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.

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Educating the next generation about York’s history and heritage is one of York Civic Trust’s objectives in producing four beautifully illustrated packs aimed at Primary age children but of interest and relevance to anyone who enjoys discovering York’s varied past. Using historic photos, original documents and real life stories, each pack (produced in conjunction with York Explore) recounts a national historic event but viewed through a local lens.

The reader is taken into Life in York’s Victorian Workhouse, shown why Votes For Women mattered and given a taste of what it was like to live through two world wars.

In “Life in York’s Victorian workhouse” we read about Jordan Richard, of Clementhorpe, a father of four children. His job was to separate and straighten the fibres of flax ready for spinning, that is until he was “partially disabled from (a) broken body” and was forced to apply to the York Poor Law guardians for money to put food on the table for his wife and family. His sad story was just one that emerged when archivists at York Explore began cataloguing the city’s extensive poor law records.

The suffragette movement was a slow burn in York until Emmeline Pankhurst spoke in the city in April 1911. The “Votes For Women” pack tells how her meeting was publicised by women chalking the time, venue and date on the pavement, an activity which gave rise to a very irate letter to the editor of the York Press (then The Yorkshire Herald) complaining about the “very great eyesore” their advertising left on the pavement. Some things don’t change!

One member of Mrs Pankhurst’s audience was Annie Pearson, a well to do mother of four living in a large house in Heworth. So fired up by what she heard, she became determined to do her bit for the cause. Abandoning her comfortable life (complete with cook and nanny), she joined the movement, took the train to London to protest and was arrested for obstructing the police and sent to Holloway Prison. “Votes For Women” shows her Police Summons (on which she has written “What a fib!” in response to the charge of obstructing police) and the postcard she sent to her husband from prison to let him know of her whereabouts . The account of her arrest was reported in The Yorkshire Herald of February 7, 1913 and is reproduced in the pack from the city archives.

The final two packs focus on the first and second world wars, again using photos, documents and first hand accounts detailing the experiences of those who lived through those terrible events. Once more, the emphasis is on the experiences of local people, perhaps the grandparents or great grandparents of some of the children using the packs. The stories are moving and sometimes tragic but always interesting and a reminder of the everyday heroes of York who lived through national horrors.

It is often said that the story of York is the story of England and these packs show just how true that is. Full of creative activities to engage their young readers the customisable packs can be viewed or downloaded free of charge from the York Civic Trust website. Although aimed at under elevens, they will be of interest to a wider audience too.

The packs, “Life in York’s Victorian workhouse”, “Votes or Women”, “Life in the First World War” and “Life in the Second World War” can be accessed here.

Bridget Vincent
May 2021

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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.

Katrina’s masters’ dissertation is entitled ‘Re-thinking the Guided Tour: a critical exploration of the use of co-creation, dialogue and facilitation practices for democratic social engagement at York Minster‘ and impressed the judges.

The award of a certificate and prize took place at a ceremony at the King’s Manor, York. Congratulations Katrina!

The post Best Dissertation Prize Awarded first appeared on York Civic Trust.

The two education packs explore the lives of lower class Victorians in Workhouses and women during the suffragette movement, providing the primary schools with an engaging and interactive learning booklet complete with quizzes, pictures and information designed to not only inform but also challenge the reader into thinking deeply into what life must have been like for the people living in York in the late 19th and early 20th century.

The suffragette and Victorian Workhouse booklets, 38 and 32 pages respectively, have been beautifully produced by Cookie Graphic Design, a local company based between York and Selby.

Below are some of the standout pages from the education packs.

The post York Primary Schools Receive Suffragette & Victorian Education Packs first appeared on York Civic Trust.

All our competitors with their certificates at the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall

For the third year in a row, St Wilfrid’s won the title. Millie Batterton and Daniel Healey-Smith were presented with the winners’ trophy by Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Keith Orrell. Copmanthorpe’s Lydian Cain and Amy Nixon were awarded second.Third place went to Hannah Joji and Samuel Dewhirst from Clifton Green.

President emeritus Darrell Buttery MBE and Sheriff Verna Campbell talk through the performances

The judging panel was chaired by Darrell Buttery MBE. York Civic Trust’s Verna Campbell, Sheriff of York was in attendance. Well done to all our speakers!

The post St Wilfrid’s Triumph in Close Speaking Contest first appeared on York Civic Trust.

Verna Campbell, Trustee, York Civic Trust presented a cheque for £100 to Jennifer and Kirsty together with a certificate.

The titles of the winning dissertations are ‘Place attachment and the millennial generation’ (Jennifer Cooke) and ‘A Study in Representation and Suffrage: What are the challenges of representing women from the past and how can museums present suffrage successfully during the 2018 centenary?’ (Kirsty Ryder).

The post Awards to History Students first appeared on York Civic Trust.

Congratulations to pupils of York High School, the winners of the Secondary School Public Speaking Competition held at the King’s Manor.  This evening, on Wednesday 22 November, was another inspiring event organised by our Education committee.

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