East Riding Archives

03/09/2026

Some dates for your diaries! There are some interesting talks coming up hosted by the East Yorkshire Family History Society, and held at the Carnegie Heritage Centre in Hull.
In December, our Archivist Hannah will be giving a talk on the work of the East Riding Archives and sources for family history 🌳

✨ The talks schedule:
-Sunday 13th September 2026 - Pete Lowden - “The Cholera Epidemic of 1849”
-Sunday 6th December 2026 - Hannah Stamp - “The work of the East Riding Archives - Sources for Family History”
-Sunday 14th March 2027 - Paul Schofield - “Humber St., the Fruit Market & the Pier”
-Sunday 13th June 2027 - Carol Osgerby - “ Villains & heroes of East Yorkshire’
-Sunday 12th September 2027 - Jean Fenwick - to be arranged.
-Sunday 5th December 2027 - Paul Schofield - “Hullywood”

02/09/2026

We will be at the Local History Book Fair on Saturday 19th September, at Hull Minster. Entrance is free so pop in and say hello!

24/08/2026

View the flipbook of Heritage Open Days East Riding events! https://heyzine.com/flip-book/1d4b300c97.html

Heritage Open Days is here! 🏛️

Friday 11th - Sunday 20th September 2026

Beverley Civic Society runs East Riding Heritage Open Days every September, giving you the chance to discover hidden places in and around Beverley and enjoy new experiences - all completely free!

Discover what’s open and where you can visit in our interactive brochure 👇

https://heyzine.com/flip-book/1d4b300c97.html

Or visit the Heritage Open Days website:

https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/

20/08/2026

Some ration books were discovered in a collection recently gifted to the archive service (DDX2622/7). At first sight (as they were undated) they were thought to have originally dated back to the Second World War when the rationing of foodstuffs, clothes and fuel was commonplace. But with their different design and colour it was quickly apparent that it dated from more recent times.

Further research revealed that our petrol supply was under threat in the 1970s. In 1973 various political and economic developments lead to oil nearly quadrupling in price and a feared shortage of fuel. The UK government responded by issuing petrol ration books to the public in November 1973. The books were tailored to specific engine size and horse power and contained vouchers for a limited period of time.

Despite the difficult domestic economic situation the books were not required and by July 1975 the public were told to discard them. Many would have been destroyed so it is fortunate that these ones have survived.

📜 DDX2622/7, Fuel rationing coupon, 1973.

17/08/2026

The Archives have been grateful to receive the archive of the Los family, now catalogued under the reference DDX2627, providing a wonderful insight into the Dutch market gardening community at Woodmansey.

Pictured are a couple of records from this extensive collection:
📜 DDX2627/1/6- H Los & Sons Trucks, undated.
📜 DDX2627/1/6- Tomato sorter, 1930s.

Browse the list of records in the Winifred Ann Los collection on our catalogue: 🔗 https://orlo.uk/ksRJr

14/08/2026

With summer temperatures rising, there's nothing quite like an ice cream! ☀️🍦 But did you know Burgess Ice Cream began right here in the town centre of Beverley?

Prior to this the family had produced ice-cream on a small-scale basis on a stove in the grocer’s shop that they used to run in North Bar Within. The popularity of the product and the subsequent increase in demand meant that they needed larger premises to make the ice-cream.

This building plan (BOBE/6/2/2/1948/252) shows where it all formally started. Dating from 1948 it shows the planned location of the factory at 36 North Bar Within. The owner, Mark Burgess (a former mayor of Beverley) was living at number 32. The factory itself was built by James Constable of Newbegin, Beverley. An extension was applied for and approved in 1957.

Over time Burgess’ ice-cream production has expanded further into Market Weighton and Shiptonthorpe and is still a big name in the ice-cream world, but Beverley was where it all began.

📜 BOBE/6/2/2/1948/252, Building plans for proposed ice cream factory at rear of 36 North Bar Within, Beverley, 1948

10/08/2026

This is an unusual name for a ship! The sloop named ‘Surprise’ was built at Goole in 1860 and was owned by John Banks of Howden.

The Archives’ shipping registers provide an insight into Goole’s international connections.

📜NSG/7 page 111

04/08/2026

Please note that due to staffing circumstances, the Archives Research Room at the Champney Treasure House in Beverley will close at 4:45pm today, Tuesday 4 August, and also at 4:45pm on Tuesday 11 August.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

03/08/2026

📰 Our Summer 2026 newsletter has just been published! In this edition read about 1970s petrol rationing coupons, Burgess Ice Cream- and much more!
Read online: 🔗 https://orlo.uk/dHxR9

01/08/2026

Happy Yorkshire Day! From vellum manuscripts of the 1100s to the 'bits and bytes' of today's digital records, every day celebrates Yorkshire here at the East Riding Archives!

Connected with the 1st August is our very own Yorkshireman William Wilberforce. Did you know that slavery in the British Empire was formally abolished on this day in 1834, after a lengthy campaign led by Wilberforce? (although sadly Wilberforce passed away a year before the law came into force)
Pictured here is a letter in our collections written by Wilberforce to John Grimston, three months before he was elected in September 1780 at the age of 21. In the letter he refers to his intention to stand as an MP for Hull.

📜 DDGR/42/31/xvi/130, Letter from William Wilberforce to John Grimston, undated [presumed 12 June 1780].