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Using a mixture of old photographs, the census and trade directories, and talking to people, we’ve been able to find out more about how our shops developed over the last 100 years or so. but there is still much more to explore, so do get in touch if you are interested to help.1st July 2017
We’re pleased to see that the decorative carvings on the Angel on the Green have now been embellished with gold paint. Read more
10th June 2017
Pauline Alden has been looking at local pawnbrokers, after finding a local man appealing against conscription in 1916. Read more
20th March 2017
Martin Reagan is a follower of our website and contacted us with some information about his family. Read more
20th February 2017
Bishy Road is an important community space for us, with many local characters featuring there over many years. Read more
5th February 2017
The Corner Gallery, on the corner of Scarcroft Road and Nunmill St, has recently had a facelift and changed hands. Read more
30th January 2017
Sadly our local independent optician, Charles McBride, has just retired, to spend more time with his family, after over twenty years in Bishy Road. Read more
9th December 2016
The exciting new community cafe/bar/bike repair shop on Bishy Road is open at last, on the corner of Darnborough St. Read more
18th July 2016
Our next event is on Sunday 31 July, at the Winning Post pub. From 12 noon onwards we’ll be exhibiting images and memories about South Bank – the corner shops in the terraced streets, the clubs and community life. Read more
10th May 2016
Pauline Alden writes about her researches into the shops on Nunnery Lane. Read more
18th April 2016
This week we welcome Robinsons, a new cafe just opened on Bishy Road, taking over the premises vacated by the popular Puddin’ and Pie. Read more
9th March 2016
During much of the last century, one half of the premises now occupied by Trinacria on Bishopthorpe Road was a gentleman’s outfitters. Read more
18th November 2015
It’s good to see two newcomers complementing our range of independent traders on Bishy Road. This gives us a chance to look back at the previous history of these two particular shops. We’re thrilled to see that both are reflecting some old traditions. Read more
21st October 2015
It’s Back to the Future Day today, celebrating the day which Michael J Fox’s Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd’s Doc Brown travelled to, in Back to the Future 2 in 1989. So we thought we’d use Rob Stay’s fascinating photos of Bishy Road in the mid- 1980s to see how we’ve changed: Read more
11th September 2015
This year at the Bishy Road Food Festival we’re celebrating our wonderful shops, cafes and restaurants. But we’ve had many such shops serving local residents in the past. Looking back you can see how we’ve changed our eating habits and how our local streets have reflected food shopping trends over the last 150 years. Read more
18th May 2015
The Borthwick Archive at the University of York holds a wonderful treasure for those interested in Bishopthorpe Road in the late nineteenth century. It also describes how one of our shops was born. Read more
27th October 2014
Although the great majority of our Bishy Road traders are independents, there are a few shops and services which are part of multiple chains, such as Swinton Insurance, Johnsons dry cleaners, Churchills estate agents, Thomas the Baker, Domino’s Pizza, Sainsburys Local and Costcutter. Read more
20th October 2014
Our Bishy Road traders have worked hard to raise funds in the local community to enhance their Christmas display. But you might be intrigued to hear of something similar over 120 years ago, in a tale which includes the opening of a new library and even bridge tolls. Some things never change. Read more
16th October 2014
Hairdressers Glen and Julio tell us that the terrace to the south of their hair salon, known as Avondale Crescent, was built in the early 1880’s by a brother of the Hawkswell family who subsequently owned all the properties. The salon, now 47 Bishopthorpe Road, but then no 1 Avondale Crescent, was originally built as a butcher’s shop and a private five-bedroom house. Read more
15th August 2014
We all value our local shopping street on Bishy Road with its independent traders but did you know that even up to the 1970s there were plans to change the neighbourhood completely? Read more
16th July 2014
Terry Woodward's father Harold and grandfather Charles Hartley Woodward had the boot repairer's shop on the corner of Bishopthorpe Road and Vine Street, known as the City Boot Repairing Co. Ltd. They traded here from the 1920s and part of their business involved making boots for the army. Read more
14th July 2014
These are some of the things people told us about the shops when we talked to them at the street party, which we’ve added to other memories. Read more
18th November 2013
Anne Houson writes: Maybe some readers will remember when the Dairy Guest House was actually a dairy. Read more
24th August 2013
Yes, there was life before Sainsbury’s and it was Jacksons – very blue – nearly as blue as its 1980’s neighbour at no 5 – The Private Shop, which shut in 1988 when it was refused a licence to trade. Read more
17th July 2013
Material about the history of our local shops, which Susan Major and Carol Warren presented at our last meeting, is now on this website. Read more
5th June 2013
Our local shops are very important to us and play a major role in the local community. Read more
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