In a year when York will celebrate its past with the international Viking Festival, the Roman Festival in May, and the 900th anniversary of St William of York at York Minster, not all residents may feel these moments reflect their own sense of history. For many people, history is not only about Romans, Vikings, or medieval saints. It is about the places that shape everyday life – where they grew up, where they walk, shop, meet friends, or raise families.

Even though they live within the boundaries of the City of York, some residents may feel that “historic York” exists somewhere else, while the places they call home are rarely recognised as part of the city’s story. Many of York’s suburbs were, often for centuries, independent villages and even like Acomb in a different county. This long history and modern incorporation into York have an impact on people’s identity and even status within the city.

This year, York Civic Trust marks its 80th anniversary. Founded just after the Second World War, at a time of enormous change for the city, the Trust has long celebrated York’s rich past. But it has also focused on how York continues to evolve, and how people experience the city today.

While York’s international reputation brings clear benefits, particularly to the visitor economy, it does not always reflect the full and more complex picture of the city’s local history.

To address this, York Civic Trust is launching a new project, Our Place (made possible by the National Lottery Heritage Fund), working with communities to better understand the places, spaces, and structures that matter most to local people – especially in areas that are less visible in the city’s traditional heritage narratives.

We are beginning in Acomb and Westfield. The project launched on February 18 at the newly refurbished Explore Acomb Library (well worth a visit), and over the summer a programme of creative workshops, walks, and pop-up activities will invite residents to explore what makes these areas special.

Alongside places such as Tang Hall and Clifton, Acomb and Westfield are currently under-represented in the city’s Historic Environment Record and Local Heritage List. This does not reflect the depth of history and heritage that exists there.

All of us spend our lives interacting with places and spaces that, over time, become part of who we are. They shape how we move around, how we feel about where we live, and sometimes even our sense of wellbeing and identity. When these places change – or disappear – the impact can be deeply felt.

The routes we walk to school, the shops we visit, or the green spaces where we walk our dogs may be shared by thousands of people and have been used for generations. In York, alleyways and ginnels that look like modern shortcuts can, in fact, have been in use for over a thousand years. Areas of woodland or open space often have roots stretching back centuries, with names such as Batchelor Hill, Fishponds Wood, or Quaker Wood hinting at rich and layered pasts.

Even buildings that may be overlooked or unloved today can hold powerful meaning. They may once have housed important events, formed busy parades of shops, well-used pubs, or simply are the part of the everyday backdrop to community life.

York Civic Trust is keen to hear from anyone with views on what matters to them in Acomb and Westfield – particularly from those who might not usually think of heritage as something “for them”.

For this project, heritage means the things that still exist in our landscape today. They may only be 50 years old, but they can carry deep personal and collective significance for those who live and work nearby.

While Acomb’s medieval buildings and village green may appear more obviously historic, the inter-war and modern Chapelfields, Lowfield, and Foxwood estates are just as important to their communities and deserve recognition as part of York’s living history.

We would encourage anyone who would like to nominate a building, green space, ginnel, alley, or even a lamp post that matters to them to get involved – either by visiting Explore Acomb Library and adding your vote to our new display, or by going online:

Andrew Morrison,
Chief Executive, York Civic Trust

The post Acomb’s untold history – the places that make it special first appeared on York Civic Trust.

This strategy sets out our priorities for the decade ahead, building on landmark achievements from conserving historic buildings and expanding the Blue Plaque programme, to strengthening Fairfax House and investing in the next generation of heritage professionals.

We look forward to working with our Members, partners and communities to shape the city’s next chapter.

The post York Civic Trust’s Strategy first appeared on York Civic Trust.

If you enjoy meeting people, delivering high levels of customer service and working within a small team then the we would love to hear from you. To find out more about the roles then please follow this link.

Closing Date: 09:00 Thursday 11^th September

Interviews: Monday 15^th September

Preferred Start Date: Week Commencing 29^th September

To apply for the role(s) please send a CV and covering letter to info@yorkcivictrust.co.uk.

The post Work with us at Fairfax House first appeared on York Civic Trust.

A rare opportunity to visit York’s Grade II-listed courthouse, opened in 1892 and thought to be the first purpose-built magistrates court in Britain. This maze of a building has been adapted through the decades and is in daily use. This architectural visit takes place while the court is open.

The post A Tour of York Magistrates’ Court first appeared on York Civic Trust.

York Civic Trust has produced a design guide to provide broad, helpful guidance to inform the development of the city through encouraging the developers, architects and builders to produce designs of great thought and care as well as asking what good design means to the people of York.

The development of the guide has been led by a member of the Civic Trust’s Environment Committee – John Stevens, a retired town planner, working other other volunteer professional specialists and Civic Trust staff.

The Design Guide is the first element in a much broader Civic Trust initiative to try and understand what ‘Yorkness’ means to people. It is a word often quoted by developers but has never been defined and may well mean very different things to different people.

The post York Design Guide first appeared on York Civic Trust.

There are elements of Roman York hidden in plain sight that give a sense of the buildings and structures of the Roman fortress and civilian settlement. Join York Civic Trust on this walk to discover some lesser known and more recognisable features in the city centre that are free for anyone to see and hear about the history behind their survival.

The post Reconstructing Roman York from the Ground Upwards first appeared on York Civic Trust.

Coney Street is about to undergo a renaissance as the Coney Street Riverside project transforms York’s premier shopping street. Join York Civic Trust to find out more about the Roman origins of Coney Street and how this history has affected the area over the last 2000 years and impacted on the upcoming development.

The post Coney Street – Beetles or Bargains? first appeared on York Civic Trust.

Join a walking tour of some of York’s Snickelways with York Civic Trust’s CEO Andrew Morrison. Explore the lanes, snickets and ginnels of Fossgate, Aldwark and Bedern. Find out more about the history and use of these unique York throughfares.

Meeting point: Outside St Crux’s Church Hall

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You might have spotted the cats prowling York’s roofs, but have you ever noticed how many? Or thought about why they are there? The animals scattered across York’s buildings have a fascinating history. On this family-friendly walking tour, we invite members to bring up to two children (16 and under) to help us find them.

The most prominent animal featured on York’s buildings is the cat, first placed on two buildings by Sir Stephen Aitcheson in 1920. The tradition was continued and popularised by architect Tom Adams, who added a cat to every building he designed in York.

The post Animals Walk first appeared on York Civic Trust.

Dr. Dorothy Nott leads a walking tour of some of the blue plaques which have been placed around the city. These are fascinating in their own right but also opens up intriguing ‘back stories”. So easily overlooked, once placed they offer an insight into the layers which make up the history of the city.

The post Blue plaques – a walking tour first appeared on York Civic Trust.