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Hungate in the 19th and 20th centuries
In the early 19th century the development of the
Hungate area began in earnest. New streets were laid
out and building continued, although a few small enclosures
are still shown on maps. A large building with a central
courtyard, its purpose uncertain, was positioned on
the river front at this time.
By the 1840s, however, Hungate had become an area
of poor working class housing. The Union Gasworks
was established in 1837; it closed in 1850 and was
sold to Leetham's Mills. The importance of these mills
led in 1888 to a revival of the Foss navigation work,
the original works having failed by 1845.
Children sitting on the corner of
Palmer Lane and Dundas Street, in about 1933. ©
City of York Council
Between 1801-1901 the population of York had trebled.
York did not become an industrial city comparable
to Leeds and others in the West Riding, however, but
relied on small-scale manufacturing and marketing.
The arrival of the railways and the confectionery
industry were the exceptions, and these drew new immigrants
into the city.
Some settled in the poor (but cheap) housing in Hungate
where living conditions became deplorable. In the
tightly packed streets the death rate from water-borne
diseases was high. In 1901 part of the Hungate area
was referred to by Seebohm Rowntree as one of the
main slum districts of York. Other parts were not
quite so deprived, with 'a few houses where servants
were kept'.
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