I have a photo of the inscribed gable mentioned, just uploaded it here.

I haven’t read the particular article mentioned but know that the York Historian is interesting and informative. Perhaps the article mentioned could be made available online?

Regarding “real” history, I think Ralph is right: “History is not a single objective thing”. There’s plenty of “real” history on these pages – among the more generalised waffle – and I know that many people appreciate it and the work that has gone into the site over the years.

– “York Council Meeting”, York Herald, 9 September 1871, p. 9 (“A communication had been received from the secretary of the Inland Revenue with reference to the establishment of a bonding warehouse in York”).
– “Shocking Occurrence”, Birmingham Daily Post, 7 August 1872, p. 8 (“Three men have been buried alive and two killed by the fall of a roof in a bonding warehouse in Halifax”).

The York bonded warehouse calls *itself* a bonding warehouse in the dated gable inscription noted by Colin, and others (including the owners of the nightclub) have simply followed suit.

In more general terms, I do find the talk of “real” and “fake” history troubling. It seems judgemental and perhaps even rather elitist. “Fake” suggests a deliberate intention to deceive. History is not a single objective thing that is out there, it is a construction, a matter of memory, document, perceptions, stories and myths, and all the things that help people make sense of the world. That doesn’t mean that all interpretations of the past are equally valid (thus we can appeal to reliable evidence to establish that “bonding warehouse” is a perfectly correct term to use of the building here in York) but it does mean that history speaks in many ways and in many voices. This site is an excellent example of that. Even if Richard was right and the “bonding warehouse” title was a creation of the last 30 years, it would still be part of this building’s history, and it would be real history, not “fake”.

I can see the logic in terms of the “bonded warehouse” function of the building but its name is the “Bonding Warehouse”. I base this upon the English Heritage listing ref. 1256638, the name City of York council has use for recent planning purposes.

It’s note worthy that English Heritage does record “Formerly known as: Bonded Warehouse SKELDERGATE” in the listing detail but there is another interesting reference too: “curved gable over centre bay, inscribed: “BONDING WAREHOUSE/ AD 1875″”.

I’ve seen recent pictures, currently masked by scaffolding, with the inscription. It may be a presumption that detailed description relates to historic features, historic pictures (pre-1977!) or archive drawings could be an interesting cross reference.

It seem unnecessary to suggest this is “fake history” when simple references lead into another interesting story. I’m not an archivist but it seems clear to me that this building has a history with at least two names and a growing number of uses.

Richard Taylor
City Archivist