Address: 12 Bootham, YO30 7BL (now G’s Barber)
Description
Adorning the side of a building, a faded paint-on-brick ghost sign once proclaimed ‘Story. Bookseller.’ in bold white letters against a black backdrop.
History
In York, one of only two bookseller ghost signs resides, the other is located beneath the renowned Minerva statue on Minster Gates.
The other remaining bookstore ghost sign in York
The legacy of this particular ghost sign, which once advertised Edwin Story’s bookstore, continues to be felt today, with two bookstores, Janette Ray Bookseller and The Blue House Book Shop, now adjacent to the site.
Unknown date – bookseller sign is visible in the very top right Source: York Press
Edwin Story, the proprietor and namesake of the bookstore, cleverly played on his surname with the sign “Story Bookseller,” alluding to both his own name and the nature of his business.
The shop thrived between 1922 and 1960, serving as a beloved literary hub.
1900s Source: Explore York Archive Asset ID: 1000941
Records from the 1940s feature advertisements for his store, which also had branches near Micklegate Bar, on Minster Gates, and Monk Bar.
1948 – An advert for Edwin Story’s bookshop
York itself boasts a significant literary heritage, dating back to the eighth century when Alcuin’s famed collection was lost to Viking raids.
Literary giants like Daniel Defoe and Charles Dickens frequented York, with Dickens even mentioning the Minster in “Nicholas Nickleby.”
As for the building itself, it has seen various owners and uses over the years. In 1885, it was a private residence owned by George Middlewood.
By 1891, it was under the ownership of Richard Barker, a carver and gilder. In 1913, Alan Monkhouse, a harness maker, owned it.
This frequent change of hands reflects the dynamic, evolving character of York and Bootham during this period.
Today, the building serves as a hairdresser’s salon. Although the original bookseller’s sign is now barely visible, its legacy is preserved by the presence of the two neighboring bookshops under the ghost sign.
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