100 years ago

The new home for trained nurses, which was being erected in Precentors’ Court, near the west end of York Minster, and which, when completed would be known as the Purey-Cust Home, as a memorial of the Dean and Lady Emma Purey-Cust, was being rapidly proceeded with, and it was fully expected that the work would be finished by October at the latest.

It would be a three-storey building of a most substantial character, and would occupy a large space.

Currently the site was surrounded by various buildings which were scarcely ornamental, but before the home was completed, or immediately after, these would be removed, and practically a continuation of the Dean’s Garden would be the result.

The home would then be situated in an open space, and would most usefully serve the purposes for which it was being erected. The total cost, it was expected, would not be much short of £8500.


50 years ago

An attack on the “cat-bat-mat” system of teaching children to read was made in York by Mr J C Gagg, formerly County Advisor for Primary Education in Shropshire.

He was speaking at a refresher course on “children reading and writing” organised by the young teachers’ section of the York and District Teachers’ Association.

Mr Gagg stressed the importance of getting children to read and write about things which were interesting to them and worth reading or writing about. Children should not have to read words which were nothing to do with what they were saying, hearing and seeing.

In doing so they were being deprived of the enjoyment and value of using words they said, heard and saw. “Fiveyear- olds should be surrounded by print,” said Mr Gagg. Reading material should be especially concerned with things the children saw around them.

“Don’t bother about spelling or letters, bother about what the thing says,” said Mr Gagg. Something which had meaning was much more exciting.


25 years ago

Walmgate warmed to the news that Princess Alexandra was to visit the street during the summer. She would be there to perform the official opening of our £10 million printing and publishing centre.

Traders were delighted at the kudos the Royal visit would bring to their part of York on July 25.

Mrs Veronica Ingleby, manageress of Ellerkers, the saddlery and country clothing shop, said: “I’m so pleased. It will be just what Walmgate needs.”

Mr Glenn Turner, manager of FR Stubbs, ironmongers, of Foss Bridge said: “The Princess’s visit will be very nice for the street, and we’ll certainly be looking forward to it. We’ve never had a Royal visit to Walmgate as far as I know and I shall be standing outside the shop with my Union Jack on the day.”