Address: 27 Fossgate, York, YO1 9TA (now Mamselle)
Description
A circular metal sign proudly hangs from the side of a shopfront on Fossgate, bearing the message ‘Pork Butchers Stop Here Shop Here’ in black text against a white background.
Today, only the faint outline of the words remains, hinting at its former presence. On the other side of the sign, a clock.
History
The Fossgate butcher’s shop, now marked by a ghost sign, was once run by a woman whose German father had previously owned it. She operated a confectionery shop at the front and a butcher’s at the back.
All the meat was delivered by carts from the nearby abattoir on Foss Islands to the adjacent building.
The premises have been significantly altered over time, but remnants of its past, such as the hooks for the horses now inside the shop, still remain.
The devastating floods of 2016 forced the current owners to clear out parts of the shop that had been sealed off, revealing the large metal butcher’s hooks.
1970 – The clock side of the sign is visible on the left side of the street Source: York Press
Regarding the clock located on the other side of the sign: hanging a large clock in a prominent position, either on the street or above it, serving as a symbol of authority and trustworthiness.
Many other signs around York feature clocks, although like the one on the old butcher’s shop, they often no longer work.
Notable examples include the Aviva building on Rougier Street, which still displays a clock from its days as Norwich Union, and the Premier Inn on Blossom Street.
A modern example of public clock on Rougier Street
Additionally, a building on Bridge Street once housed a large Boyes department store, also featuring a clock.
1980 – The text side of the sign is visible on the right Source: York Press
The building that once housed the butcher’s and confectionery is now a hairdresser’s salon.
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