Address: 21 Castlegate, YO1 9RN (now next to Coppergate Gallery)
Description
Located on Coppergate, a faded black wooden square above a doorway once proudly displayed ‘Café Charlotte’ in bubbly lowercase letters.
Beneath, barely visible, ‘where friends meet’ in delicate cursive script hints at its welcoming ambience.
History
Coppergate, a historic hub in York, was the site of a major archaeological excavation from 1976 to 1981, conducted before the redevelopment of the area.
The dig revealed 2,000 years of history, including Roman roof tiles, and, most notably, evidence of settlement in Jorvik—Viking York.
1981 – The dig
Timber buildings and workshops producing jewellery and metalwork were unearthed.
In total, 40,000 artefacts were discovered, the most remarkable being the York Helmet, a stunning example of Anglo-Saxon craftsmanship.
There’s very little information available about Café Charlotte. Its only online trace is a mention in a tourist review from the early 2000s.
Interestingly, there is another Café Charlotte located in Stalham near Norwich, though it seems to be unrelated to the York based Café Charlotte.
The Café Charlotte sign has since been painted over by the gallery that now resides there – reflecting the impermanence of many ghost signs.
Other ghost signs included on this page have also been covered up since this project began, such as Fishergate Newsagency.
Got thoughts or a story to share about this iconic sign? We’re all ears—drop your comments below and join the conversation!