Comments on: Army and Navy Stores, Fossgate

By: Pam

Pam — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 22:57:21 +0000

Grew up in york …went tog Mill Mount Grammar School from 1956 till 1961. New Annette Wren would love to be in touch

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sun, 08 Nov 2020 08:33:29 +0000

I first visited York in 1994, as an 18 year old. Fibbers was open at lunchtime, they had coffee ‘Friends’ style, before coffee was such a big thing. I didn’t visit Fossgate but I recall ‘And Albert’ where the Evil Eye now is on Stonegate, there was also a fossil shop further up. There was a big candle shop, in the Terry’s store on St Helens Square.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sun, 08 Nov 2020 08:22:28 +0000

I think durable is becoming increasingly important for the environment…seems you need money for that though. 7 years since this article was posted, it seems like a year or two ago that the Army & Navy store closed. I think the bar that replaced it has changed hands a few times since? I went in a couple of times for breakfast but changed jobs and don’t go into York much now, though I went in yesterday hoping for a quiet walk in ‘lockdown 2′ and it was pretty busy, there is an amazing amount of coffee shops! What did we drink before coffee and was in necessary to always be holding a paper cup!?!

By: Clive

Clive — Sun, 18 Oct 2020 17:21:01 +0000

I was taken there as a child with my parents for my Dad to buy his annual work boots (called Niagara and made in Czechoslovakia I think), which then spent months absorbing dubbin before there were let loose on the farm.

My first wellies were purchased from there (Dunlop) and then many things since, Harrington Jackets, Donkey Jackets and also the same boots as my father which lasted year before the sole went through.

Shame it’s gone and there is no obvious replacement in York.

By: Judy Powell

Judy Powell — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 07:59:02 +0000

I only came across these posts and this site today.I no longer live in York, but bought stuff from the Army and Navy Stores when I did, and later on for my Dad, who died 8 years ago. I visited the place last week, to buy a butcher stripe apron to replace the one bought from there donkey’s years ago, and was sad to see it had gone, apparently some time since. I too remember the man in the overalls, I think the brand was Bolenium, my Dad had some for gardening and DIY. Yes I remember the whole stretch from Fossgate to Walmgate – my Dad worked at Cussins and Light in the repair department until 1985. As well as the pet shop in Colliergate (Rieveley’s), I remember Mawson’s in Walmgate, where we bought food pellets for my rabbit and flour for my Mum’s home baked bread. They also sold white mice. My Dad was in there one Friday, and a lady was buying 4 mice. The assistant warned her she’d need to put them in a proper cage and the waxed cardboard carton was just for taking them home. “That’s ok” replied the customer. “That will fit in my office drawer. I got the sack today and the rest of them will get such a surprise on Monday morning.” (Some of what she said may originally have contained more robust Yorkshire phrases!)

By: Andy Tuckwell

Andy Tuckwell — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 16:48:37 +0000

I think there may have been quite a few plaster figures in the Army and Navy windows – but I’m pretty sure some of them were modelling “Invicta” underwear.