The York Ghost Signs Project

Coning and Sons – Pavement

 

Address: 10 Pavement, York, YO1 9UP (now Pizza Hut)

 

Description

In very faded block lettering “T. Coning & Sons” is etched onto the front of a white stone building on Pavement. 

 

 

History

Originally, this building was a grocery shop owned by Joseph Rowntree in the 1800s.

 

1909 – The shop at Pavement                             Source: The Rowntree Society 

 

In the photo above, you can see both ‘T. Coning and Sons’ and ‘Joseph Rowntree and Sons’ adorning the shop front.

 

This is because Coning and Sons bought the 28 Pavement shop from Rowntrees in 1892, but continued to trade under both names. 

 

1940s – The ghost sign is visible in the top right                 Source: York Press

 

The partners also had a premises on Blossom Street, which still has a visible ghost sign today. If you want to learn more, click here

 

1890s – Blossom Street premises. On the left, a sign reads ‘Henry Coning’          Source: York Press

 

A notice published in the London Gazette in 1899 revealed 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 as ‘Coning and Sons’.

 

Got thoughts or a story to share about this iconic sign? We’re all ears—drop your comments below and join the conversation!

 

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