Comments on: Harvey’s Gripe Mixture: an imagined ghost sign

By: Dawn

Dawn — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 13:25:48 +0000

Nurse Harvey’s Gripe Mixture. I remember my mum saying baby had some then some for mum.
Thought you might be interested I’ve still got my baby book which was free from Harvey’s. 65 year old this year. I do have photos I could send if you want them.

By: Robyn

Robyn — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 23:23:12 +0000

My brothers and me were brought up on Nurse Harvey’s Gripe water and I also gave it to my children about 35 years ago. My mother preferred it to Woodwords which I believe contained alcohol at the time and which I understand some babies did not like. I remember reading about a woman who had become addicted to gripe water and it turned out that the alcohol content was higher than most beers. I did try to buy Nurse Harveys a couple of years ago for my grandchild and although I found a picture of the box on line it was listed as out of stock and no date was known when it would be back in stock. It seems it was another example of the big boys having better marketing which forced out the small guy

By: wendy cook

wendy cook — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 12:25:19 +0000

i have many happy memories of working at Harvey-scrutons. I new Arthur oglesby well and often typed up manuscripts of his fishing books. when I lefted in 1971 to have a baby, I wasn’t short of gripe water and baby talc.

By: YorkStories

YorkStories — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 10:22:14 +0000

Lovely to read these memories Frank, thank you

By: Frank Archer

Frank Archer — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 09:44:08 +0000

I found the item on Harvey Scruton factory in Barker Lane interesting.I well remember the pleasant smell of baby powder, I always thought of it as Johnsons baby powder smell. I also remember meeting Mr Ogelsby once in Micklegate Motors when he brought his Jaguar in for a service, he complained the car was not fast enough and the mechanic found that a spring on the throttle was stretched from him having his foot down to the floor when driving.. I recall a smart looking man.. That was a long time ago, 1956.

By: YorkStories

YorkStories — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:13:07 +0000

Hi Roger – yes, the link to Google books above is to ‘On Fishing’ by Brian Clarke, which includes a chapter on Arthur Oglesby. (It also mentions his ‘Brylcreemed good looks’ – a look we’re maybe not so familiar with these days!)

I have seen the Red Lion sign, but I have to confess only recently, about a month ago. So many things still unnoticed in this city even after all these years.

(Update: since added, on this page: http://yorkstories.co.uk/ghost-signs-gillygate-and-goodramgate/)