Walking with the People of York
‘Walking with the people of York’, was an interactive walk, commissioned to us but UALL. There are many walks they could chosen in York. We have a ghost walk, a cat walk, the snickleways walk, but we took our audience on the people’s walk of York. A walk through history, as it is said, the history of York, is the history of England. We explored a black and white York through technicolor and a selection of characters that we collected along the way. Our audience met the everyday folk of York from years gone by, as we recreated photographs taken around York of the ordinary, but also of the extraordinary. Along the way, we discussed stories of both fact and fiction.
Monks Bar
The Hutchinson grocery store and post office that used to sit on the corner at Monks bar.We do not know the name of this candid gentleman but let’s say his name was Derek James Oakley. Every evening on Derek’s way home from work he would come down to Hutchinson's grocers to get some essentials, bread, eggs and something tea, but on this day it was a Thursday and Thursdays were special, on Thursday Derek would buy half a pound of Rowntree’s fruit gums ,his wife Edna’s favourite, before heading home for the night.
Kings Square
It’s a cold and Icey Friday morning, and we find Sargent Knowles. His usual patrol on the corner of Kings Square, This is his regular spot.
Whip Ma Whop Ma Gate
The shortest street in York. Known in 1505 as whipnourwhatnourgate and ‘meaning what a street’.
Electric Theatre
York’s first purpose-built cinema opened in 1911 and later became known as the Scala in 1951. It was commonly known as the Laugh and Scratch. There are stories of people doing anything to see the latest shows, including bartering jams and preserves instead of payment to get in.
Ouse Bridge Pub
This is where we meet Anne and her husband Frank. Proud as anything, stood outside their pub, the Ouse bridge. A hub of laughter and of locals yet prone to flooding, for example the devastation caused in 1978, where the flood levels reach 5ft 8inches (roughy).
Coney Street
In 1971 Ray Baker installed this Civic trust plaque commemorating the history of Coney Street as York’s main street of business for over 200 years.
Woolworths
The store marketing director Mike Sommers, and winner of Miss. York 1986 Jade Campbell. They are joined by some of the York's branch checkout team and the local working men's club band.
