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The first School Board was not established in York unil 1889, nearly twenty years after enabling legislation permitted it. At the time its responisbilities ceased it had planned or built six new board schools and improved 15 Church of England Schools.
New function. Function transferred to York Education Committee (part of the council) in 1903.

Post first established in 1906, School Clinic established in 1908. In the 1920s and 1950s (at least) this post was held by the current Medical Officer of Health.
Reported to Education Committee. Instructed School Medical Inspector. See also Medical Officer of Health.

Formed from merger of Parks Committee and Allotment Commitee in 1961.
Formed from merger of Parks Committee (1913-1961) and Allotments Committee (c.1924-1961).

The DORA powers for local authorities to acquire land for allotments during the First World War expired in 1923. A new act was made in 1922 which provided more security of tenure and specified the chief uses to which an allotment could be put. Merged with Parks Committee once more in the 1960s.
Functions originally part of the Strays Committee (1907-1913), followed by the Parks Committee before a dedicated Allotments Committee was formed in the 1920s. The Parks and Allotments Committees merged once more in 1961.

The corporation took over ownership and management of common lands in the twenteith century and developed them for the use of residents. Recreation facilities and allotments were provided, and use of land leased for short or longer terms to York commercial and amatuer groups, events, clubs and societies. In 1921 the corporation accepted the donation of Rowntree Park from Joseph Rowntree, and it became York's first municipal park.
Replaced the Strays Committee (1907-1913) in 1913 and took over allotment functions from the Estates Committee. Instructed Head Gardener and Parks Superintendant. Allotment functions transferred to Allotments Committee c.1924. Merged with Alloments committee in 1961.

Rights to York's common lands or strays were limited to freemen, and survived the 1835 Municipal Corporations Act. In the early twentieth century, the corporation sought to gain control over the lands to ensure that the land was used for the benefit of the community more widely. Micklegate Stray was the first to be acquired, by a payment of £1000 a year to the freemen in relinquishment of their rights. The York (Micklegate Strays) Bill went to Parliament and was passed in 1907, and a charitable trust was setup to receive and distribute the funds to needy freemen. Other strays developed similar arrangements over the twentieth century, but not without controversy and opposition. The first municipal allotments were provided in 1905, and from 1908 the council had a mandatory duty to provide allotments to residents.
Gained functions from Freemen (Reformed) from 1907 onwards. Replaced by the Parks and Smallholdings &c Committee (1913-1974)

The council acquired the Yorkshire museum and gardens in trust from the Yorkshire Philosophical Society in 1961.
Function created when museum and gardens transferred to council by Yorkshire Philosophical Trust in 1961. Function transferred to York Museums Trust in 2002.

Created in 2002 as a charitable trust to run York Art Gallery, York Castle Museum, Yorkshire Museum and Gardens and York St Mary's. The buildings and collections remain the property of the council, who also provide part of the funding. Carried out various refurbishment and development work, and achieved growth in visitor numbers.
Independent to council but contractual arrangement for delivering service using council assets.

In the early 1970s the council sought operational control of Clifford's tower, which was refused by the Department of the Environment.
Instructed Curator (Castle Museum). Functions transferred to Museums and Art Gallery Committee (c.1974-1980s) around 1973.

Established when the corporation bought York prison in 1934. Historically the area around the castle (Clifford's Tower) had been owned by the crown and was outside corporation jurisdiction. There were plans to convert the castle area into municipal offices, and foundations were dug but the scheme was interrupted by WWII and never carried out. The folk museum, known as the Castle Museum was opened in 1938 in the female prison and expanded into the debtor's prison in 1952.
Shared functions with the Castle Museum Committee, established 1940.

Reported to Castle Museum Committee (1940-c.1973 and Castle Museum and Art Gallery Committee (c.1973-1980s)

Management of the Art Gallery and Castle Museum were traditionally by separate committees. These were merged around 1973.
Previously named Museum and Art Gallery Committee (1912-1932) and Art Gallery Committee (1932-c.1973). Instructed Curator of Art Gallery and Curator of Castle Museum. Gained responsibility from Castle Museum Committee c. 1973.

The art gallery buildings were used and altered by the military authorities during WWII. The building was improved and redeveloped between 1948-1951. First professional curator appointed in 1947. Opened a folk museum in the female prison within York castle in 1938. The debtors's prison extension was opened in 1952.
Previously named Museum and Art Gallery Committee (1912-1932). Instructed Curator.

The first professional curator, Hans Hess was appointed in 1947 and resigned in 1967.
Reported to Museums and Art Gallery Committee, Art Gallery Committee and Castle Museum and Art Gallery Committee.

The Exhibition Buildings and its art collection were transferred to the council from its trustees in 1893. In 1912 this committee was set up to manage the art gallery. There was no museum until the Castle Museum was opened in 1938, but the committee used enabling legislation aimed at museums in order to raise funds from the rates, hence its name.
Gained responsiblility for Art Gallery from Technical Instruction and Higher Education Committees in 1912. Instructed Curator.

The Yorkshire Philosophical Society (YPS) was founded in 1822. In 1828 part of the grounds of St Mary's Abbey was given to the Society by royal grant and on this site the Yorkshire Museum was built in 1829. The museum was built to house the members collections and also created a botanic garden. In 1961 the Museum and its gardens were handed over to the City of York in trust. In 2009 the Yorkshire Museum and Gardens Charity (YMAG) was established by the YMAG Trust, the City of York Council and the YPS.

In the course of their work, the YPS collected original archive material, some of which has been deposited in the city archive in York.

Appointed in 1891 to manage first free public lending and reference library based in Clifford Street in the former Mechanics Institute. Purpose built central library built in 1920s supported by Carnegie fund. Branch libraries opened throughout twentieth century. For details see Technical Institution and Library Management Committee and successors.
Reported to various incarnations of Public Library Committee.

Gained responsibility for friendly relations with foreign towns in 1962.
Replaced Library and Publicity Committee in 1962. Gained friendly relation function from Friendly Alliance with Foreign Towns Committee (1958-1961) in 1961. Instructed City Librarian.

Appears to have been created for purposes of supporting tourism and publicity.
Functions transferred to or complimented by Library and Publicity Committee (1951-1962)

Possibly renamed due to involvement in 1951 Festival of Britain activities in York including production and promotion of guidebook, setting up an information bureau and arranging guided tours of the city. Tang Hall branch library established in this period.
Replaced Public Library Committee in 1951. Instructed City Librarian. Functions gained from or complementary to Publicity Committee (1944-1949). Replaced by Library and Friendly Relations Committee in 1962.

During this period funds were obtained from the Carnegie trustees for a new public library building in the current location. Funds were granted in 1916 but due to the war, work began in 1925. The new central library was opened in 1927, and had open access shelves. Newspapers, reference stock and lending stock were provided. Branch libraries were later opened including Acomb and Dringhouses.
Library management functions transferred from Technical Education and Library Management Commitee in January 1904. Instructed City Librarian. Replaced by Library and Publicity Committee in 1951.

The committee initially recommended that £600 be distributed to existing providers such as the York Institute of Science (Mechanic Institute), the York Art School and the Railway Institute. However, the corporation bought the York Institute in 1891 and ran its own City of York School of Science and Art to continue and expand technical education provision. It also opened the first free library in 1891 in Clifford Street, based on the Institute's inherited bookstock plus solicited public donations.
Library management functions transferred to Library Committee in January 1904. Art Gallery management functions transferred to Museum and Art Gallery Committee in 1912. Instructed City Librarian. Instructed Art Master.

Instituted in March 1940 by City of York Council and York County Hospital Committee.
Functions transferred to York 'A' and Tadcaster Hospital Management Committee in 1948 upon the instiution of the NHS.

In 1921 the corporation purchased Acomb Hall estate and the house was turned into a new Maternity hospital in 1922. It merged with the original Ogleforth voluntary maternity hospital.
Instructed Visiting Surgeon and Resident Medical Officer (female).

Continuation of Lunatic Asylum Visiting Committee. Functions widened to include out-patient clinics as an alternative to institutions or as aftercare.
Reported to by Medical Superintendent. Previously the Lunatic Asylum Visiting Committee.

First appointed in 1905.
Reported to the Asylum Visiting Committee (1899-1926) and then the Mental Hospital Committee (1926-1948).

Mental health provision in York was originally established privately, with the York Lunatic Asylum opened by public subscription in 1772 and run by a board of governors. In 1796, the Retreat was opened by the Society of Friends. Public provision of asylums was permissive from 1808 and obligatory from 1845. Dissatisfaction with the asylum led to the purchase of land for a new corporation-run institution, and in 1906 the City Mental Hospital was opened at Naburn. The City funded the buildings, and the Guardians (originally) funded the patients.
Instructed the Medical Superintendent. Renamed Mental Hospital Committee in 1926.

The Mental Deficient Act 1913 made provision for the separation of people deemed to have "mental deficiencies" out from the Poor Law system and into a separate institutional care system. Made up of the corporation Mental Health Committee plus other co-opted members.
Membership included the Mental Health Committee plus others.

The Local Board of Health was merged with the corporation in 1872 and this committee was its replacement. The boundaries between the urban and rural district became problematic as housing was extended, and in wasn't until 1884 that the city was legally expanded to take in this area. A Medical Officer of Health and Chief Sanitary Inspector were appointed in 1873. During this period a sewerage scheme was authorised and carried out.
Gained functions from Local Board of Health when it merged with the corporation in 1872. Instructed Medical Officer of Health, Chief Sanitary Inspector and Inspector of Nuisances.

The first medical officer of health was appointed in 1873 when the corporation became the urban sanitary distinct. The post became full-time in 1900. At times the post holder was also the Principal School Medical Officer
Reported to Health Committee, See also School Medical Officer.

The corporation petitioned for the 1848 Public Health Act to be applied to York, and took over public health responsibilites from the city commissioners in 1850. The Board was not part of the corporation, but its members were appointed by and often members of, the corporation.
Gained functions from city commissioners in 1850. Merged with the corporation and functions transferred to Urban Sanitary Committee when the council became the urban sanitary authority in 1872.

Fire-fighting was originally organised at the parochial level but became organised by wards in the late 17th-early 18th centuries. In 1720 the corporation had four large and four small engines. Throughout the 18th century the Sun Fire Office contributed to salaries and maintenance. Due to problems with hiring staff and the quality of service and equiptment the Corporation was able to provide, the function was out sourced to the Yorkshire Insurance Company in 1830.

The Yorkshire Insurance Company had been established in 1824 as the Yorkshire Fire and Life Insurance Company. The company opened for business on September 1 1824 and, in 1826, adopted York minister as its official emblem. A deed of settlement was signed on 21 July 1825 and was replaced by an act of parliament in July 1831. The company purchased its first engine in November 1824 and the 'Yorkshire' brigade tackled fires for over 50 years - including those at York Minster in 1829 and 1840.

The company disbanded the fire service in 1875 but contributed resources to the Corporation. It was part or all of the police force until 1940.

Around 1900 the company began a period of considerable expansion. In 1898, it started to offer accident insurance while a burglary business was added in 1901. The company extended its business to include fidelity guarantee insurance in 1904 followed by plate glass and livestock insurance in 1907. On May 27 1908, the company changed its name to the Yorkshire Insurance Company and was registered as a limited company on June 3 1908. By 1938, the company was offering fire, life, annuity, sickness, accident, employers' liability, burglary, fidelity guarantee, motor, plate glass, third party, boiler and engineering, live stock and marine insurances.

In 1967, the majority of the company's share capital was acquired by the General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corporation Ltd (now part of the Aviva Group), which acquired the remaining share capital the following year. By 1974, the Yorkshire had ceased operating in the United Kingdom but was still active in Brazil, Iran and France. In 1991, its principal business was United States business written in the United Kingdom and general insurance through overseas agencies. The company was registered as non-trading on 31 March 2006.
Fire-fighting function gained from Corporation in 1830, and transferred back in 1875.

The City Commissioners had overlapping jurisdictions with the Corporation and disputes were common. Responsibilities included paving, lighting and policing, but the corporation already ran a police force, and the parish constables were still appointed by magistrates. The Commissioners had the power to levy rates to fund their improvements although there was a limit to the amount they could impose. The commissioners were also responsible for instituting the first nightwatch in York.
Improvement and public health functions transferred to Board of Health in 1850.

Formed from one part of the Watch and Fire Services Committee.
See also Chief Constable and City Police. Functions transferred in 1965 from the Watch and Fire Service committee. Other functions of that committee transferred to the Watch Committee (1965-1969).

Renamed in 1949, presumably to represent the full range of duties.
See also Chief Constable and City Police. Formerly Watch Committee (1835-1949). In 1965 the committee was split into two separate committees: the Fire and Licensing Committee and the Watch Committee.

Following the reform of the corporation, a police force was set up in 1835 and first chief constable apppointed.
Full responsibility for policing transferred to Corporation in 1835 (from Magistrates, Parish Constables and City Commissioners). See also Chief Constable and City Police. Responsibility for prisons transferred to Home Secretary in 1877. Renamed Watch and Fire Services Committee in 1949. Gained fire brigade responsibilites from Yorkshire Insurance Company in 1875.

Following the reform of the corporation, a police force was set up in 1835 and first chief constable apppointed.
Full responsibility for policing transferred to Corporation in 1835 (from Magistrates, Parish Constables and City Commissioners). See also Chief Constable and City Police. Responsibility for prisons transferred to Home Secretary in 1877. Renamed Watch and Fire Services Committee in 1949. Gained fire brigade responsibilites from Yorkshire Insurance Company in 1875.

In York an independent Commission of the Peace was setup in 1835, incorporating the Lord Mayor as chief magistrate but with an membership of Justices of the Peace otherwise distinct from the corporation.
Functions transferred from city magistracy traditionally consisting of Lord Mayor, aldermen and sheriffs. Supported by a legal professional clerk.

The petty sessions in York were presided over by the Lord Mayor, aldermen and sheriffs from 1392, and aldermen also made up the Justices of the Peace for the Quarter sessions. York included several liberties such as the Liberty of St Peter and Davy Hall which were outside this jurisdiction. The Municipal Corporations Act setup a new Commission of the Peace and transferred this function out of the corporation in 1835.
Function transferred to Commission of the Peace in 1835.

The first entry of a coroner in York dates from 1229, and there were three in 1279 and the 1630s. Though appointed and salaried by the corporation, the coroner is an independant official, ultimately responsible to Crown and Lord Chancellor. In 2019 the office of the City of York Coroner moved from York to Northallerton to co-locate with the services of the North Yorkshire Coroner. At present the two offices are still functionally separate.
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York acquired a local Act of Parliament to improve street cleaning and street lighting.. The act of 1763 required water spouts on properties, and reiterated that householders were responsibile for keeping the street clean in front of their house. Street lamps were placed at intervals and lit in the darker months. The parish commissioners were replaced by an independant body of city-wide commissioners in 1826.
Legislated for functions previously carried out informally. Replaced by City Commissioners in 1826.

The first city police force and chief constable were established in 1835. In 1925 there were 107 members of the force.
Reported to Watch Committee. Full responsibility for policing transferred to Corporation in 1835 from Magistrates and Parish Constables. Instructed Superintedendent and Deputy Chief Constable.

The role of parish constables developed over centuries, with royal edicts dating from 1285, and form part of the communal organisation of local affairs via the administrative unit of the parish. In York, the number of parishes led to a large number of constables, and the relationship between the corporation and these parish officials was complex. They came under the jurisdiction and direction of Justices of the Peace in the 17th century. They were replaced by a professional, corporation-run police force in 1835 in York.
Crime prevention and investigation function taken over by City of York police in 1835.

An independent committee setup by the National Insurance Act 1911, the corporation contributed 20% of the membership.

Prior to 1970, social service functions were carried out by a number of committees and departments across the council. The Local Authority Social Services Act required that a Director of Social Services be appointed.
Some functions previously carried out by Welfare Committee (1948-1971) and Housing Department. See also Social Services Committee.

See Board of Guardians.

Founded pre-1391. Transferred in 1478 to gild of Corpus Christi. Following dissolution of gild of Corpus Christi in 1547, hospital continued independently, then co-opted Lord Mayor and Aldermen as master and officers in 1552. Property transferred to Lord Mayor and commonalty of York in 1582-3, subsequently managed as a corporation charity.

Managed and improved rivers including bridges, tolls, drainage, locks and use of adjacent lands.
See also Sewerage Committee.

Oversaw city tram service, which it took ownership of in 1909.
Gained function from City of York Tramways Company in 1909. Merged with Electrity Committee in 1911 to form Electricity and Tramways Committee.

The NUJ was founded in 1907. In 1911 it became an Approved Society under the National Insurance Act which enabled it to provide unemployment pay, hardship benefits and legal aid. In 1926 it joined the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) along with twelve other nations. In 2006 membership numbers surpassed 40,000.

Archbishop Holgate's School was founded by Robert Holgate, Archbishop of York, in 1546, on a site between Ogleforth and the City Walls in the shadow of York Minster. The site was chosed as it was on land owned by Holgate himself.

In 1858 the school moved to a new site at Lord Mayors Walk, before moving to its current location on Hull Road in 1963.

Until 1985, Archbishop Holgate's was an all-boys' grammar school. With the reorganisation of education in York in 1985, the school changed its name to Archbishop Holgate's School, and became a co-educational comprehensive school. During this transition period the outdoor swimming pool was converted to an indoor pool, a new sports hall was built, and upgrades were made to music, design and technology, home economics and other facilities.

In 2009 a £4.3 million two-storey learning centre with landscaping, parking and bike storage, called the LearningCentre@AHS was built, and now serves as the home of the school's sixth form facilities.

On 1 April 2011, Archbishop Holgate's School officially gained academy status. The school built new two-storey English block which opened in late April 2014. The school development is for expansion due to a larger intake of students because of the closure of Burnholme community college and new housing estates.

The school's ethos is the idea that having a Christian foundation at the centre of all it does give the school an extra dimension, an additional facet, giving it a distinctiveness compared to most community schools. Church status does not provide a context for evangelising; those committed to Christianity will, on the other hand, often find many ways in which their faith can find expression through the corporate values of the school.

Although the firm of J.W. Ruddock's tailors was established c1881, members of the Ruddock family were tailors in York from at least 1851.
John Ruddock was born in c1823 and had four sons: George (b. c1844), John William (1) (b. c1852), Tom (b. c1855) and James (b. c1859).
John William Ruddock also had four sons - George Ruddock (b. c1882), John W. Ruddock (2) (b. c1883), Harold W. Ruddock (b. c1887), and Henry Ernest Ruddock (b. c1893).

There were three generations of Robert Andersons who worked as tailors in York.
Robert William Anderson (1) was born in 1803. His son Robert Anderson (2) was born in 1839. His son, Robert Walter Anderson (3), was born in 1869. He also had a son named Robert W. Anderson (4) who was 15 in 1911.

Conservative Associations were formed after the 1832 Reform Act by members of the Conservative Party.

The York Central Conservative Club was founded in 1881 in order to consolidate the party after the defeat of The Right Hon James Lowther at the General Election in 1880 who had represented the city in Parliament since 1865. For many years the club met at the Ebor Rooms, Coney Street. However, this became too cramped due to social requirements of numbers and in 1909, moved to the De Grey Rooms, St Leonard's Street where they added an extension onto the rear of the building in 1910. The club had over 500 members in 1933 and the De Grey Rooms were more appropriate due to the size.

The club moved again from De Grey Rooms to Museum Street in March 1986 until their closure in 1991. The club finally closed in 1991 after a period of financial difficulty and the archives were subsequently transferred in 1994.

There were also four ward Conservative clubs in the city. These clubs, along with the Central Conservative Club formed a valuable asset in party politics. In 1969, the club abolished the 'male only' member policy and allowed females to become members 80 years after the club's foundation. The club also actively took part in international snooker tournaments.

Hepper & Watson Estate Agents was founded in 1974, following the amalgamation of Hepper & Sons and Watson & Sons. The origins of both companies date back to the 19th century. The company changed emphasis from being an estate agency to asset management. The company continues to trade today under the rebranded Watsons name.

The York Philharmonic Male Voice Choir was founded in York in 1925, by a group of men from the Leeman Road Adult Boy’s Club. They came together out of a love of singing, rehearsing in the front parlour of a house on Leeman Road. The founding members sought the direction of conductor Cecil H. Fletcher, and over the next ten years Fletcher oversaw the growth of the choir to over fifty members.

The choir experienced a severe decline in membership as a result of the World Wars, followed by the death of conductor Fletcher. The choir survived this period, becoming informally known as the Cecil H Fletcher Memorial Choir into the 1980s.

Sefton Fearne took over as conductor, and worked to rebuild the choir following the drop in membership. In 1950 Fearne retired due to ill health and was succeeded by Archie W. Sargent.

Sargent retired in 1962 and was succeeded by Richard B. Lister. In 1962; with Robert Patterson, then curator at York Castle Museum; Lister helped initiate the first the ‘Carols in Kirkgate’ concert, which raised money for the Lord Mayor’s Christmas Cheer Fund. The York Philharmonic Male Voice Choir performed at the first ‘Carols in Kirkgate’ event, which continued for over fifty years.

In 1968 the choir formed a relationship with Münsterscher Männergesangverein (Münster Male Choral Society), a choir from York’s twin city Münster, in Germany. The choirs have done multiple visits to each other’s respective cities.

In 1972 the choir became a registered charity, to help improve public knowledge of the choir, and to help the choir to support other charities through their performances.

Richard B. Lister stepped down as Musical Director in 1980, at which point David Keeffe took over the role. Subsequent Music Directors also include Richard Bowman, Margaret Martin, Ian Colling and Berenice ‘Berry’ Lewis.

As well as performances and charity concerts, the choir have historically competed in competitions across Britain and Europe.

Millicent Price's grandfather was Henry Wilberforce, a gentleman farmer in the locality, thought to be related to the famous William Wilberforce. Her mother was Ellen Phyllis Browne, married to Walter Browne, a struggling actor/playwright. They lived in London, where Millicent was born (probably in the early 1880s). Her mother left her father (they were later divorced) when Millicent was 3 years old and returned to her native city of York.

Millicent lived with her mother and 2 sisters, Edith and Ella at 34, Lawrence Street, a 3 storey house opposite the Poor Clares Convent until 1895 when they moved to "River View" overlooking the Ouse next to St. Mary's Abbey.

Millicent attended Castlegate College, Clare College, Micklegate and Priory Street Higher Grade School before going to Swansea Training College (Wales) to train to be a teacher. Following this she lived in Leeds for a time teaching at Beeston School and then at Park Lane School before returning to York in 1904 where she taught at the "newly built" Scarcroft School.

The St Leonard's Original Walkers was a rambling group founded and run by staff of the City of York Council Engineer's Department, also described as the City Planning Department and later the City Architect's Department.

The group was founded by four members of staff who, after completing the Lyke Wake Walk, wished to continue a walking club. The group was formed in 1972, with their first event being to participate in the White Rose Walk. After this event, regular walks took place roughly once a month.

Formerly known as the Executive. Comprised of Cabinet Members, each with their own porfolio area, from the largest political group. Chaired by the Leader of the Council.
Between 2011-2013 the Cabinet Member portfolios were as follows:
Leader; City Strategy; Corporate Services; Health, Housing and Adult Social Services; Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion; Communities and Neighbourhood Services; Education, Children and Young People's Services; Crime and Community Safety.

In August 2013 Communities and Neighbourhoods Services was replaced by Environmental Services; Corporate Services became Finance, Performance and Customer Service; City Strategy became Transport, Planning and Sustainability. Crime and Community Safety was renamed Crime and Stronger Communities; Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion was renamed Leisure, Culture and Tourism. The other portfolios remained unchanged.
Formerly known as the Executive. Reported into Full Council. Each Cabinet Member has a duty to advise on their own portfolio area.

Robert Dent was born in 1843, the son of William Dent, a saddler, and his wife Elizabeth.
He married Elizabeth Patchett in 1866. They had five daughters - Annie (b. 1869), Margaret (b. 1871), Louisa (b.1879), Edith (b.1880) and Catherine (b. 1884) - and two sons - William (b 1867) and Charles (b. 1874). He died in 1931.

The York Society for the Prevention of Youthful Depravity was established with the aim of combating the increase of debauchery and immorality among the young females of the city.

Set up by father and son, Mr George Simpson and Mr James E Simpson. The business occupied a large space on the corner of Parliament Street and Pavement, York. In 1897 the firm produced a special promotional booklet for the Jubilee of Queen Victoria to promote the business. It is unknown when this business ceased to operate.

A subscription-based association which supported the prosecution of felons in York for minor crimes, in particular theft, burglary, criminal damage and fraud.