Address: 56-58 Blossom St, York, YO24 1AP (now Sainsbury’s Local)
Description
At the corner of Blossom Street, an aged ghost sign stands, its once-legible text now faded beyond recognition.
In this recent photo anotehr ghost sign is visible on the far left, it once read ‘Coop 1889’
History
The photograph below captures 56 Blossom Street, formerly known as 19 Blossom Street during the 1800s, showcasing a weathered ghost sign for ‘Coning & Son’—a grocer and tea dealer.
1890s – In the top left corner a slither of the ghost sign is visible Source: York Press
Thomas Coning operated two shops, one located at 19 Blossom Street and another at 28 Pavement.
At 28 Pavement, which had previously housed the renowned Rowntree & Sons business, Thomas Coning assumed ownership and rebranded it as ‘Coning & Sons’ in 1896.
1909 Source: The Rowntree Society
In the photo above, you can see both ‘T. Coning and Sons’ and ‘Joseph Rowntree and Sons’ adorning the shopfront.
This is because Coning and Sons bought the 28 Pavement shop from Rowntrees in 1892, but continued to trade under both names.
1940s – The premises on Pavement
A notice published in the London Gazette in 1899 reveals the dissolution of the partnership between Thomas Coning, Joseph Clark Coning, and Thomas Henry Coning.
Despite this, the business continued under the management of Thomas Coning and Thomas Henry Coning, bearing the same name ‘Coning and Sons’.
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