Yorkshire Philosophical Society

Event Information

Historic Holgate & Ancient Acomb with York’s Hidden History Walk

Start point: The Fox Inn, Holgate Road.    Finish point: Acomb Explore Library.

York’s historic city centre gets much of the attention, but its suburbs have their own rich histories stretching back thousands of years. In ‘Historic Holgate & Ancient Acomb’ we’ll join York’s Hidden History for a storied stroll through Holgate and Acomb.

Exploring their geography, geology, history and archaeology, we’ll show how the Ice Age origins of Holgate and Acomb can still be seen today, and explain why the area was of great interest to early Earth scientists. Whilst searching for Roman funeral pyres, medieval manors, and Yarcomb Sand’ole, we’ll encounter grammarians and gardeners, Earth-Quakers and road-makers. We’ll tilt at windmills, cross becks and boundaries, and might even find ourselves in the Acomb Peculiar Court!

The walk will last around two hours, starting at The Fox Inn on Holgate Road at 1.45pm, and finishing at Acomb Explore Library by 4pm. The route is on well-maintained footpaths with very few steps, but does include some surprisingly steep topography in places! Both the start and end points are served by the 1 and 5/5A First Bus service, as well as having car parks.

About York’s Hidden History

Founded in 2021, York’s Hidden History is led by Dr Simon Rogerson and Dr Liam Herringshaw, scientists with a background in teaching and tour-leading, and a fascination with history. If you’re looking for York walks with a difference, join us as we uncover our city’s ancient, natural and scientific secrets, and forgotten people and places.

We are Visit York members, and offer walks, talks, and private tours throughout the year, for individuals, couples and groups large and small. We aim to bring York’s hidden history to life with knowledge and humour, and are always happy to create personalised events and itineraries.  https://yorkshiddenhistory.co.uk/

Booking form here: Historic Holgate and Ancient Acomb

Member’s report

On a beautiful spring afternoon Dr Herringshaw began his informative walk inviting us to peer through a grating for a rare view of Holgate Beck. This is now mainly culverted, but before the modifications to the landscape which have transformed Holgate and Acomb in prehistoric and modern times, it was a feature significant enough to be part of the city boundary.

Aided by well researched OS and geological maps it was clear that the area had been sparsely populated, rural and marshy until the 19th century, with prominent slopes and hills. We speculated on the routes of Roman roads going westwards from York, with limited evidence at Severus Hill. Quarrying of economic resources including sand and clay has left its mark on the landscape – the sand was sold in 19th century Leeds, and Acomb bricks built the former cinema on York Road as well as being exported to Australia.

We passed a few grand 18th century houses on the main road which had been lived in by some notable businessmen, scientists and thinkers, often Quakers, including Moses Cotsworth  (subject of November 2025’s Café Scientifique) and the Backhouse family whose famous nursery and estate became West Bank Park.

The walk generated much discussion, including local street and place names, the formation of postglacial deposits, and a 17th century resident‘s suggestion to prepare maps of local mineral resources to aid exploitation, 150 years before William Smith’s map.

Heather Marvin