Address: 42 Gillygate, York, YO31 7EQ (now above Snow Home)
Description
A well-preserved paint-on-brick ghost sign showcases clear white lettering against a brick wall.
On the left side of a window, it advertises ‘Wreaths, Floral Designs Made to Order on the Premises’, while on the other side it states ‘Fresh Cut Flowers Daily’.
History
The building was constructed in the early 1800s as a residential property. Later in the 19th century, the building was converted to shops, which changed hands multiple times:
– In the 1880s, a plasterer named Henry Powell operated here
– In the early 1890s, Wilson Waite, a coal merchant, owned the property, before the business passed to his relative Thomas Waite in 1895
– In the early 1900s, this building housed a hairdresser, owned by Albert Coutts
Formerly housed a boot repair shop named ‘Atkinson’ in the 1960s and 1970s. At this point, the building had a prominent Hovis sign attached to the front, partially obscuring the floral ghost sign.
1960s Source: York Press
This building and ghost sign are currently protected under the Central Historic Core Conservation Area.
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