We are delighted to present ‘Voicing the Hidden’ — two creative walking tours on Fossgate and Walmgate led by renowned York-based poet Robert Powell, film-maker Ben Pugh, and historian Joshua Scarlett. The tours focus on the hidden and less noticed aspects of these two much-loved York streets. Participants will be encouraged to creatively capture their own impressions — on Tour 1, through words and writing, on Tour 2, through writing, photography (or both!), and Tour 3 through photography. The tours are open to all as part of Heritage Open Days.

Following the tour there will be an opportunity to relax with a coffee, reflect, and share ideas, words and images. The aim of the event is to explore and enjoy York’s heritage and to consider ‘hidden histories’, tangible and intangible, and the role of imaginative approaches in exploring and valuing the city’s past.

Each tour is available for 12 people. People with all levels of experience are welcome, and no special equipment is needed. Each tour will last approximately one hour, followed by 45 minutes in Hungate Reading Café.

Drawing on the pool of creative material produced from the tours, an event consisting of presentations and discussions is set to take place this Autumn. Tour participants, artists, York Civic Trust Members ,and the general public are invited. Follow the links below to sign up, as booking is essential.

Tour 1 – Monday 13th September at 13:00 – 15:00

Tour 2 – Wednesday 15th September at 13:00 – 15:00

Tour 3 – Sunday 19th September at 10:00 – 12:00

These tours will run along part of the historic city walls and therefore may not be fully accessible.

The post Voicing the Hidden – Join us first appeared on York Civic Trust.

Written by Paul Birch. Directed by Thomas Frere

Step back in time to the sumptuous world of 18th century York for an intimate performance staged in the finest Georgian townhouse in England.

Charles Gregory Fairfax bestows a magnificent gift upon his only surviving daughter, Anne. He builds her a resplendent house filled with beautiful things so that she might have a bright future in a glorious society…but, this place is wrestling with darker concerns and the household is haunted by the ghosts of its past.

Your task is simple. Enter a room and choose an object. Each object triggers an alternative version of the past and from a different historical perspective. Your choices not only change the drama but will even change your route through the house and the order of events.

Click HERE to book.

Watch the teaser trailer here…

Performances are limited to 6 people. Face masks are required and regular sanitising points will be available throughout the visit.

____

Saturday 10 Oct 2020 until Saturday 31 Oct 2020

11am, 1:30pm, 4pm, 6:30pm

Fairfax House, York

£18 or £25 (Premium Candlelit Performance)

The post THE CHARACTER OF HOME first appeared on York Civic Trust.

Partnering with the York Environment Forum and York Bus Forum, The Trust’s surveys asked residents and those commuting into York to work to outline what they feel are current issues with transport in the City, how and why they move around the City and how they would like to see transport changed in the future.  

The results of the surveys of residents, commuters and visitors can now be read and downloaded here:

York Transport Local Consultation – Key Findings Report: Residents and Commuters, Nov. 2019

York Local Transport Consultation – Key Findings Report: Visitors’ surveys, Nov. 2019

The response to the survey will feed into the Council’s new Local Transport Plan, work on which is expected to be started next year.

A Citizens’ Transport Forum, drawn from those who completed the survey, will shortly be established to discuss and review the implications of the responses, and to work with the Council as it develops its Plan.  

This consultation was funded by York Civic Trust, The National Lottery Community Fund, the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund, York Environment Forum, York Bus Forum and York BID.

The post Transport Survey first appeared on York Civic Trust.

And! on the launch night of Thursday 14 November, Fairfax House will be keeping its doors open late for the Yuletide Fayre so that you can wander through its glittering interiors and soak up the after dark atmosphere and traditions of a Georgian Christmas by candlelight. There will be mulled wine, mince pies, tastings and music from York Theatre Royal Choir – guaranteed to keep you feeling festive throughout the evening. Or you can try your hand at making a spiced orange pomander to take home.

And if you’ve not started your Christmas shopping yet, then this is the perfect opportunity to buy some presents with up to 20% off in the museum shop for the night of Thursday 14th November only, between 5.30pm and 8.30pm.

The Keeping of Christmas Exhibition Runs Thursday 14 Nov 2019 until Tuesday 31 Dec 2019 – usual admission applies

The post The Keeping of Christmas first appeared on York Civic Trust.

The contest provides an excellent chance for young orators from York’s schools to take to the stage and persuade, entertain and convince our audience on their own viewpoints, on a topic related to York.

The competition will be held in the presence of the Lord Mayor and the Civic Party of York and will begin at 6.30pm.

The post Speaking Competition – 20 November first appeared on York Civic Trust.

To celebrate the 175th anniversary of this event, the Yorkshire Philosophical Society [YPS] has joined with York Museums Trust and York Explore to stage an outdoor exhibition of twelve of the surviving portraits. They form a trail of large weather-proof copies around the gardens and by the lawn next to the library. The exhibition runs until 4 November.

They include nationally famous scientists, as well as people of importance to York and the YPS which hosted the 1844 meeting.

Bob Hale, YPS archivist and a member of the exhibition project team, will lead a guided walk adding further detail to the stories of those who were photographed – some colourful, some aristocratic, some of humble origins, who all accepted the chance to be recorded for posterity

Meet on 14 October at 2.30pm at the YPS (Yorkshire Philosophical Society) Lodge to the gardens on Museum Street.

Please wear suitable footwear for this outdoor event.

For a detailed overview of the exhibition and the research behind it, please visit the YPS’s dedicated webpage for it.

Tickets are £10 and can be bought at the YCT event webpage.

YCT MEMBERS ONLY EVENT – TICKETS ARE NON REFUNDABLE

The post “York’s First Photographs”: Exhibition Guided Walk first appeared on York Civic Trust.

It is hoped that work can soon starting on painting the gates, and repairs made to the damaged City of York coats of arms that are attached to boards on the gates.

The work has been funded by York Civic Trust’s City Enhancement Programme. If you would like to donate to this project, or suggest another restoration project within York that our team could look at in 2020, please contact cityenhancement@yorkcivictrust.co.uk

The post Hull Road Park Progress first appeared on York Civic Trust.

These are just some of the many suggestions made already by York residents and commuters who have completed York Civic Trust’s transport survey.  

Partnering with the York Environment Forum and York Bus Forum, York Civic Trust launched the survey on 2nd September.  The survey, designed to find out what residents and commuters think are the key issues in York and how to tackle them, will run until 30th September.

All York residents are encouraged to contribute. You can take part in the survey by visiting:

https://surveys.qaresearch.co.uk/YorkTransportResidents.asp

Commuters into York can take part in a specific survey, which can be found at:

https://surveys.qaresearch.co.uk/YorkTransportCommuters.asp

The responses to the survey will feed into the Council’s new Local Transport Plan, work on which is expected to be started next year.

Professor Tony May, Chair of the Trust’s dedicated Transport Advisory Group, commented: “We are delighted to have had so many ideas already for the future of transport in York.  We would like to see as many people as possible take part in the survey so we can get a wide range of feedback on transport issues facing everyone who lives and works in the City.

“Transport is one of the key challenges, and opportunities, for York in the future and we so if you have ideas to offer, or don’t agree with those which we have received to date, do please complete the survey.” 

As an extra incentive, everyone who completes the survey will be entered into a prize draw, with a chance to win one of three £100 prizes, to be made at random at the end of the survey period.  

A Citizens’ Transport Forum, drawn from those who complete the survey, will be established to discuss and review the implications of the responses, and to work with the Council as it develops its Plan.  

York-based Qa Research has been appointed to lead on the consultation exercise.  

This consultation is funded by York Civic Trust, The National Lottery Community Fund, the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund, York Environment Forum, York Bus Forum and York BID.  

The post YCT major transport survey producing innovative ideas first appeared on York Civic Trust.

Partnering with the York Environment Forum and York Bus Forum, The Trust has launched a survey that runs throughout September 2019.

All York residents can take part in the survey by visiting:

https://surveys.qaresearch.co.uk/YorkTransportResidents.asp

Commuters into York can take part in a specific survey which can be found at:

https://surveys.qaresearch.co.uk/YorkTransportCommuters.asp

[Survey users are recommended to use a tablet, laptop or PC when completing the survey. Rotating a smartphone to ‘landscape’ will also help]

The surveys ask residents and those commuting into York to work to outline what they feel are current issues with transport in the City, how and why they move around the City and how they would like to see transport changed in the future.  

The response to the survey will feed into the Council’s new Local Transport Plan, work on which is expected to be started next year.

As an extra incentive, everyone who completes the survey will be entered into a prize draw, with a chance to win one of three £100 prizes, to be made at random at the end of the survey period.  

A Citizens’ Transport Forum, drawn from those who complete the survey, will be established to discuss and review the implications of the responses, and to work with the Council as it develops its Plan.  

“We would like to see as many people as possible take part in the survey so we can get a wide range of feedback on transport issues facing everyone who lives and works in the City.”

“Transport is one of the key challenges, and opportunities, for York in the future and we hope this exercise helps to inform this debate in the coming months and years.”

[Professor Tony May, Chair of the Trust’s dedicated Transport Advisory Group]

A large display can be found inside the main Explore York Library in Library Square, and information will be made available to all 17 of York’s library branches by Tuesday 3rd September.

This consultation is funded by York Civic Trust, The National Lottery Community Fund, the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund, York Environment Forum, York Bus Forum and York BID.  

The post YCT launches major, city-wide local transport survey in York first appeared on York Civic Trust.

Dave Barnes has worked to make repairs to the gates in line with City of York approved conservation practices, where the gates had eroded and were in danger of collapse. The gates will be painted in traditional black, once the July rain stops.

A second set of railings closer to Prices Lane have now been removed for similar repairs.

The post Bishopgate Street Railings Work first appeared on York Civic Trust.