Clifton, York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clifton |
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_018.jpg) View over the Terraces of Clifton |
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 Clifton
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| Population | 13,548 (Ward. 2011 census) |
| OS grid reference | SE592532 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | YORK |
| Postcode district | YO30 |
| Dialling code | 01904 |
| Police | North Yorkshire |
| Fire | North Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| EU Parliament | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| UK Parliament |
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Clifton is a lively area in York, England. It's about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the city centre. The main A19 passes right through Clifton as it leaves York to the north.
The older part of Clifton was made a special "conservation area" in 1968. This means its historic buildings and character are protected. You'll find the Nestle Foods Factory and the famous St Peter's School here.
The name Clifton comes from old English words. Clif means a gentle slope or riverbank. Tun means a settlement or enclosed area. So, Clifton means "settlement on a slope or riverbank."
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Discovering Clifton's Past
Clifton has a long and interesting history. During Roman times, a road ran through Clifton. It led to the Roman fortress in York. Another road from the fortress might have joined it. Early buildings and burials suggest these roads existed from the 1st century.
Some Roman activity happened in Clifton in the 2nd century. But this didn't last. By the 3rd century, the area became mostly cemeteries.
An old windmill, called Lady Windmill, stood in Burton Stone Lane for centuries. It was there from the late 1300s to the early 1800s. It stopped working around 1852. Today, there's no sign of it left.
Clifton was badly damaged during the Siege of York in the 1600s. The historic Old Manor House on Clifton street was rebuilt after the siege. It's now a protected building.
Horse racing started in York in the late 1600s. In 1708, a landowner named Sir William Robinson offered his land in Clifton for a racecourse. He also gave money for a prize. But after a very cold winter in 1730, racing moved to a different area called Knavesmire.
The local church in Clifton was built between 1867 and 1869. It was helped by a society that built churches.
How Clifton is Run
Clifton is a "ward" within the City of York. A ward is like a local district. It has its own representatives. As of 2015, Danny Myers and Margaret Wells represent Clifton. They are members of the Labour Party.
Clifton used to be a "township" and then a "civil parish." These are older ways of dividing up land. In 1894, it became part of the County Borough of York. In 1891, about 7,770 people lived in the parish. Until 1974, Clifton was part of North Riding of Yorkshire.
Who Lives in Clifton?
In 2001, Clifton had 12,017 people. Most people (91.1%) were born in England. About 4.9% were from outside the United Kingdom. The largest age group was 30 to 44 years old.
Most people (94.6%) said they were White-British. About 67.8% said they were Christian. And 30.2% said they had no religious belief.
Many adults (59.7%) had jobs. About 10.5% were retired. Most homes (57.5%) were terraced houses. About 21% were semi-detached. In 2011, Clifton's population grew to 13,548 people living in 5,652 homes.
Clifton's Location
Clifton is bordered by other areas like Rawcliffe and Clifton Without to the north. Holgate is to the south-west. Heworth is to the east. Guildhall Ward is to the south-east.
The area's boundary follows the River Ouse in the west. It goes past Homestead Park and the York Sports Club. It crosses the A19 road. The boundary also follows the Bur Dike and goes near Burton Green Primary School. It crosses Bootham Stray and the Nestle Factory to the River Foss. The River Foss forms the eastern boundary for a while. The boundary then goes past York District Hospital and the railway line. Finally, it returns to the River Ouse.
Working in Clifton
Many people who live in Clifton work in York city centre. Others work in the shops and industrial areas outside York. A big employer in Clifton is the Nestle Foods Factory on Haxby Road. The York Hospital on Wigginton Road also employs many people.
Community Life in Clifton
The York Hospital is an important part of the community. It was first built in 1938. Work stopped during World War II. The hospital opened in 1941. It was expanded and renamed York District Hospital in 1977. Since 2010, it's known as The York Hospital.
The Clifton Cinema was a popular place. It opened on November 17, 1937. It showed films like “Edge of the World.” The cinema had 1,150 seats. It also had a special organ for music. The Clifton Cinema closed on October 17, 1964. The last film shown was Valley of the Eagle. Today, the building is home to the Clifton Bingo and Social Club.
Bootham Crescent was once the home of York City F.C., a local football team. It was located in Clifton. The stadium has since been taken down to build new homes.
Homestead Park is a lovely green space in Clifton. It has a Youth Hostel in its grounds. The park was given to the people of York by Seebohm Rowntree. His family was famous for making chocolate. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation takes care of the park.
There are also community gardens, called allotments, at Crichton Avenue and Wigginton Terrace.
Getting Around Clifton
Clifton is well-connected by bus. The A19 road and Clifton Retail Park are nearby. Many bus routes serve the area. Here are some of them:
- Rawcliffe Bar Park & Ride to the City Centre (First Transport Group)
- Clifton Moor to Osbaldwick (First Transport Group)
- York to Easingwold and beyond (Stephensons of Easingwold Ltd)
- City Centre to Skelton (Reliance)
- Askham Bar to University of York (Transdev York)
- York to Thirsk (Reliance Motor Services)
Learning in Clifton
St. Peter's School is a very old and famous school in Clifton. It's an independent school for both boys and girls. It was founded in the 7th century. It is one of the oldest schools in the world! Did you know that Guy Fawkes, famous for the Gunpowder Plot, went to school here?
Queen Anne Grammar School for Girls started in 1906. It moved to a new building on Queen Anne's Road in Clifton in 1909. This school closed in 2000. Its campus is now used by St Olave's School, which is the junior school for St Peter's.
Burton Green Primary School has a long history. It opened in 1841 as Burton Stone Lane School. It has changed names and locations over the years. Burdyke County Primary School also opened in 1954 and is now part of Burton Green Primary School.
Clifton is in the secondary school area for the Vale of York Academy. This school is located in Clifton Without.
Places of Worship
The Church of St. Philip and St. James is a beautiful old church. It was built between 1866 and 1867. It stands next to Clifton Green.
The first Methodist group in Clifton met in a small house in the 1870s. A larger Methodist chapel opened in 1909.
St Joseph's Catholic Church is located on Burdyke Avenue. It's at the northern end of Kingsway North.
Famous People from Clifton
- Will Ashton (1881–1963), an impressionist artist, was born in Clifton.
- Margaret Jowett (1921–2014), a children's writer, lived in Clifton.
- Derek Pearsall (1931–2021), a historian who studied the Middle Ages, lived in Clifton for many years.
