our neighbour at one side was Rosie Loftus and after she died Noel Calpin and family. On the opposite side was Sheila Maher, Mr & Mrs Clarridge and sons Tony and Peter, Mrs Sparks and daughter Valerie, a little further up the street past the school was Margaret Stewart and her mother, Jennifer Walker and her parents. Mr & Mrs. Donnelly and daughters Pam and Lesley – cannot remember what I had for breakfast yesterday though!
Hi Sandra thanks for the info. Great that your parents are still around sadly mine are long gone.
I remember your Alsatian, I think our dogs did not get on. Dogs in those days seemed to want to fight much more than now. I keep thinking of the name Bernard Durkin but I can’t put a face to him. The Claridge boys I remember. Valerie Sparks was what I would have called a smasher, to old to notice me of course. I never could have put so many names together without your help. I remember Bilton Street school. I used to sit on a window ledge in the play ground on the Bilton Street side. I do remember laying down to rest on the beds. The only person from the school is Billy Harper. He was the only person I ever had a fight with. We wre at Burnholme school together later and he always seemed to be having a go at me until finally in the 4th year (age 15 ) I fought back. He never bothered me again after that. Glad to get that off my chest all these years later. She maher ther must be pictures of all these people, wonder if it is possible to get some posted on here? I seem to remember a street party at the end of WW2. I went as a wounded soldier, my nurse was Anne Hodgson. Let’s keep the memories coming before we go the same way as Layerthorpe.
Hi Trevor, I do remember the name Pat Barber. Did she have red hair? My sister has just informed me she has read in The Press that a lady called Pat Barber has recently lost a son in his 30s. Not sure if this is the same lady as if she ever married she wouldn’t be Barber would she?
Does anyone remember Malcolm Walker or his brother John? We used to carry the battery from their Dads radio up to the garage just over the railway bridge into Heworth. We left on ther and carried one back, they always had one on charge. Seems like I had a really good life living in what today would be called bad conditions. The house never seemed cold with fires in the two rooms down stairs. I was never hungry and always had plenty of friends to hang out with. When we moved to a NEw house in Chapelfields we thought It was huge, and a bathroom with a shower was luxury living.
Hi Sandra Thanks for that. Pat was not a good ed head she was a blonde, at least the last time I saw her she was. I was 18 and asked her if she would like to go to a dance. The answer was a very nice no thank you…. Just as well because at that dance I met the girl I would marry three years later. Now 53 years and still married to the same girl.
Hello Trev Keeler
I am the ‘slim lad good at table tennis’- still slim & living only a few yards from Burnholme School. I have a newspaper photo from 1955 which features David Herbert, yourself(best junior member) Pete Batchelor (died a few years ago) and Terry Sutcliffe. I can send a copy to your email. I remember the Walker lads, & did you become a chef on leaving school ?
Wow what a great day. I don’t know why I got that. It is good to hear a voice from the past. Yes I did become a chef and traveled the world. Once I started working the hours meant I hardly ever got to the club again. It would be good to have a copy of the photo to show my family. They think I was always old and grumpy. I am 74 you must be at least my age. The gas work air and the tannery obviously did us no harm.i still support York City and have just signed up to see the matches on my iPad. Do you still play table tennis? How do I get my email to you. Can I put it on here?
David my email address is Trevor.keeler1@btinternet.com. We have our 17 year old grandson staying just now. He lives in Arizona and is on holiday until Sunday. I would be tickled pink to show him the photo. Trev, you are right. Accumulator is what they were. From where we started to here seems like another world,
Accumulators that’s what we called them I did same as you turned left at London’s and the garage on the right ‘Wheatleys’ I think the name was. David Poole is on this web-site. Try contacting him. Trev;
Layerthorpe was a world on its own. Trev;
David was as good as his word, I have the pictures. My grandson can hardly believe I as that young ever. SO A BIG THANK YOU to David Poole I never thought I would see so many familiar faces from that far back again.
Lisa needs a medal for setting this up!
It was lovely to read that you got the photo Trevor, thanks to David.
Thanks for your kind comment too. I’m far too humble and self-effacing to want a medal :) But if any readers would like to reward me for my endeavours in creating and maintaining this long-running and much-loved ad-free local resource please see the support this site page. Thank you :)
Really pleased to see the ‘Layerthorpe gang’ linking up again via the worldwide web, it’s splendid.
Is remember the paper shop in Down Hill St. I think they had a big Airedale dog that scared me every time I went in. The Co-op was the biggest shop. They sold good meringues. My dad bought the food for his pigs from the back of the shop. He put it on his carrier bike and took it up to Osbaldwick.with the dog running along with him.
I remember my grandad sat behind the counter in the bookies, one door leading into the house. He was on crutches as he had an amputated leg due to illness. The entrance to the bookies was in Downhill St and the entrance to the shop on Layerthorpe
When did you live in Redennes St? I was born there in 41 and moved away in about 57 or 58. Did I buy my comics fron your grandad or was that from Mercers.
I remember your grandparents , I did the evening papers for them . It was a small shop, can you remember who lived next door there were two girls,
Morning Trevor I was born in 49 and my brother John in 44. We lived at 42 Redness St until about 54/55. We had a big Alsatian called Rex.
My parents divorced and my mum married again to Frank Loftus Snr. His son Frank Jnr and daughter in law Pam also lived in Redness St. My dad worked for the gas company and my elder brother recalls him getting called out the night there was an explosion when sadly someone lost their life ( I was to young to remember )
Does anyone remember the’Skin yard’ near the John Bull pub in Layerthorpe.
I can remember the skin yard ma nick who lived next door to osses cleaned there for years, her daughter molly married peter Mason
hi terry,the skin yard you refer to was next door to us at the bottom of chicory yard.try eating your meals with that smell and in summer, the doors were always open in those days.peter mason was my uncle,molly my aunt.pete also died.he worked at walkers coal yard delivering coal with his brother harry,also my uncle.he has also passed away.
Mike, I lived at 23. We must have at least passed in the street. We probably played football or cricket behind my house. I slept through the explosion that knocked down the cooling tower on Foss Island road. Everyone said the house shook, in those days I slept through anything.
Trev, I remember the tannery, it stank and dumped its tanks into the Foss.
Somewhere opposite was a nursery. I seem to remember collecting someone from there as a very little lad. During 47 I dropped my bike into the flood in layerthorpe,must have been about 6 at that time.
I used to buy maggots there for fishing. The floods walking on planks in front of Mercers and the John Bull.
I cannot remember a nursery maybe Shelia could help you. Between Holmes fruit and veg; shop and the newsagents at the corner of Downhill street were several shops including fish and chip shop Jock the barber who else was there.
The day nursery was opposite Mason’s bike shop, next to Taylor’s Engineering Works. It was used during WW2 & for a short time afterwards. It was in St Cuthbert’s Church Hall building – the caretaker, Mrs Lancaster, lived in an adjacent house. The building was later used by Arthur Savory as a second hand shop
David did you or did you not win a cup for table tennis at the boys club.
Hello Trev Audin
Yes I did play a lot of table tennis. You earlier mentioned a shop at corner of Rymer/Faber Street – it was Liddle’s. Did you not work in the signal box north of the goods yard up towards Skelton ?
Yes I did work in the York Yard North and Skelton signal boxes for a while but not for me shift work.
There was a guy who went in the Frog Hall his first name George I think he was blind and lived in Duke of York street can you remember his last name. The vicar of St; Cuthbert’s church at the time was Rev; Bainton.
The Rev R.Bainton of St Cuthbert’s Church was my grandfather.
The blind man was George Cochrane who lived 88 Layerthorpe, just near my granddad’s grocers shop (Watsons). He had been a conductor on the old York trams.
I can remember buying Daltons cornflakes from his shop. There was another shop up towards the railway bridge,I think they sold toys it seemed a bigger shop but I can’t remember the name.
Ther was a family called Button lived across the road, the girls were Hazel and Pearl. I wonder what happened to them.
I lived at 45reddeness st the two girls next door were hazel and Diane I have a photo of me and Diane in about 1952 aged 5 I went to bilton street schooll until June 1953 when my family moved to union terrace opposite Charlie Haskins the York tattooist graham
I lived at 23 and was wondering if anyone remembered those girls. I lived in the street till I was 16. I don’t suppose you know what happened to them as they grew up?
Hazel and Diane Button lived opposite our house in Redeness Street. Hazel was a Supervisor in Woolworths for a long time, until its closure I believe.
From us in Redeness St. Does anyone know of them.
Interesting to read all the posts. With regards to the blast I also slept through it and was not aware until about a year ago when my brother mentioned it. Leaving Redness St in 54 ish I do not recall much of these. The other snippets from my point of view were my grandparents living in Faber St and if I recall there was a Methodist church in Duke of York St. I think I was christened there
At the corner of Layerthorpe and Foss Island road opposite Walker’s Builders yard there was an old graveyard you could not see it from the road because of a building you had to go through a set of gates off Layerthorpe where Cravans of york vans were parked does anyone know what church this graveyard belonged to and if it is still there. The last time I saw the site gravestones were placed against a wall and the site was grassed over.
I don’t remember any church’s or a grave yard. The church on the right going towards Hungate is St Cuthberts I think. The graveyard might be something to do with that church.
This is giving my brain a workout. Does anyone know if there were ever 2 Keeler families living in Redeness St at the same time around the 1940’s?
St; Cuthberts church that is correct I was Christened there by Rev; Bainton his rectory was near Heworth church. Next to St; Cuthberts church York side was the Blue Coat school. Sorry I cannot remember any Keeler family but will keep thinking.
The rectory for St Cuthbert’s was 86 East Parade I lived there for seven years or so in the fifties.
On the right side as you were walking towards Heworth Church about a few houses short of the church.
Trev Audin is talking about a medieval St Mary’s church, demolished c.1595. The site was a grassed area until about 50 years ago
Thanks David, Where was the church next to the graveyard towards Mansfield Street. Can the site still be seen.
Wow,what a wonderful read the “Lost Layerthorpe”article has induced,exceeding the interest created by”York Fever Hospital”,and
“Yacomb Sandoils”( Acomb)!!
Many thanks to all you 9 ex’ Layerthorpians’ for that evocative trip down memory lane.Thanks to—
Sue Claxton/Trevor Austin/Terry Morrison/Mike Clark/Trev;/Sheila Blakelock/David Poole/Quentin Gannaway/Trevor Keeler.I grew up with folk in, and relocated from that area before/during/after WW2, and still treasure growing up that time,with those people.
Thanks Stephen, In time there will be no one around who’s remembers Layerthorpe so better get all our memories on paper so the future generation can read about ‘Lost Layerthorpe’. Many THANKS to Lisa (York stories) for getting this web-site going about Layerthorpe and lets hope it continues.
As you walk up Hallfield Rd; from Layerthorpe on the left was a little yard with a couple of houses you went up two or three steps to get into the yard what was the name of the yard. The yard was just before Kidd’s Ter; which was on the right.
The little yard off Hallfield Road had 6 small houses & I think they were known as Hallfield Terrace, although they were numbered 21 to 31, within the odd number sequence of Hallfield Road. They had communal toilets & washday facilities. An occupant was Mick Metcalfe, a rag & bone man with a wooden leg (possibly from WW1) who had a pony & cart which he housed in outbuilding off Duke of York Street belonging to the Laverack family, to whom he was related
Thanks David, Mick Metcalfe a name from the past he used to go collecting rags with a helper called Sam Barker. I cannot mention what these two got up to at times.
At the end of Hallfield Rd and behind Redeness St was some empty land that had afraid shelters on it. Does anyone know when they were demolished? I don’t have any memory of them being removed.i have just looked at the press pictures of old layerthorpe. A good record of our past. David you must have done a lot of research to know so much. I am looking for a old map of the area, any ideas?
Hello Trevor, there’s a late 19th century map available on this link: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/os-1-to-2500/york/174/07, with the Layerthorpe area in the bottom left if you pan down that way. Hope that’s helpful. And as mentioned in the previous comment there will be a special map on its way which a friend and I are making, hope to have that ready to share with you soon.
Lisa
Thanks Lisa for the map it is great one thing surprised me was that Forringting Lane was formily called Vicars Lane. I could pinpoint some of the houses where people I knew lived.
Trevor, Lisa sent me a map of old york try this web-site http://www.british-history.ac.uk/os-1-to-2500/york/174/07 I remember the open area but cannot remember the air raid shelters Nov; 5th; was bonfire night in that area.
Trevor, I forgot to add to the last comment Bottom left corner of the map is Layerthorpe you can enlarge and move the map about.
It has been so interesting reading your memories of ‘Lost Layerthorpe’ (as I put it in the page title). As a friend who has also been reading and enjoying them said, “it seems that lost Layerthorpe is lost no more”.
I’ve not been idle over the last few days, and have a lot of info assembled from various online sources which might I hope be of interest, will be adding this soon.
We are also making a map, based on existing historical maps and with your information in the comments above added in. I’ll share that on here soon and hope you’ll all be able to help with filling in more of the gaps.
Thanks again for all your comments above.
Lisa
The map is very useful. The house I lived in in Redeness St had a gap between us and the next one. I think that at some time they had knocked the one between down, maybe to make access to the air raid shelters. The leadup to bonfire night was almost more interesting than “firework ” night. What with guarding the bonfire and mischief night. That meant knocking on doors and running away. We had a bobby at our door because I had let fireworks off in the street. My only brush with the law. My mam and dad gave me the worst telling off of my life. Do you remember a club helper called Cec. I think his last name was Curran, Might have been a Geordie.
Hello Trevor
The voluntary helper at Boys Club was Cecil CURRAH, a friend of the leader William Ogilvie. I think he came from Blyth & stayed in York until he died in 1999
Where was the Boys Club? We need to put it on the ‘work-in-progress’ map. (Which is at present a bit too scribbly to share, but we’re working hard on turning it into something more coherent)
Hello Lisa
It was at 6 Redeness Street,in a building which had been Layerthorpe Adult School. It was next to the George IV public house, a photo of which is I think on Imagine York
Thanks David, have seen that photo, but didn’t realise that the Adult School was later the Boys Club building, thanks for clarifying. On the left as you looked down Redeness St from Layerthorpe? (Is that way at present on The Map)
Hello Lisa
Yes that is correct, the club was on the eastern side of the street. Somewhere in York Explore is a brochure of the club annual report of 1937 which includes a photo of the ‘new’ club after it had recently moved from its recently demolished home in Hungate
‘Lost Layerthorpe’ is no more it is slowly rising from the ashes THANKS to York Stories (Lisa) and the old Layertorpe gang.
We are rebuilding Layerthorpe, between us, I think, thanks to you Trev and the rest of the Layerthorpe Gang
St; Cuthberts Road keeps popping up in my mind did it run up side of the Co-op to the waste ground at the end.
Yes that was the name. The co-op was at the Layerthorpe end. What was the building at the other end near what I would call the playground? It had 4 swings and a wooden seesaw?
And what about the mysteriously named ‘Rope Walk’?
Sorry it does not ring a bell with me maybe David could help you.
We need to find someone from Bilton St to keep this up. I knew a Billy harper that lived there and went to Burnholme school.
The Rope Walk was on the right hand side of Kidd’s Terrace, paddock about 50 yds by 25 yds. I lived right opposite this at 7 Kidd’s Tce.
The Rope Walk belonged to the Shambles Rope Shop & their 2 employees used to come down periodically to make ropes which had been ordered. There were 2 sheds in the paddock about 30 yards apart, which housed mechanism to produce ropes of various thicknesses as required, the process a bit difficult to explain in a short text
David, did you know a girl called Yvonne Winkcup. I know she lived in Kidds Terrace. If she was playing with us her mum would call her in from out of their bedroom window.
Hello Trevor
Yvonne’s surname was Whincup (now Hart)& I spoke to her only 2 months ago. She still lives locally & keeps well
David thank you for that, if you see her again tell her hello. I keep looking for pictures but only find the ones I have already seen.
Do you have any memories of some houses set back from the road as you went towards the bridge at the Heworth end of Layerthorpe? My memory seems to make them seem quite smart semi’s.
These were 3 pairs of semis built about 1930 by the Gas Company & the 6 houses were for their employees, numbered 119 to 129. The Gas Co also owned 6 terrace houses on the York side of the semis, numbered 107 to 117
Rather belatedly, as I got sidetracked, thanks David for the explanation and description of the Rope Walk, would love to have seen this, and wonder if there are any photos/old film of it.
I’ve been quiet, but not idle …..
http://layerthorpe-project.yorkstories.co.uk/
Wow, this page has reached 100 comments. Thanks for all your contributions and memories. As mentioned above, I’ve set up a site for the Layerthorpe project: layerthorpe-project.yorkstories.co.uk/, and here’s some info about it.
Here on York Stories there are other pages which may also be of interest:
A page about the gasworks, from 2013: http://yorkstories.co.uk/an-industrial-landscape-of-some-grandeur/
Memories of the area in the 1940s: http://yorkstories.co.uk/world-tour-of-york-with-barrow-1940s/
From 2007: http://yorkstories.co.uk/changes/layerthorpe-heworth-green/
And a page about the John Bull pub:
http://yorkstories.co.uk/nobody-knew-heritage-value-john-bull-york/
Walker’s the builders in Layerthorpe had a dredger boat called ‘Reklaw’ it was used to bring sand from around Linton/Aldwark area on the ouse river to there yard in Laythorpe what happened to this dredger boat and where is it now.
Although this area has often been described as poor & deprived, it has provided its fair share of residents who enjoyed very long lives, some examples being;
Edward (Ned) Fitch, although born in Essex, lived in the district from Edwardian times (Faber & Richmond Streets). A Corporation carter, he died on 22.12.1974 aged 101.
Martin Durkin was born in the Hungate area on 4.11.1889, his forebears being Irish immigrants. He lived for many years at 58 Layerthorpe, dealing in second hand furniture. He died on 30.3.1993 at the exceptional age of 103.
Matilda Moss (nee Farmery) was born in Rymer St on 6.1.1899. She was widowed at the age of 42, with 5 children including 3 year old twins. She lived in the area all her life, and died on 15.7.1999 aged 100.
David, was Matilda MOSS (nee FARMERY) your mother’s 1st cousin? I know lots about the FARMERY family in Layerthorpe
David – John Nelson FARMERY and Jane (METCALFE) had a daughter Mary Jane born 1868 and she had a son Arthur FARMERY at 21 Hallfield Road in 1894; when he married for the second time in 1935 he said his father was John Melley FARMERY.
Mary Jane married in 1899 to either Ernest Walter BROOKES or (more likely) William ROBINSON – do you know who she married and what became of her afterwards?
In 1901 Arthur was living with his aunt Rebecca FARMERY and grandmother Jane FARMERY at Hallfield Terrace and in 1911 with his uncle Thomas FARMERY at Rymer Street.
Hi David, Martin Durkin was my paternal grandfather. As far as I am aware he still holds the record for being born in York and having lived the whole of his 103 years in York. His son, Dennis Durkin is my father and is still alive, now 91. My dad was a Chindit and has so many stories to tell of his experiences in Burma, India, Singapore, Malaya and many other places. He was born in Layerthorpe and apart from his time in the forces, left only when grandad Martin’s houses 58 and 60 Layerthorpe were sold to York Corporation under the Compulsory Purchase scheme. Still lives in York though. It is wonderful that you have that information regarding the ‘oldies’ of York. Was so pleased to read your comments.
Good info; David Thanks. There was a Farmery family living at 33 Rymer Street when I was there one girl was called Thelma I think her mother was called Violet.
Hello Trev, Thelma’s dad was Tom & he was the brother of Matilda. Thelma is still about – I was talking to her a few months ago
Thanks David, Next time you see here say’Hi’ from me there was another family at 31 Rymer Tomlinson’s what happened to them.
Remember the walking matches they used to have from the pubs and the discussions they had afterwards in the bar about the winner if he had broken the rules of ‘Heel and Toe’ many a pint was drunk and a good time was had. The area people turned out to watch the races and cheer the race contestants on across the finish line.
I have enjoyed reading all this Layerthorpe nostalgia but can’t understand why the actual “Layerthorpe Workingmens’ Club” has not been mentioned. This was a very significant establishment (building) and community presence. Why do I feel that it was all a dream?!., ….Cheers everyone…Quentin.
No it was not a dream. I only went in the Working mans club as a guest a couple of times as it was members only club I believe and that was when it moved to Little Hallfield road. I used the Frog Hall regular. John Bull was the first stop when we went pub hopping in the city.
I went on several yearly trip to the rugby final from the Frog Hall we used to leave Friday mid-morning put several crates of beer on board the bus and away we would go. I think the place where we stopped for Friday and Saturday nights were at a pub in Dunstable just outside London. Then we would go to see the final Saturday afternoon back to the pub have a few pints talk about the game. Mid-morning Sunday back on board the bus for the ride back home. Money was raised for the trip by paying a few pence a week also by raffles and bingo. The coach was from Morrice Danials of Acomb.
Thanks Trev….I get yer drift! But I still can’t believe that a club of that size (about 1000 capacity?) has seemingly vanished! (It wasn’t even called the “Atlantis Club”!)….It had live bands every night (10piece, different size per night, top guest artistes….bingo….dancing).I remember the crowd being so enthusiastic as to line up pints across the front of the stage…I think I remember!)…C’MON…..I’m gonna hammer this till someone wakes up! :) Clue:Drummer named Allan Sutton…………Quentin
I think the club membership started to decline when the council began to move people away from Layerthorpe the couple of nights I went in it was just a shaking. Those were the days.
Hello Quentin, no it wasn’t a dream. With the help of Avril E Webster’s book I’ve just made this page over on the Layerthorpe project site: http://layerthorpe-project.yorkstories.co.uk/layerthorpe-working-mens-club/
I left Layerthorpe before I was old enough to go into any of the pubs. I do remember remember collecting empty bottles and taking them back to the pub in Redeness St. Used the money for sweets, chips or an Oxo from the boy’s club.
Briefly (for now)…..I have read the stuff about the LWC on the links you sent: makes sense now. The photo rings bells but not loudly! Please don’t get me started on Ripon, OK?! Cheers, Quentin.
hi martin,,yes david was my brother.he sadly died in 2008 at the age of 54.so young of a heart attack.did you know him well? Sheila b
Yes, but a very long time ago. very sorry to hear your news as you say so young. Condolence’s sadly only words but well meant.
hi trev,i personaly did not know the senior family,only by name,but my aunt pat,nee mason,knew them,yet another mason.pat also worked in York boys club,you might know her.she says she knew trevor audin.
hi trev keeler,refering to brian maso you missed an n off his name,yet another mason.he was my uncle,nicknamed basher.wonder why,lol,he also died young.
hi david poole I went to the sunday school in st cuthberts church hall opposite my grandads bike shop.mr Richardson taught us and if you stood up and sang jesus wants me for a sunbeam you got a small bar of white chocolate,was that a bribe?lol
Hello Sheila
I recall Mr Richardson & I think we sometimes got grapes or tangerines if they were in season. I recall your granddad (did he have a false leg?)& Raymond. No one has mentions your granddad’s neighbours, Stirk’s Furniture Store.
hi david,stirks furniture stores ran alongside chicory yard,where I lived, and,while playing one day at ball I think,my cousin,june asher,went to retrieve a ball off stirks rooftop.unfortunatly she fell through.mr stirk had to be called to let her out.to this day I don’t know what she landed on,a bed or a settee.
hi david again,at the back of stirks was walkers coal yard,at the bottom of chicory yard was a leanto where someone (I would rather not mention his name)used to climb over,buckets were passed to him to fill with coal.in winter after it had snowed you could see a black trail to the houses.times were hard.by the way my granddad did have a pot leg which he stood at the side of his bed with his shoe and sock on it.it scared me. by the way do you remember the durkins,bernard and billy
david and mick
Sheila, My maiden name is Durkin. Bernard, Michael and Brian (known as Billy) are my cousins. My dad Dennis is still alive, now 91 and their father Bernard, now deceased were brothers.
hi terry Morrison, the two girls who lived next door to clarks shop on the corner of downhill street werejoan &Dorothy Costello.they were my best friends,which continued after we left layerthorpe.sadly they have both died
Just seen this comment Sheila. I knew Dorothy and in particular Joan Costello. She was a great friend to my mother and often babysat at our house. She remained a family friend until her tragic and untimely death in Harrogate a good few years ago now. She was a few years older than me but I adored her as did my mother and sisters.
Hi Sheila, the Mr Richardson you refer to was my uncle Dick. Think he lived in/near the chapel before both he and my auntie Mona went to live in Faber St with my grandad after my grandma passed away
Hello Mike
The Mr Richardson who Sheila mentioned helped at the Church of England Sunday school. Your uncle Dick Richardson taught at the Methodist Chapel in Duke of York St. Is your aunt Olive (Joe’s wife) still alive. I heard a short time ago that she was a great age & living with your cousin Alan.
David thank you for that. As soon as you mentioned Duke of York St it rang a bell. If my memory serves me well I was christened into that church.
My aunt Olive is still alive and doing well she will be the grand age of 102 years young in Nov. She lives with Alan and his wife Val Bridlington
Regards
Mike
Hello Mike,
If you look on website ‘Imagine York’ which has 100’s of York photos & enter ‘O Calam’ in the search, you will find a photo of WW2 Layerthorpe ARP wardens which includes Olive & Joe, & I think your mother MIGHT be seated on far right front row. Pleased to hear about Olive
David thank you again for that info. I have been on the site and yes indeed that is my mother seated far right. I never had the chance to talk to her about it as she passed away 50 years ago last Feb at a very young age of 42. Definitely Joe & Olive and I seam to recall the big fella on Joes right as Bill Wain
Regards
Mike
David two things please
1. How do I find out about my mam’s ARP Warden and would she have been awarded a medal – if so what?
2. How did you know my mother?
Regards
Mike
Hello Mike
As she was not in uniform I am not sure if your mother was an official warden, & I do not think they were awarded medals. I was born 1940 in Kidd’s Terrace opposite uncle Joe so grew up with Alan although he is a bit younger. I remember your grand-parents paper shop on corner of Downhill St & your other grandparents in Faber St
Thanks again David all sounds good to me although one of the few photos I have of my man show her in the ARP Wardens uniform. It was taken on her 21st birthday which would have been Dec 44
Hope all is well with you and I will mention you to Alan when I next see him/call him
Regards
Mike
Thank you to everyone who has added memories and thoughts here, making this the most commented on page on the site, with most of the 143 comments above being added this year.
They inspired the setting up of a separate website project: layerthorpe-project.yorkstories.co.uk. It has a recently added map based on some of the information above (up to August 2015) and a questionnaire.
I’ve been wondering for some years why certain streets (eg Union Terrace, previously pondered on these pages) and areas (eg the Groves, Layerthorpe) saw demolition on a large scale while other areas with what appears to be similar housing survived and prospered (eg Bishophill).
So, dear ‘Layerthorpe gang’ (Sheila, above, should get credit for first using that term), I’d appreciate your memories and thoughts, via the questionnaire linked to on this page on the Layerthorpe Project site.
Lisa @YorkStories
I do hope all those interesting people who contributed to making “Lost Layerthorpe,such a unique/popular site,fill in the questionaire.I would like to have done so,but never lived there.My life was enleavened,by the many of them,who I lived among in the Fossway/Pottery lane/Dodsworth ave area,who had movedin the 1930’s when originally threatened with demolition.My next door neighbours at 65 Fossway(The Clark family from Bilton St)had moved at that time into Pottery Lane,then moved again from 3 to4 bedrooms to accomodate their large family.A lot of their adults,all returned to either the Frog Hall,or The Bull,to socialise at weekends,as did my parents.I myself was tasked by my Mum.in collecting insurance in that area with a round given to my Mum,when our Insurance Man was called up,every Thursday/Fridayfrom Fossway thro’to the Laundry on Peasholm,and in and out of all the side streets,so well known to me,both place and people for the latter half of WW2 till the army was de-mobbed.
hi Sandra,i remember your name but you were 5 years younger than me,young Bernard was like a brother to me,he was best friends with my brother,raymond,they were always together and I tagged on.my dad went to the pub on a Saturday night and brought home the dandy and beano comics.sunday morning Bernard was always there first to read them.his favourite was desperate dan.he would lie on the rug on his belly and elbows laughing like mad.my mother was in stiches listening to him,she would say ,listen to Bernard laughing.every time a mason died Bernard would turn up,always lovely to see him.the nicest person,he could talk the hind legs off a donkey,great.he also worked with my uncle,basher,at tadcaster brewery.
Oh memories eh Sheila. Seems a long time ago now doesn’t it. I have been showing my parents the pictures of Layerthorpe on this site. That evoked some more reminiscing for over an hour. We talked about the people of Layerthorpe and they could remember things that I didn’t. I am not sure if it is all correct as they both have a bit of dementia now but they can still have a meaningful conversation. I will talk to them again and may post some of what we talk about on here. Thank you for responding to my comments.
Hi Sandra
I have been following your comments. It would be good to get your parents memories out onto this sight. My mum had dementia but could remember the past quite clearly. Reading about Layerthorpe brings back lots of pictures. Do you remember the Wizard and Hotspur? dandy no Beano were on my must read list too. I don’t remember which shop that I bought them, either Clarks or Mercers near the Bulll.
I am hoping to get a few of their memories on to paper the next time I visit them Trevor. They are always reminiscing about their days in Layerthorpe and of course dad goes a bit further back than mum because he was born there in 1924. He didn’t leave until the end apart from his Army days.
It would be lovely to have a record of your parents memories. Could you perhaps add them to the Layerthorpe project site at http://layerthorpe-project.yorkstories.co.uk/mapping-20th-century-layerthorpe/? Just about to add an updated map, and we also have some new information from the questionnaire (http://layerthorpe-project.yorkstories.co.uk/questionnaire-living-in-layerthorpe-area-20th-century/). Thanks to everyone for sharing your memories and knowledge there too.
Hi Shiela
I remember your brother and I remember Bernard Durkin by name but not able to conjure up a picture of him. Did Rajymond go to Nash court one summer with the Boy’s club? Or is my memory playing tricks. I was born in 1941. I don’t remember you though, I probably had not discovered girls just then.
Just thinking about this site brings back a memory of the co-op milkman with his horse drawn cart. The bottles had cardboard tops that we lads would flick down the street to see who could fit them the furthest. The girls used to do something with “raffia” to make little mats. When the bottle tops changes to tin foil we could flick them with two fingers and make them fly like flying saucers. When my mum got a piano my dad collected it using a hired horse and cart. When we moved out the piano went to the Boys Club but I don’t remember how it got moved.
Remember Rington’s tea man coming once a week with the horse and covered cart. I can still picture him.
Thanks to all contributors to this page, with far more comments added than any other on this site. First comment from Stephen on 9 October 2012, last comment on it by Trev on 18 December 2015.
I’m closing the comments now as running alongside it since late summer 2015 has been the Layerthorpe project website: layerthorpe-project.yorkstories.co.uk/. We’ve just recently added some fascinating memories of the area: layerthorpe-project.yorkstories.co.uk/memories-of-layerthorpe, and former residents finding this page will, I hope, answer the questionnaire.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to this page, and rebuilt ‘Lost Layerthorpe’.
Lisa @YorkStories