Local transport historian PETER WHEATLEY takes an evocative trip back in time, stopping off at points along the York to Scarborough road.

WITH the seaside town of Scarboro-ugh probably the most popular destination for local holidays and day trips, the York to Scarborough road has always been well used. The road, which became a turnpike in 1752, has seen many alterations in its history. Excuse enough for a trip down memory lane.

A convenient starting point is Monkgate roundabout. This was the site of York's first gas works, which eventually expanded across the Foss to a site on Heworth Green.

Over Monk Bridge, which was widened in the 1900s, we pass the site of the enlarged gasworks, long since demolished. At the crown of the road alongside Mill Lane is the bridge which carried the Foss Islands branch of the railway. Shortly after at 54 Heworth Green is the house in which Dr Reg Dench and his celebrated daughter Judi lived.

At the junction of Heworth Green and Stockton Lane is a small building now used as a flower shop which was a battery charging and waiting shed for York's battery powered buses.

Continuing on up past Monk Stray one catches a glimpse of the headmaster's house on Straylands Grove, which is all that remains of Elmfield College, a large school for boys run by the Methodist Church.

The next point of interest is the present garage belonging to C D Bramall, the site of which for many a year was the Wayside Caf and garage, advertised as a 'good halt, 2 miles from York'.

The Hopgrove pub (now Stockton on the Forest Inn) was rebuilt before the second world war from its previous site next to the road.

On up the road we pass the Hermitage on the left, home for many years to the Wright family, well-known York butchers. Further up come a clutch of travellers stops. First is the now closed Hazelbush caf, which began life as a small garage and caf and was owned for many a year by Eddie Dutton. He always said he made more money from the toilets accessed by turnstile than any other of his businesses.

Next is the Four Alls Inn (The Queen rules all, the Bishop prays for all, the soldier fights for all and John Bull pays for all), an old pub whose appearance belies the fact it was in existence before motor traffic. The Tanglewood started life as the Bide-a-Were caf, a place for afternoon tea.

The first turnpike gate was just past the Sand Hutton turning, since the York City authorities decreed that no turnpike gate should be placed less than six miles from the city centre.

Claxton Hall was sited just off the present road. It had a colourful history, being at one time a lunatic asylum and then becoming the home of the General of Northern Command. It was burnt down shortly after being bought by Newitts Sports Supplies.

On the right at the junction of another stretch of old road is Lobster House Farm. This used to be the Lobster Pot Inn, an old coaching inn which was also at one time the venue for the Flaxton Assize Court.

The next point of interest is on an old part of the road which bears off right behind the filling station and caravan sales site. This is known as Griffin Gates and consists of ornamental lodge gates for Howsham Hall, presumably sited to impress travellers on the high road.

The next part of the road is where most motorists sigh with relief as they enjoy the first part of the dual carriageway. This section surprisingly was built in 1936 to provide work for unemployed persons during recession. It is impossible to comprehend that this improvement was completed some 65 years ago and the A64 has still not been duelled throughout in 2003. During the last war this section had telegraph poles planted along its length to deter enemy planes landing.

On entering the dual road, a building now known as the Jinnah Restaurant was built in conjunction with the dual carriageway. It was a 'road house', a combined motel and diner in the American style. Subsequently the licence from the pub down the road was transferred and it became the Spitalbeck Inn, then the Flamingoland pub. Now it has changed again.

At the end of the straight section, the road bends to the right and appears to go down slightly. Through the trees may be glimpsed the old Spitalbeck Inn on the old route, which sadly lost its considerable trade, it being one of the most popular stops on the road prior to being by-passed.

The only village to be freed from traffic on this stretch of dual carriageway was Whitwell village, now passed to the right.

Shortly after Whitwell a track leads off the by-passed road. This track, a public road, was the route taken by a woman from Castle Howard whose husband had been fond of drink. On his death she had the entire contents of his wine cellar dumped in the lake, attempted without success to close the pub in Welburn, and thereafter always used this track when travelling to avoid the pub.

In Malton most people remember Butcher Corner and the policeman on point duty. All coast traffic had to negotiate Malton and its attendant level crossing with the unsubtle British Railways poster staring at you from the hoarding saying "You could be there by train now".

Once through Malton the road was fairly straightforward. Through Rillington the road remains the same as of old, until you pass on the ornate bridge at Scampston Park.

At the next junction the Turnpike and coach route to Scarborough turned left and went through Yedingham over the ancient bridge, now sadly demolished, and on through Snainton and Wykeham to Scarborough.

Staying on the existing route the next point of interest was West Heslerton, now by-passed. At East Heslerton was an aerodrome. It was not used during the war, but was instead covered in ancient car bodies to thwart the enemy's landing plans. All that remains now is the old hangar selling motor scooters. What I surmise was the old clubhouse is now the Snooty Fox restaurant.

The village of Staxton is also by-passed, and on the right on the hill were situated six huge pylons during the war and for some time after. These were part of the defensive radar system.

Seamer village is no longer traversed with its garages, pubs and cafes and instead the road adjoins the railway all the way into Scarborough.

On into Scarborough we pass The Mere - until the construction of Peasholme Park the inland pleasure park of Scarborough for boating and other activities.

On the right past the turning to the South Cliff was once the extensive sidings, locomotive sheds and turntables of the railway when everyone went to the coast by train. One turntable has been reinstated to cater for steam specials. A huge gasworks once occupied this site, conveniently placed for the railway.

Updated: 10:57 Monday, September 08, 2003