But, as this left four great and highly worthy nominations unlikely to result in a blue plaque anytime soon, we still want to celebrate them in some way, to give each a moment in the YCT spotlight, even if a plaque is not on the horizon.

This article, celebrating the life of folklorist and author, Eliza Gutch (1840-1931), has been researched and written by Holly Smith, a podcaster and YCT volunteer.

Eliza Hutchinson was born in July 1840 in Lincolnshire. Over her lifetime, she contributed considerably to the studies of folklore and dialect which attracted increasing interest during the Victorian period. And yet, her work as “Mrs Gutch” is now largely forgotten. 

Eliza was the eldest daughter of Simon Hutchinson – a land agent. She married John James Gutch on 22nd January 1868 and settled in York where John was a partner at a solicitors firm. Here, the couple welcomed four children. Eliza witnessed the development of York from the late Victorian era into the Twentieth Century, up until her death on 17th March 1931. She had connections to York College for Girls, the University Extension Society, and the Charity Organisation Society.[1] But it was her contributions to folklore and dialect studies which defined her life. 

Notes, Queries and Dialects

For over 70 years, Eliza was a contributor to Notes and Queries – a scholarly journal that features short articles on the English language as well as literature, history, and lexicography. She submitted articles under the pseudonym “St Swithin” (which was a reference to her birthday, 15th July) and specialised in providing others with information and source materials.[2] 

Eliza’s knowledge and skill in providing information and source material was utilised by linguist and dialectologist Joseph Wright in the publication of his book the English Dialect Dictionary. The six volumes, exploring English dialects in detail, were published between 1898 and 1905. Eliza contributed research to both Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. 

She was also a founding member of the English Dialect Society which formed in 1873. The society was formed for the study of dialects in England and published bibliographies, glossaries and miscellanies. In the society’s first annual report, a membership of over 200 people was recorded – of this only 11 were women and 3 of them were married.[3] 

The Folklore Society

One of Eliza’s most influential contributions to Notes and Queries was in February 1876 when she suggested that a folklore society should be formed. This led to a “protracted correspondence” in the journal throughout the next year.[4] And, in 1878, the Folklore Society was finally formed with Eliza as one of the 107 founding members, alongside the likes of writer W. J. Thoms and antiquarian George Laurence Gomme. 

The society met once a year with the aim to publish books and a journal. It published the Country Folklore series in seven volumes between 1892 and 1914. Eliza edited three of these volumes; her first was Volume II County Folklore: Examples of Printed Folk-Lore Concerning the North Riding of Yorkshire, York and the Ainsty in 1901. [A copy can be freely read here]. This was followed seven years later by County Folklore: Examples of Printed Folklore Concerning Lincolnshire. It was the fifth volume in the series and was co-authored with Mabel Peacock, another folklorist.

The last of Eliza’s volumes (volume VI) was published in 1912 with the title County Folklore: Examples of Printed Folk-Lore Concerning the East Riding of Yorkshire. Again, these works were a vehicle for Eliza to share her research and source material with others. The Folklore Society still exists today. 

Life In Holgate

Eliza’s story is linked to a famous landmark in York – the Holgate windmill. She was the last private owner of this five-sailed windmill that stands today as York’s last surviving example. The Gutch family owned a swathe of land around Holgate which included the now demolished Holgate Lodge (originally Holgate Villa), and the windmill which was built originally by George Waud in 1770. The mill was subsequently passed down through the Waud family until it was sold in 1851. By 1877, it appears that the mill belonged to the Gutch family.[5] The mill was bought by York Corporation in 1939 after Eliza’s death and was left derelict for almost 70 years until the Holgate Windmill Preservation Society was formed in 2001 for its protection and restoration. 

In the 1930s, Eliza’s sons John and Wilfrid developed the new estate below the mill, between Acomb Road and Poppleton Road. They named one street St Swithin’s Walk in memory of Eliza.[6]

Footnotes

[1] Eileen Elder, “…But Who was Mrs Gutch?,” Newsletter of the Society For Lincolnshire History and Archaeology 55, (Jan 1988): 25.

[2] “Overview: Eliza Gutch,” Oxford Reference. Accessed 12 February 2024. https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095913959.

[3] Elder, “…But Who was Mrs Gutch?,” 24.

[4] “Overview: Folklore Society,” Oxford Reference. Accessed 12 February 2024. https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095826506.

[5] “About the Mill,” Holgate Windmill. Accessed 12 February 2024. https://www.holgatewindmill.org/about-the-mill.

[6] “Some Clients of G W Milburn – Sculptor,” Friends of York Cemetery. Accessed 14 March 2024. https://www.yorkcemetery.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/York-Cemetery-Some-

Clients-of-GW-Milburn-Sculptor-Jan-2019.pdf 

Key Sources

Elder, Eilee. “…But Who was Mrs Gutch?” Newsletter of the Society For Lincolnshire History and Archaeology 55, (Jan 1988): 23-26. https://www.slha.org.uk/publications/magazine/.

Oxford Reference. “Overview: Eliza Gutch.” Oxford Reference. Accessed 12 February 2024. https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095913959.

Oxford Reference. “Overview: Folklore Society.” Oxford Reference. Accessed 12 February 2024. https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095826506.

Simpson, Jacqueline, and Stephen Roud. A Dictionary of English Folklore. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.

The post Eliza Gutch – Author & Folklorist first appeared on York Civic Trust.

The museum will be open from 10:00 – 16:00 Saturday to Thursday with guided tours 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00. York Civic Trust members have free entry to the house.

For further information visit our website.

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Conservator Alaina Schmisseur will follow her recent successful projects to restore the statues of Queen Victoria, Holgate and William Etty and carry out the works on behalf of York Civic Trust.

The project means access to a small pedestrian pathway adjacent to Station Rise will be restricted in order for scaffolding to be in place. The works are scheduled to be completed before 24 August 2018.

Works are being managed by York Civic Trust’s City Enhancement Programme.

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Click on the Events tab to view all events and book.

To dowload a copy of the events leaflet Events Programme – Spring-Summer 2019.

To book a member event click

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The post Kate Mavor’s English Heritage Presentation at AGM first appeared on York Civic Trust.

Following the AGM, Kate Mavor, CEO of the English Heritage Trust, will give a presentation on the consdervation and restoration work of the charity.

The post York Civic Trust Annual General Meeting – 4 October 2017 first appeared on York Civic Trust.

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Prepared by the Chief Executive and his team of writers, the report will be reviewed at our AGM on 4 October (at the National Centre for Early Music).

Click here to see the page with a link to the 2016-17 Annual Report.

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In attendance at the ceremony were Claire Forsyth from York Brewery, and representatives from Brigantes and York Civic Trust. The unveiling was performed by Councillor Ian Gillies, Executive Member for Transport & Planning, and a former cab driver himself, in honour of Hansom’s innovation to transport in the form of the Hansom Cab.

The post Joseph Hansom plaque first appeared on York Civic Trust.

Inevitably this work has uncovered a need for more of the same– we hope to be able to repair and redecorate more name plates in the future.

The post Street Name Plates repainted in the City Centre first appeared on York Civic Trust.