In researching my maternal great-grandfather I made a surprising discovery. The family of Charles Sanderson grew up in what is now an extremely popular tourist area of York. They lived in the historic part of the city known as Micklegate, close to the River Ouse.
Charles Sanderson spent his infant years in the street known as Stonegate. The term "gate" in the name comes from the Viking word meaning "street" and the "stone" part refers to the stone laid on it by the Romans. The street itself is long and narrow, running from Petergate in the north to St Helen's Square in the south. The house in which Charles and his family lived was at the St Helen's Square end, and was likely Georgian in design, judging from the other buildings in the street. Stonegate is said to be one of the most attractive streets in York.
At age 13, Charles was living at High Jubbergate, Holy Trinity King's Court. This street's name dates back to the fourteenth century when Jewish people settled there but it was built much earlier. Although the church known as Holy Trinity King's Court no longer exists, having been demolished in 1937 to create King's Square, it was still standing on the corner of Colliergate and Shambles when Charles was a boy. Drawings done at the time clearly show the church's tower above the chimneys and rooftops of Jubbergate.
When Charles married Emma Elsey in 1879, he stated his address as 22 Trinity Lane, St Martin's cum St Gregory, Micklegate. Trinity Lane is a small road that connects to Micklegate, the main road on the west side of the river. The house no longer exists but it has an interesting history. From the time of the 1841 to the 1871 census, it was occupied by a coach proprietor named George Walker from York. For twenty years he lived with his wife Mary and a couple of servants, and then, after Mary passed away, was assisted by his young niece, Mary Elizabeth Wilson. Interestingly, George Walker stated that he employed 5 men in his coach business. We know that Charles' occupation in 1881 was "coachman", so perhaps he started out his career working for George Walker. This would explain how his widowed mother Mary Ann Sanderson and three of his siblings came to be living at 22 Trinity Lane in 1881 after George Walker moved away or died.
Charles must have enjoyed the opportunities for travel and adventure that coaching afforded him. However, the market was shrinking. Since the arrival of the railway in York in 1840, the amount of goods being transported by coach declined sharply and many people chose the speedier option of travelling by train. Still, coaches were familiar, convenient and possibly cheaper than rail transport. A coach journey between London and York typically took four days, stopping overnight at inns which offered accommodation to travellers and stabling for the horses. The coachman and groom would eat and drink in the local tavern and, since they brought news and stories from far afield, drew locals there as well.
Photo credit: "Stonegate, York, England, View from Great/Central Tower of York Minster." By Billy Wilson.
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