Acomb, North Yorkshire
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Acomb /ˈeɪkəm/, /ˈjækəm/ is a village and suburb within the City of York unitary authority area, to the western side of York, England.[1] It covers the site of the original village of the same name, which is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. It is bordered by the suburbs of Holgate, to the east, Clifton, to the north and Woodthorpe to the south. The boundary to the west abuts the fields close to the A1237, York Outer Ring Road.
Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, Acomb was incorporated into the City of York in 1934.[2]
Formerly a farming village, Acomb expanded over the centuries to become a dormitory area for workers in
Acomb comprises two
Acomb is famous in York for having a very high concentration of street bollards. These were installed in an upgrade in 2023 and have since prompted great controversy among local residents due to their vast numbers and variance from the original proposed plans for the area.[5]
History
Etymology
Acomb existed before the
Roman Era
The Roman Emperor Septimius Severus was reputed by some historians to have been cremated in a military funeral[9] near the site of modern-day Acomb, having died in York (then Eboracum) in 211 AD.[10]
10th and 11th century
During the reign of
- "In Achum 14½ carucates for geld, and 8 ploughs can be. St. Peter had, and has for 1 manor. 14 rent payers are there now, having 7 ploughs. 6 acres of meadow. Underwood 2 furlongs in length and 2 in breadth. T.R.E. it was worth 30 s.; now the same."
- "In Acum Ulchel has 2 carucates of land for geld. Land for one plough. He has half a plough there. Wood 9 furlongs. It is worth 4 s."
- "In Acum the Archbishop 14½ carucates. In the same place the King 2 carucates."
T.R.E stands for Tempore Regis Eduardi, meaning In the time of King Edward (the Confessor) and s stands for shillings. St Peter refers to the church in York where the Minster would be built. Underwood and Ulchel are the names of two persons occupying parcels of land in the manor.
12th to 16th century
During the 12th century
The village was typical Anglo Saxon in the 14th century, being made up of local farms and smallholdings. During the reign of Edward III, the king began to raise money from regional traders to fund military ambition on the continent. Many Yorkshire wool merchants played a large part due to their involvement in the establishment of a near monopoly in English wool trade through the exclusion of foreign imports. Edward III made use of the capital made by establishing loan agreements, to which one John de Acomb, a local farmer from the village, made an independent contribution though the venture ultimately failed.[13][14]
Acomb Grange
17th to 19th century
From 1623 to 1855, Acomb manor reverted to control by archbishops of the church.
The York New Waterworks Company, formed in 1846, built their new works at Acomb Landing, just off Boroughbridge Road in neighbouring Holgate. It was to supply the city of York, Acomb and other nearby areas. The site has since expanded, but still serves the area as The York Waterworks Company. Gas did not arrive in Acomb until the amalgamation of the York Gas Light Company and York Union Gas Light Company in 1844. Electricity was first supplied to Acomb in 1913 following the sanctioning of an application to the District Council and the Board of Trade.[22]
20th century
In 1920, the Corporation of York purchased Acomb Hall to provide maternity facilities in the city. The Maternity Hospital opened in 1922, but was re-classified for geriatric treatment in 1954, when maternity facilities were opened in Fulford.[22]
On 12 February 1934, the Regent Cinema opened in Acomb, located right on the boundary between Acomb and Holgate. It had 899 seats arranged over stalls and a single balcony. Along with many cinemas in the country, it suffered from falling audiences in the 1950s and eventually closed on 4 April 1959. The last film shown was "Sierra Baron".[23]
Governance
Acomb is part of the City of York Unitary Authority and is represented on the council by two wards, Acomb Ward and Westfield Ward. Acomb Ward returns two Councillors, currently both Labour, and Westfield Ward three councillors, all Liberal Democrat. This represents approximately 6.4% of the total number of City Councillors.
Following the 2023 local elections, the current Councillors for Acomb Ward are Katie Lomas and Jason Rose. The current Councillors for the Westfield Ward are Andrew Waller, Jo Coles and Emily Nelson.
May 2023 election
Acomb Ward
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Westfield Ward
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Demographics
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Data not available for 1951, 1961, 1971, 1981 and 1991 censuses. Source: [25] |
Westfield Ward
2001 Census
The population in Westfield Ward was 13,690 of which 93% were born in England and 4% from outside the United Kingdom. The largest Age Group within the population, 22.1%, were between 30 and 44 years old. Of the total population, 96.8% described their ethnic origin as White-British. The figures show that 74% declared they were Christian, whilst 16.8% declared no religious belief at all. Of the population aged between 16 and 74 years old, 60% declared they were in some form of employment and 15% said they were retired. Of the 5,981 households, 42.8% were Semi-Detached and 31.3% were Terraced. The level of household ownership was 59.3%.[26]
2011 Census
The population in Westfield Ward was 13,611 a decrease from the previous census of 0.6%. The figures show that 59.2% declared they were Christian, whilst 39.5% declared no religious belief or none declared. Of the rest, 0.4% were Muslim and 0.3% Buddhist with a small number declaring themselves Hindu or Jewish. The ethnic composition was 94.4% White/British, 2.5% White/Other, 0.1% Mixed Ethnicity, 0.1% Asian British and 0.05 Black British.[27]
Acomb Ward
2001 Census
The population in Acomb Ward was 7,729 of which 94.4% were born in England and 2.9% from outside the United Kingdom. The largest Age Group within the population, 22.7%, were between 30 and 44 years old and 20.1% were between 45 and 59 years old. Of the total population, 97.9% described their ethnic origin as White-British. The figures show that 80.2% declared they were Christian, whilst 13.2% declared no religious belief at all. Of the population aged between 16 and 74 years old, 66.7% declared they were in some form of employment and 17% said they were retired. Of the 3,156 households, 75.5% were Semi-Detached. The level of household ownership was 79.8%.[28]
2011 Census
The population in Acomb Ward was 8,604 an increase from the previous census of 11.3%. The figures show that 65.6% declared they were Christian, whilst 33.3% declared no religious belief or none declared. Of the rest, 0.3% were Muslim. The ethnic composition was 95.5% White/British, 2.4% White/Other, 0.9% Mixed Ethnicity, 0.8% Asian British and 0.3 Black British.[29]
Geography
In addition to Acomb Green, there are several other open areas in Acomb.[30] Bachelor Hill, the highest point in Acomb at approximately 90 ft above sea level, is situated between Askham Lane and Tennent Road is a sandy based hill with a wide area of grass and a small group of trees at the summit. Fishponds Wood, situated between Danebury Drive and Rosedale Avenue, is a mix of trees and shrubs on the site of an old pond. The largest open space is Acomb Wood.
In 2007, the City of York Council designated Acomb Wood and Meadow as a Statutory
There are two classified roads passing through Acomb. The
The Conservation Area (York No'3) encompasses Acomb Green and its surrounding buildings; those buildings along Wetherby Road up to the double roundabout junction that leads to Front Street, but including the Old Hospital; the south side of Front Street that includes the Old Acomb Primary School to the junction of Green Lane; the remainder of Front Street from Green Lane to Gale Lane and includes the buildings that now occupy the site of the old Gale Farm to the east side of Gale Lane. In total the area is approximately 14.5 hectares.[35]
Economy
Up to the early years of the 20th century, the main economy of Acomb had been agriculture. Several farms, such as Gale Farm, were located in the village. The increasing population overspill from York saw this decline to the point where all the farms had disappeared by the latter half of the century.[36]
Acomb has a small shopping area located around Front Street, Acomb Road (B1224) and some adjacent roads, with free car parking at the local supermarket. Businesses are a mixture of traditional local food produce retailers, familiar High Street brands, major banking chains and professional services such as accountants, dentists and architects.
There are also a number of public houses, cafes, small restaurants and take-away food outlets in the area, plus a number of small and medium-sized enterprises. In July 2006,[37] the closure of the 80-year-old British Sugar plant near Boroughbridge Road meant the loss of 100 jobs and problems for many local farmers.
Residential homes are a mixture of
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The Acomb (renamed as The Clockhouse)
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The Marcia Grey
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The Puss n' Boots (now closed and demolished)
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Front Street Shops
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Acomb Fire Station
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British Sugar Factory (now closed and demolished)
Education
After the system of Grammar Schools was discontinued in York in 1985, Acomb had three comprehensive schools: Oaklands Secondary School (Acomb Secondary Modern), Lowfields School and Manor Church of England School. In 2007, Oaklands and Lowfield were merged to form York High School[38] with a new building on the Oaklands site in Cornlands Road. In 2009 Manor Church of England School moved out of Acomb from their site on Boroughbridge Road to Millfield Road in the parish of Nether Poppleton. York High School does not have a sixth form and students who wish to take 'A' levels go mostly to York College. The most recent addition to the school site includes a 56 place nursery, a sports hall and a swimming pool. The school has dedicated a section of its grounds to community allotments which featured on BBC Gardeners' World in December 2014.
Acomb has four Primary Schools. Carr Junior on Ostman Road was established in 1948 for Infants, with a Junior section added in 1950. Hob Moor Primary on Green Lane was opened in 1954 for Infants, and a Junior section was added a year later. In 2007 Hob Moor Primary School moved into a new school building with Hob Moor Oaks Special School and the two schools federated in 2009. Until 2011, Our Lady's Roman Catholic Primary was located on Windsor Garth. With its amalgamation with English Martyrs Roman Catholic Primary in September 2011, the school became Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Roman Catholic Primary, based at Hamilton Drive in Holgate.
Sports
Before the establishment of the York Racecourse on the Knavesmire, Acomb Moor was used for staging horse racing. Acomb Moor occupied the land south of Westfield and covered the land where the modern housing estates of Woodthorpe and Acomb Park are located.[42] Acomb also lends its name to The Acomb Stakes, a Group 3 seven furlong flat race for two-year-old thoroughbreds, which is run at the Knavesmire every August.
Acomb FC was a founding member of the York Football League in 1897 and then a founding member of the Yorkshire Football League in 1920. Acomb has one football club who play in the York League Division Four. They are Moor Lane, who play their home games at the artificial pitch at York High School on Cornlands Road.[43]
Situated behind The Green is Acomb Sports & Social Club, which is home to Acomb Cricket Club and Acomb Hockey Club.[44] York Acorn Rugby League Club,[45] who play in the National Conference League Premier Division, have their home ground at Thanet Road in Acomb.
York City Council provide swimming facilities at the £6.5 million Energise project, formerly Oaklands Sport Centre on Cornlands Road next to the York High School.[46]
Religion
The principal parish church for Acomb is
The
The Quakers first started to meet in Acomb at the Forester's Hall around 1906, but moved to their current location in the
Acomb Methodist Church is on Front Street, and was built in 1964. There is also the
Notable residents
The renowned 18th century painter and engraver, Thomas Stothard, spent part of his education in Acomb, staying with his uncle in the village, before moving on to Tadcaster. His uncle left him in the care of a local widow and nurse, named Mrs Stainburn, who supplemented her income by teaching local children. He depicted the widow in his illustration of the poem Schoolmistress by William Shenstone.[55]
Sir Charles Burdet, 4th Baronet of Burthwaite, is recorded as living in Acomb in 1777.[56]
The English romantic poet, Charlotte Richardson (née Smith), lived most of her life in Acomb. She was published mostly in The Gentleman's Magazine and the subscription paper, Poems on Different Occasions writing chiefly about domestic service and religion. Born in York on 5 March 1775, she attended a school for girls preparing for domestic service. After a long illness she died at her Acomb home on 26 September 1825.[57]
Award-winning novelist, Justin Hill, lived in Acomb for much of his childhood. His father, Reg Hill, was headmaster at Our Lady's Roman Catholic School, on Windsor Garth, from 1976 to 1995.
References
- ^ "Area 27 Acomb". www.york.gov.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
The amenities on offer in Acomb contribute to the sense of the independence the original village had. However, they also give the impression of a slightly quaint historic thriving commercial suburb rather than the ancient rural village it once was
- ^ "History of Acomb, in York and West Riding | Map and description". www.visionofbritain.org.uk. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
- ^ a b "Listed Buildings". Listed Buildings in York, North Yorkshire, England. British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "York UA Ward Details". Your Councillors. City of York Council. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "York: Fight to remove street's 'barricade of bollards'". BBC News. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ Acum. "Origin of name Acomb". Last Name "Acum". The Internet Surname Database. Archived from the original on 28 February 2007. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ a b c d Becker, Robert W. Acomb:The heritage and story of Joseph Acomb. Rochester, New York. p. 8.
- ISBN 0-7100-2010-4.
- ^ ASIN B001NY3EVY.
- ^ Clarke, B. (1852). The British Gazetteer. London: H.G.Collins. p. 16.
- ^ Becker, Robert W. Acomb:The heritage and story of Joseph Acomb. Rochester, New York. p. 7.
- ^ Lewis, Samuel (1840). A Topgraphical Dictionary of England Fourth Edition Vol 1. London: S. Lewis & Co. p. 9.
- ISBN 978-0-521-52274-8.
- ISBN 9780521522748.
- ^ "Acomb Grange". History of Acomb Grange. York Historian. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Gale Family History". Retrieved 24 March 2016.
- ^ Becker, Robert W. Acomb:The heritage and story of Joseph Acomb. Rochester, New York. p. 9.
- ^ Bell, James (1836). A new and comprehensive gazetteer of England and Wales, illustr. by a series of maps. 4 vols. Oxford University.
- ^ a b Becker, Robert W. Acomb:The heritage and story of Joseph Acomb. Rochester, New York. p. 10.
- ^ a b "1871 Census". The Expanding City. York Museum Trusts. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
- ISBN 0-9527093-8-4.
- ^ ISBN 0-7129-1029-8. Retrieved 15 April 2010.
- ^ "Cinema Treasures". Regent Cinema. Cinema Treasures. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ a b c "May 2015 Elections". Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ "Population at Censuses". Vision of Britain. 2009. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
- ^ "2001 Census Westfield Ward". City of York 2001 Census Profile. City of York Unitary Authority. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
- ^ "2001 Census Acomb Ward". City of York 2001 Census Profile. City of York Unitary Authority. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
- ^ "Acomb Parks and open spaces". Parks and open spaces in York. City of York Council. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Acomb Wood". Acomb Wood and Meadow Local Nature Reserve. City of York Council. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Acomb Wood and Meadow". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
- ^ "Map of Acomb Wood and Meadow". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
- ^ "Acomb Wood West". Acomb Wood. Woodland Trust. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "City of York Conservation Area No' 3 – Acomb". Retrieved 24 March 2016.
- ^ "The Village that grew and grew". York Press (Press release). 5 February 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
- ^ "British Sugar Closure". A smell of the past. BBC North Yorkshire. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "York High School". York High. City of York Council. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "New beginnings at York primary schools". York Press. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
- ISBN 0-7129-1029-8. Retrieved 15 April 2010.
- ^ "List of Acomb Schools". State Primary Schools in York. Schoolsnet. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
- ^ Gomme, G. L.; Bickley, A. C.; Milne, Frank Alexander; Gomme, Alice Bertha (1902). The Gentleman's magazine library Vol 26. E. Stock. p. 152. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
- ^ "Moor Lane F.C". Retrieved 6 June 2012.
- ^ "Hockey Club". Acomb Hockey Club. Acomb Hockey Club. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "York Acorn ARFL". Contacts and Location. York Acorn ARFLC. Archived from the original on 15 May 2010. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Sports facilities". Energise. City of York Council. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ISBN 0-903857-95-2. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
- ^ "St Aidan's with St Stephen's'". Acomb Parish: St Aidan's with St Stephen's Welcome. Acomb PCC, York. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ^ "Church Fire". Acomb Parish: St Aidan's with St Stephen's Extra. Acomb PCC, York. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
- ISBN 0-300-09593-7. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
- ISBN 0-7129-1029-8. Retrieved 15 April 2010.
- ISBN 0-300-09593-7. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
- ^ ISBN 0-7129-1029-8. Retrieved 15 April 2010.
- ISBN 0-903857-95-2. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
- ^ Bray, Anna Eliza (1851). Life of Thomas Stothard R.A. London: John Murray. p. 4. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
- ^ Clay, J. W. (1899). Dugdale's Visitation of Yorkshire: Volume 1. p. 349.
- ^ "Oxford Dictionary of National Biography – Charlotte Richardson". Oxford University Press. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
External links
- Acomb in the Domesday Book
- The ancient parish of Acomb: historical and genealogical information at GENUKI.
- Acomb Ward – City of York