Pledge Book of George Fettes of Stonegate, pawnbroker

The volume lists names of depositors, their address (street only), articles pledged (many of which were clothes) sums of money and date of redemption. Entries for watches list the maker's name and watch number. Also includes undated loose papers: a bill from Thomas Grimshaw of 68 Micklegate to Mr Wood for painting of whole length family group, £168, 4 April 1850, in an envelope listing the family members painted; a price card of Mr T Grimshaw, portrait painter and; a small round label inscribed "Grimshaw Dringhouses".

The business was started by George Fettes in Lady Peckitt's Yard c. 1770. He was succeeded by J/ Wood and later by Henry Hardcastle, who extended the business and moved it to a site in Stonegate. Fettes was Sheriff of York in 1802.

Open

Material is available subject to the usual terms and conditions of access to Archives and Local History collections.

A Word document was created by Alison Backhouse, Volunteer at York City Archives. Also an ACCESS database 'pwnshop.mdb'- gives a full listing of the pledge book. This is available for consultation only at York City Archives. It contains almost 11,000 entries. For related material see Alison Backhouse's published article the "York Historian" number 14. 1997.

She has also written a book published in 2003

The volume was deposited in York Reference Library 4 Apr 1949 by Henry Hardcastle, Stonegate, York, successor to the business. It was transferred to the City Archive in 1964.