Acomb Local History Group Magazine Issue 1

Based on an illustrated talk by Gordon Campbell-Thomas With help from Stuart Wilson and Alan Powell

Ariel view of part of Acomb, Gale Lane is in the foreground

Carr Lane estate is in the foreground

COUNCIL HOUSING Acomb is the largest ward in the city of York As mentioned it went from a small hamlet in the West Riding of Yorkshire to a part of the City of York in 1937

Oaks & Celts THE NAME ACOMB It is thought that the Brigantes, a Celtic tribe, lived in the area during the Iron Age this might be the origin of the connection with Oaks Oaks were sacred to the Druids In Old English acum, In the Domesday book (1086), the name of the village is spelt as both Achum and Acum and during the next one hundred years other spellings can be found, such as Achu, Acun, Akum and Acham. In the 13th century, the spellings Acome, Acorn and Akome can be seen, whilst Akam and Acombe are 15th century.

Once printing was established, it enabled the standardisation of spellings to the one seen today. The traditional pronunciation of the name was "Yackam“.

THE DEAN AND CHAPTER OF YORK MINSTER OWNED ACOMB, WHICH PREDATES THE NORMAN CONQUEST AND IS REFERENCED IN THE DOMESDAY BOOK

“The name's origin suggests the area was heavily wooded."

ROMAN PERIOD By the end of the fourth century, the population of Roman York, which was known as Eboracum, peaked at around 15,000 people. The Roman fortress housed around 5,200 soldiers, while the civilian population was probably around 5,000 plus.

Many of Britain’s major towns and cities we know today such as London (Londinium), Manchester (Mancunium) and York (Eboracum), were founded by the Romans.

Some historians believe that the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus (sometimes called the African Emperor) was cremated near the modern-day site of Acomb (possibly on Severus Hill) after dying in York in 211 AD. Today his influence can be seen in the street names Severus Street and Severus Avenue, and of course Severus Hill (Holgate) Acomb also has Roman roads, including one to Tadcaster (Calcaria) and another to the civil capital near Aldborough (Isurium Brigantum).

Eboracum

A Roman Building in Acomb. Alan Powell has a theory that this was the residence of Septimius Severus himself, if this true that increases the importance of discovery. In the 19th century, a building and mosaic pavement were discovered behind Acomb House in Front Street by the Rev James Raine, which was confirmed by the Yorkshire Museum in 2023.

This is not the actual mosaic found behind Acomb House, this is The Four Seasons mosaic found in Coney Street, but the Acomb mosaic was probably of a similar style and quality

MAPS AND WEAPONS

Wapentake is an administrative division of the English counties of York, Lincoln, Leicester, Nottingham, Derby and Rutland, first clearly referred to in 962/963 and corresponding to the “hundred” (Saxon origin) in other parts of England. The term wapentake is of Scandinavian origin and meant the taking of weapons; it later signified the clash of arms by which the people assembled in a local court expressed assent.

CHURCHES There are many churches in Acomb of different denominations The oldest church in Acomb is St Stephen’s it’s origins are in the the Saxon period, and some remains of the Saxon church were uncovered in 1830. By the time of the Norman Conquest, it was a possession of York Minster. In 1228, it was transferred to the Treasurer of the Minster, and a vicarage was built in 1313. It was transferred to the Crown in 1547 St. Aidan’s Church, The Ridgeway Built 1968, closed 2019.

LIVIN’ ON A PRAYER

Acomb

Health and fitness A magazine is a periodical publication, which can either be printed or published electronically.

Health and fitness A magazine is a periodical publication, which can either be printed or published electronically.

"I would give all my fame for a pot of ale and safety" (from Henry V)

ONLY PUBS AND HORSES Previously the Square and Compasses, by April 25, 1817 its name had been changed to The Marcia to celebrate a successful racehorse who was a grey mare. "Between 1823 and 1838 it was referred to as The Grey Mare. By 1843 it had reverted to the Marcia. "It was occasionally, in 1857 and 1889, called The Grey Marcia. It was rebuilt on a large scale, probably in the early years of the 20th century."

The tradition of horse racing at York can be traced back as far as Roman times. There are records of gatherings in various open spaces around the York. One of the places where races were run was on Acomb Moor, before being transferred to the Knavesmire The Acomb Stakes is a horse race that takes place in August every year at York Racecourse, presently on the first day of the Ebor Festival. The seven-furlong flat race takes its name after the York suburb.

"A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!" Richard III

The tradition of horse racing at York can be traced back as far as Roman times. There are records of gatherings in various open spaces around the York. One of the places where races were run was on Acomb Moor, before being transferred to the Knavesmire The Acomb Stakes is a horse race that takes place in August every year at York Racecourse, presently on the first day of the Ebor Festival. The sevenfurlong flat race takes its name after the York suburb.

Health and fitness A magazine is a periodical publication, which can either be printed or published electronically.

“I loved creatively reimagining Acomb Green.” Herve, artist

HISTORY Acomb was designated a conservation area in 1975, and the historic area along Front Street and the Green retains its village character.

Acomb Green is a left over area from the last ice age, in the photo there is a considerable dip, this is manmade due to the excavation of the fine sand over centuries ‘Yacomb Sand 'oil’, or possibly ‘Acomb Sand hole’ was a street cry heard as far away as Leeds

A VISION To the right is a playful reimagining of Acomb Green in the Space Age by New Visuality artist Herve.

GOING TO THE FLICKS

"Film as dream, film as music. No form of art goes beyond ordinary consciousness as film does, straight to our emotions, deep into the twilight room of the soul," according to Ingmar Bergman.

The Regent Cinema opened on 12th February 1934 with Maurice Chevalier in “"A Bedtime Story”. It was located in the Acomb district of the city. There were 899 seats in a stadium style with the stalls and raised stepped section at the rear. It was designed by local York architect William Arthur Kellet. It was designed in Art Deco style It closed on 4th April 1959, today it is the Co-op The last film shown was "Sierra Baron".

Debra: “I love Acomb, I used to come to the Pictures here, which was just opposite where Bluebird Bakery is now. The queues were massive. The films were always a big event, we loved it.”

Mark: “At least it went out with a bang. Myself and my schoolmates wnet to the last screening, ‘Sierra Baron’, it was like an Indiana Jones for the ‘50s. Great times.”

YESTERDAY

TODAY

BOUNDARY STONES York’s boundaries once stopped short of the villages on its outskirts. The city authorities installed boundary stones at the city limits. Many of these survive across what is now a muchenlarged York. The letter B is now covered up, this boundary stone was until recently visible in the car park of the Regent Cinema (the building is now Acomb’s Co-op). Acomb was in West Yorkshire until 1937.

Responding to local residents and councillors, the Civic Trust would like to unearth and reveal this hidden piece of Acomb’s history. Modern tarmac will need to removed and a new setting made for the stone alongside some interpretation to make sure it is not forgotten anew.

York Civic Trust will be working with the landowner, City of York Council and local history groups. .

"THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO GET UPSET ABOUT YOU SETTING BOUNDARIES ARE THE ONES WHO WERE BENEFITING FROM YOU HAVING NONE" — UNKNOWN.

With thanks to Acomb Local History Group