York Scribes was established as a group in 1990 to promote calligraphy, illumination, and lettering through informal meetings, lectures, workshops, and other events. The group was aimed at participants across North Yorkshire, both beginners and experienced calligraphers. Pauline Hall, a professional calligrapher, chaired the group for the first few years before being made Life President in 1996.

An initial open meeting was held to gauge interest, which attracted 30 attendees. This group went on to establish the York Scribes and write a constitution. Membership later grew to, and stabilised at, around 60-70 members.

The group was established with the support of the London based group the Society of Scribes and Illuminators and of the Bar Convent's education programme. Meetings and workshops were held at the Bar Convent until 1993.

At least two generations of the Loadman family ran a shop initially at 5 College Street, then at 37 Stonegate and at Minster Gates, York, as a dealer in antiques, old china, furniture, and curios.

The shop was started by Thomas Loadman between 1871 and 1881, and operated until at least the 1950s. Thomas Loadman was born in Helmsley in 1819 as the son of a brewer. He married Jane Sollitt in 1845 in York. Thomas Loadman worked as a gas inspector for most of his career and appears to have opened the shop as a dealer in old china alongside this role later in life with the support of his wife and children. Several of his children helped to run the shop and continued to run it after his death. This includes: Margaret Elizabeth Loadman, born 1847, who moved the shop to Stonegate after Thomas Loadman's death; Eugene Loadman, born c 1865; and Herbert Myers Loadman, born c 1873.