Address: 49 Stonegate, York, YO1 8AW
Description
At the corner of Stonegate, a black shopfront boasts several ghost signs.
Metal letters spell out “Hardcastle”, “Silversmith”, and “Jeweller” on the windows, with “Henry Hardcastle Established 1770” carved above.
History
The pawnbroker business was established in 1770 and operated until around 1921. Henry Hardcastle took over the business in 1866 from his father-in-law and expanded it in York.
He passed away at the Stonegate shop in 1907 at the age of 69, leaving behind a considerable inheritance of £27,000 for his sons.
Pawnbrokers like Hardcastle provided loans to those in need, often the poor, in exchange for a pledge of valuable items such as furniture, jewellery, clothing, or tools.
If the loan was repaid, the item was returned. If not, the pawnbroker would sell it in their shop to recover the debt.
1879 – A Henry Hardcastle sign hanging from the Stonegate shop
The business had several locations in York, including Lady Peckitt’s Yard Pavement, 31 Stonegate, 31-32 Petergate, 102 High Petergate, and 6 & 7 Precentor’s Court.
At the Lady Peckitt’s Yard location, the pawnbroker’s traditional sign of three golden balls hung outside with a board overhead stating, “Money Lent on Gold and Silver Plate, Jewellery and Wearing Apparel.”
This site was adjacent to the first premises of F.R. Stubbs, a hardware and ironmongers business with its own ghost sign in York.
1902 – Hardcastle’s premises on Lady Peckitt’s Yard, you can see the sign reading “Money Lender” at the end of the alley
The Stonegate location, where the ghost sign “Hardcastle” is visible, is now a Starbucks.
1968 – The Stonegate premises showing the still visible ghost sign
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