Vintage Views with Aled Jones: A super King Street postcard
Few things bring the past to life better than vintage picture postcards. And yet, it’s hard to imagine that this colourful street scene from 1904 was wild and rugged moorland as recently as the 17th Century.
Ancient and vast, Bridlington Moor continued as far as the north and south cliffs, and was known for its outstanding natural beauty.
It’s a topographical view of Edwardian King Street looking towards Prince Street in the far distance.
Originally, the two thoroughfares were just one long street known as Key Street and it wasn’t until 1800 that they were given their own separate identities.
The first houses on King Street appeared between the years 1660-1730, when the Feoffees granted land to townsfolk who had lost their homes to the sea.
In the Edwardian era, historic King Street was a real mecca for shoppers. Bakers, butchers, grocers, fruiterers, silk mercers, tailors and milliners were just a few of the many fine retailers there.
Moreover, there were no fewer than three inns in the street and three establishments offering a shave!
In the foreground, a pair of horse-drawn carts have stopped to deliver locally grown produce. It’s market day and the street is a hive of activity.
It is evident just how much the street has changed over the years. All the property on the immediate left of the postcard has been demolished.
These old houses were once the premises of Norman Jones and Company, Au Bon Marché, which became Carlton’s in 1911, after an extension. The site is now occupied by the Boyes building.
Carlton’s department store was one of the top shopping venues in Yorkshire and attracted thousands of patrons from the area and all over the realm. When it was sold in 1969 it occupied 11-21 King Street.
The property that adjoins Boyes today is where Boots had their first shop in the town, at 23 trading currently as Cex. When our hero image was taken the shop was run by Mainprizes chemists.
On the right at number 14 is the York City and County Bank (later the Midland Bank), which became the Borough Library in 1937. Next to it, further up the street (22-24), are the premises of Storrs, cabinet makers and house furnishers.
This former 18th Century mansion, which retains a lavish Adam style plaster ceiling, is now occupied by Superdrug.
At the end of King Street was Stead & Simpson Ltd, the shoe shop, which boasted to be the ‘largest retailers in England’.