25/06/2009

Issued By: DIG Hungate 

Following the discovery of substantial Victorian remains that once housed a massive steam engine used to power machinery in Leetham's Flour Mill, York Archaeological Trust (YAT) is turning to the public to help with their research.

Anyone who has any connection or family memories about the mills at Hungate is invited to come along to the Hungate excavation at 3.00pm this Saturday (27 June) to share their memories.  Alternatively you can contact the Trust with your stories on 01904 663000.

Standing on the banks of the River Foss in the Hungate area of York city centre until the 1930s, Leetham's Flour Mill may have been one of England's largest flour mills.  Archaeologists are now calling for people to come forward with their memories of this important part of the city's industrial past.

The excavation and research carried out by the York Archaeological Trust team shows that there were two mills in the Hungate area during the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries; a saw mill owned by William Bellerby and a flour mill owned by the Leetham family.

Says Ian Milsted, YAT field officer, who led the recent industrial age excavations at Hungate, "When people talk about industry in York it's usually in connection with confectionery or railways, but what we've uncovered at Hungate are remains relating to a company some believe to have been the second largest flour producer in Europe by the start of the 20^th century.

"Discovering the mills has revealed a fascinating part of York's industrial past that we rarely hear about.  Our research has provided lots of information about the mills themselves, but there are gaps in our knowledge.

"We'd love to hear from anyone who remembers either of the mills, who worked there, lived in the area or knows somebody who did.  We know that a fire gutted the Leetham's mill around 1930, and there are records of complaints from local residents about the factory fumes.  Perhaps this will help jog a few memories?"

If you can shed light on life beneath the two mills that towered over Hungate between the 1850s and 1930s, then York Archaeological Trust would love to hear from you.

You can contact the Trust with stories and memories of York's industrial past on 01904 663000, or to come along to the Hungate excavations at 3.00pm this Saturday (27 June) and share your memories after a free Industrial Archaeology study day run by the Greater York Community Archaeology Project. 

The Industrial Archaeology study day is open to all, and forms part of a series of events run by the Greater York Community Archaeology Project to help people find out more about their historic environment.  Further study days will be held throughout North Yorkshire over the coming months and topics include Medieval houses, castles and urban landscapes.