IT is almost 80 years since evacuees came to Helmsley and Kirkbymoorside stations from Mersey Street School in Hull. The Seniors (aged 11 to 14) went to Gilling and Harome villages for billets and schools on September 1, 1939.
A photograph album by an evacuee has been found. The Helmsley Archive now displays a full copy of his masterly presentation of their activities, which can be found under the names of these two schools, now closed - visit www.helmsleyarchive.org.uk/ then look under the file ‘Schools: Gilling East and Harome’.
Some Seniors were also happily installed at Ampleforth St Hilda’s and at Hawnby, with Juniors at Lastingham, Hutton-le-Hole and Farndale.
If anyone in these communities remembers Mersey Street School evacuees please would they look first at the Helmsley Archive (online) and then get in touch with us through the Ryedale Family History Group Editor, who has been instrumental in finding a survivor who went to Ampleforth aged 11 and is now 91, and has been reminiscing happily about her time in the village and at St Hilda’s School.
Please quote ‘Mersey Street Evacuees’ when you contact us.
John and Helen Dean,
c/o Editor, Ryedale Family History Group, Hovingham Village Hall, Hovingham
editor@ryedalefamilyhistory.org
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