Memories of Heworth Croft

Heworth Croft housed generations of students as they studied at York St John. It also, at various times, housed different departments, giving some lucky students a short commute to classes!

At the end of March, we posted a throwback to Heworth Croft across our social media channels and had an amazing response, including plenty of fantastic memories.

Here are some of our favourites, taken from our social media comments:

• Meeting other students and making friends for life
• Summer water fights
• Living in the same block as your future spouse
• Ducks and squirrels wreaking havoc on unsuspecting students
• Group work on the lawn
• Finding great spots for people watching
• New Year’s Eve fireworks with friends

• Practical jokes and pranks, including moving an entire room out onto the lawn
• Swapping the placement of door hinges
• Interesting food experiences
• Flowerbed demolition by unrepentant students
• Warm summer days in the sun
• The infamous rivalry with Limes
• Singing ‘The Monks of St Bernard’ at the end of term

And of course the lucky few who had labs on site who could roll out of bed and straight to class!

We also asked for you to send us your memories in the last newsletter, and you didn’t disappoint!

Ron Wilkinson said:

I was a resident in 1966/7 having been an “external student ” in digs at 15 Whitby Avenue, off Stockton Lane for the previous 2 years. We had to spend one year in residence. I was fortunate to have a car during my 3 years studying P.E. at St. Johns as it was then.

My first year in 1964/5 was the year that there was a large intake of females joining what had been an all male institution. A good move! My room was across from the dining room on the ground floor. The bed head was near the window and I had an ancient family radio on a small table next to the bed. Also in the Croft at the time were Dick Bate who became a highly respected FA coach, and Ronnie Blackburn who had been on Leeds United’s books with Billy Bremner and co.

Peter Boyd said:

The accommodation at Croft was Spartan but comfortable.  My study bedroom in B block was ok – it was clean, reasonably tidy and I was always looked after by Trixie. It was always quiet and I became friends with a couple of lads who studied Heavy Craft – one in B block and the other in D.  This was quite a big mistake because after a while I never saw either of them other than at breakfast or on Thursdays – they lived and breathed Heavy Craft & always wanted to go to the fabulous surroundings of the downtown Lowther Street (workshop). 

The food provided at Croft was good.  I came from a working class background in North Lancashire so I was always happy with what was on offer – I particularly looked forward to our fish & chips at 1.10pm on Fridays!  The general facilities were ok  – there was a common room, a cigarette machine & a pay phone.  We learned to drink in the Shoulder of Mutton, just up the road on Heworth Green and the Magpie (just behind College) & subsequently we frequented the bar when it opened in Brook Street.  I used to attend the College fortnightly disco which was held in the Main hall – this was the highlight of our social activity. We had a friendly rivalry with the inmates at Limes – there was always some childish friction in the air.

Croft certainly provided a stable existence for us.  Sometimes during my first year I remember funny thing like the lads who had responsibility for each block (2^nd years) & the way they always brought to the kitchen a jug of milk and biscuits for supper. 

Sue Travis said:

I have very fond memories of Heworth. My boyfriend was at St.John’s York from 1969 to 1972. I was at Ripon and used to get the bus down every Friday. He had a wonderful group of friends who remained together all the way through College. We would walk between Heworth and College and the City regularly over the weekend…not a short distance, if I remember correctly, but it never seemed to matter.

I do remember the Sunday Lunches at Heworth, where girlfriends were invited to attend if we were ” booked in”!
We made such an effort to “dress up” and we were all on our best behaviour, standing ’til asked to sit and politely passing things to each other. The following year 4 of them shared a house in Bewley Street which was altogether a different experience!

Philip Bailey said:

As a proud “Crofter”, I spent three very enjoyable years here from 1973-76.  This was under the warden Bill Richardson, followed by George Kramer with Richard I’Anson also.  Mrs Perry was housekeeper, someone to be wary of. The all-male residence surprisingly tried to preserve this position but it was not surprising that many future life partners were found when women were introduced.

The Croft Socials were legendary events, although few enjoyed the cold baths on birthdays! Sunday lunch was always eagerly awaited, especially chicken casserole.  There were other quaint customs such as “two’s on” for seconds of anything and leaving your waste bin outside your door if not to be disturbed by the cleaners.  The local was “The Shoulder of Mutton” just up the road towards the Limes Residence – with whom we were great rivals with no love lost in the rugby matches!

The archive even contained some of your memories

We looked for three articles by alum Dave Sheen from The White Rose magazines. We enjoyed reading his in depth memories of his time living at Heworth Croft in the early 1960s. Here are a few of our favourite memories:

• Doors being locked at 11pm and having to obtain a ‘late key’ to get in
• Having to sign-in on a night, with too many absences resulting in having to wake everyone up at 7:30am!
• Attending the Archbishop’s Dinner and acting as the table’s sommelier despite not knowing much about wine at all
• Being served fish fingers and spaghetti for breakfast!
• Staying with a sow as she gave birth one dark night

But not everyone enjoyed their time at Heworth Croft

Geoffrey Elborn moved into Heworth Croft in 1975. Due to an administrative error, some first year students arrived late, leaving them forced to share rooms. Worse still, Geoffrey recalls how the “The PE blokes” ruled the roost’ and often behaved poorly with no repercussions. For example, on his first night, they asked him to draw the curtains in the common room, having made it so that they’d fall down so they could ask him to completely rehang them!

Whilst some alumni fondly remember people’s rooms being displayed out on the grass, Geoffrey recalls that it wasn’t always in good fun, and that the ‘”PE Blokes”‘ would often steal the Master Key to ‘turn over’ rooms.

A place to remember

Whatever the memory of Heworth Croft, it was a place to remember! Many of our alumni even met their future spouses there, or met friends for life.

Do you ever wonder what current student accommodation looks like? You can check out our current accommodation, including videos of the sites, on our website.