Hepper & Sons' Horse & Carriage Repository, on York Place

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Tue 01 Apr, 2014 10:40 pm

Having a meander around today (April 1 2014, but not an April Fool joke) I went on York Place which is a road I've not been to much before (if ever). I took this photo of a very interesting 'Hepper & Sons' Horse & Carriage Repository' sign. Though I suspect it may be well known to many/most SL viewers I thought I would post the photo for those (like me) that were not already aware of it. I did a search of SL but did not find a mention, but in view of my poor searching ability not doubt there are mentions. I would be grateful if anyone could please give me some information or a link to information about the sign and/or the building's history. Shame that the lamppost (and its shadow) got in the way of a good photo.

Steve Jones · Post by **Steve Jones** » Wed 02 Apr, 2014 1:13 pm

as you were on York Place leodian ,you weren't visiting the naughty lapdancing clubs on there were you<LOL>?I can recommend "The Old Steps" pub at the top end if you are there again during the day.it is shut at night.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Wed 02 Apr, 2014 1:21 pm

Steve Jones wrote: as you were on York Place leodian ,you weren't visiting the naughty lapdancing clubs on there were you<LOL>?I can recommend "The Old Steps" pub at the top end if you are there again during the day.it is shut at night. Nope, sorry Steve but I know naught of lapdancing. PS. If the intriguing sign does have mentions in Leodis I have not been able to find any.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Fri 04 Apr, 2014 10:56 pm

Apologies for bumping up this thread but as it is 3 days now since I started it I thought I would ask again before the thread drops out of the 'Active Threads' list, as I'm struggling to find information on the very interesting sign.Is it perhaps a modern replica of an old sign or is it a very old sign that has been recently renovated/exposed, or is it just a made up sign that has no historical relevance, or whatever its history is. I will be grateful for any help. Thanks.

Post by **mhoulden** » Fri 04 Apr, 2014 11:29 pm

Hepper and Sons definitely had an office on York Place. Here's an article from the 1914 London Gazette that refers to it: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/iss ... /page/2685. A quick Google suggests a horse and carriage repository was the equine version of a car park. That also explains the big archway. Whether or not stabling fees were paid via a machine that didn't give change is less clear.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Fri 04 Apr, 2014 11:47 pm

mhoulden wrote: Hepper and Sons definitely had an office on York Place. Here's an article from the 1914 London Gazette that refers to it: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/iss ... /page/2685. A quick Google suggests a horse and carriage repository was the equine version of a car park. That also explains the big archway. Whether or not stabling fees were paid via a machine that didn't give change is less clear. Thanks mhoulden for that. I like in the article the "TO be, sold...by Edward Henry Hepper...at the Red Lion Hotel, Market-place, Doncaster, in the county of York, on Monday, the 6th day of April, 1914, at 2 o'clock in the 'afternoon precisely, in one lot, and if not so sold, in such lots as will be announced by the Auctioneers on the day of sale, certain property and effects of the partnership business, comprising a steam roundabout, 80 key organ, traction engine, wagon, etc. Particulars and conditions of sale may be obtained gratis of Messrs. Hepper and Sons, Auctioneers, East-parade, and York-place, Leeds...". I wonder what at least happened to the steam roundabout and the organ.

Jogon · Post by **Jogon** » Fri 04 Apr, 2014 11:50 pm

Hepper were a fair sized outfit for quite a while, I remember them as Hepper Watson estate agents auctioneers etc.York place and, I think Queen Street, through to 'lil Queen Street housed a variety of smaller warehouses serving the (then still substantial) cloth and clothing trade - uncle M? (one called Hare?)So the Horse place was probably an early form of NCP? for the various merchants. I may be wrong but assumed it was thus before it all became office/clerical.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Sat 05 Apr, 2014 1:22 am

I've just looked at the excellent Old Maps UK website and found that there is a 'Horse & Carriage Repository' marked at the site on an 1891 1:500 map (see the attached map). It is also marked such on a 1921 1:2500 map but a 1933 1:2500 map marks the site as a 'Warehouse'. An 1850 1:1056 map seems to show the area was probably ornate gardens.

Post by **mhoulden** » Sat 05 Apr, 2014 1:46 am

In 1891 the horse & cart repository was between a clothing factory and a timber yard. I wouldn't be too surprised if it started out as somewhere just for the use of Hepper & Sons for their auction business and they gradually allowed their neighbours to use the facilities as well. The 1:500 1891 map is attached. By 1933 it just appears on the map as "warehouses" as I suppose the demand for somewhere to park up a horse and cart wasn't there any more. Watson estate agents (without Hepper) are still going: http://www.watsonpm.co.uk/property-mana ... t-leeds-2/.

uncle mick · Post by **uncle mick** » Sat 05 Apr, 2014 2:30 am

From the Sheffield & Rotherham Independent Aug 24 1889Hepper & Sons had horse sales so probably somewhere to keep the horses ?