logo
On this day in 2015: artists' garden underway behind York Art Gallery

On this day in 2015: artists' garden underway behind York Art Gallery

Yahoo13-05-2025
On this day in 2015, the York Press reported that a previously hidden corner of York city centre was being opened to the public for the first time in 100 years.
Work had begun on creating an artists' garden and edible wood behind York Art Gallery, linking to the Museum Gardens, Marygate, and Exhibition Square.
York Museums Trust said the two-acre site was last used by the public when much of it was the Great Hall, a huge exhibition space attached to the gallery when it was built in 1879.
The hall closed in 1909 after it was deemed unsafe and was then destroyed in a German bombing raid in 1942.
The garden was set to open to the public on Yorkshire Day, August 1, 2015.
Alison Pringle, gardens manager for York Museums Trust, said at the time: "This site is truly a hidden corner of York's city centre which we can't wait to reveal to the public.
"It was first enclosed by the monks of St Mary's Abbey in 1266, and for the majority of the 700 years that followed it has been off-limits and hidden behind the high abbey walls.
"For a long time it was orchards and pasture owned by the abbey, so, in a way, the creation of an edible wood will hark back to the area's past, while the new artists' garden will give the city a versatile space for a wide range of arts events."
The design work was by landscape architects Erika Diaz Peterson and JCLA, while contractor Simpson was said to have begun work on the garden site.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

D-Day veteran and TikTok star ‘Papa Jake' Larson dies at 102
D-Day veteran and TikTok star ‘Papa Jake' Larson dies at 102

Boston Globe

time21 hours ago

  • Boston Globe

D-Day veteran and TikTok star ‘Papa Jake' Larson dies at 102

'As Papa would say, love you all the mostest,' his granddaughter posted on his social media accounts. Advertisement Mr. Larson in 2019, before going for a ride in the "The Spirit of Benovia" World War II-era aircraft in Oakland, Calif. Eric Risberg/Associated Press Born Dec. 20, 1922, in Owatonna, Minn., Mr. Larson enlisted in the National Guard in 1938, lying about his age since he was only 15. In 1942, he was sent overseas and was stationed in Northern Ireland. He became operations sergeant and assembled the planning books for the invasion of Normandy. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up He was among the nearly 160,000 Allied troops who stormed the Normandy shore on D-Day, June 6, 1944, surviving machine-gun fire when he landed on Omaha Beach. He made it unhurt to the bluffs that overlook the beach, then studded with German gun emplacements. 'We are the lucky ones,' Mr. Larson told The Associated Press at the 81st anniversary of D-Day in June, speaking amid the immaculate rows of graves at the American cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. Advertisement 'We are their family. We have the responsibility to honor these guys who gave us a chance to be alive.' He advanced on to participate in the Battle of the Bulge, a grueling month-long fight in Belgium and Luxembourg that was one of the defining moments of the war and of Hitler's defeat. His service earned him a Bronze Star and a French Legion of Honor award. In recent years, he made repeated trips to Normandy for D-Day commemorations — and at every stop, 'Papa Jake' was greeted by people asking for a selfie. In return, he offered up a big hug. One memorable encounter came in 2023, when he came across Bill Gladden, a then-99-year-old British veteran who survived a glider landing on D-Day and a bullet that tore through his ankle. 'I want to give you a hug, thank you. I got tears in my eyes. We were meant to meet,' Mr. Larson told Gladden, as their handsclasped tightly. Gladden died the following year. In his TikTok posts and interviews, Mr. Larson combined humorous anecdotes with somber reminders about the horrors of war. In addition to the invasion of Normandy, Mr. Larson fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Eric Risberg/Associated Press Reflecting to AP on the three years he was in Europe, Larson said he is 'no hero.' Speaking in 2024, he also had a message to world leaders: 'Make peace not war.' He often called himself 'the luckiest man in the world,' and expressed awe at all the attention he was getting. 'I'm just a country boy. Now I'm a star on TikTok,' he said in 2023. Small-town museums and groups around Normandy that work to honor D-Day's heroes and fallen shared tributes online. Advertisement 'He was an exceptional witness and bearer of memory,' the Overlord Museum posted on Facebook. 'He came every year to the museum, with his smile, his humility and his tales that touched all generations. His stories will continue to live. Rest in peace Papa Jake,' it read.

D-Day veteran and TikTok star ‘Papa Jake' Larson dies at 102
D-Day veteran and TikTok star ‘Papa Jake' Larson dies at 102

Chicago Tribune

timea day ago

  • Chicago Tribune

D-Day veteran and TikTok star ‘Papa Jake' Larson dies at 102

PARIS — D-Day veteran ″Papa Jake″ Larson, who survived German gunfire on Normandy's bluffs in 1944 and then garnered 1.2 million followers on TikTok late in life by sharing stories to commemorate World War II and his fallen comrades, has died at 102. An animated speaker who charmed strangers young and old with his quick smile and generous hugs, the self-described country boy from Minnesota was ''cracking jokes til the end,' his granddaughter wrote in announcing his death. Tributes to him quickly filled his 'Story Time with Papa Jake' TikTok account from across the United States, where he had been living in Lafayette, California. Towns around Normandy, still grateful to Allied forces who helped defeat the occupying Nazis in World War II, paid him homage too. 'Our beloved Papa Jake has passed away on July 17th at 102 years young,' granddaughter McKaela Larson posted on his social media accounts. 'He went peacefully.' 'As Papa would say, love you all the mostest,' she wrote. Commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasionBorn Dec. 20, 1922, in Owatonna, Minnesota, Larson enlisted in the National Guard in 1938, lying about his age since he was only 15 at the time. In 1942, he was sent overseas and was stationed in Northern Ireland. He became operations sergeant and assembled the planning books for the invasion of Normandy. He was among the nearly 160,000 Allied troops who stormed the Normandy shore on D-Day, June 6, 1944, surviving machine-gun fire when he landed on Omaha Beach. He made it unhurt to the bluffs that overlook the beach, then studded with German gun emplacements that mowed down American soldiers. 'We are the lucky ones,' Larson told The Associated Press at the 81st anniversary of D-Day in June, speaking amid the immaculate rows of graves at the American cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. 'We are their family. We have the responsibility to honor these guys who gave us a chance to be alive.' He went on to fight through the Battle of the Bulge, a grueling month-long fight in Belgium and Luxembourg that was one of the defining moments of the war and of Hitler's defeat. His service earned him a Bronze Star and a French Legion of Honor award. In recent years, Larson made repeated trips to Normandy for D-Day commemorations — and at every stop, 'Papa Jake' was greeted by people asking for a selfie. In return, he offered up a big hug, to their greatest joy. One memorable encounter came in 2023, when he came across Bill Gladden, a then-99-year-old British veteran who survived a glider landing on D-Day and a bullet that tore through his ankle. 'I want to give you a hug, thank you. I got tears in my eyes. We were meant to meet,' Larson told Gladden, as their hands, lined and spotted with age, clasped tightly. Gladden died the following year. In his TikTok posts and interviews, Larson combined humorous anecdotes with somber reminders about the horrors of war. Reflecting to AP on the three years he was in Europe, Larson said he is 'no hero.' Speaking in 2024, he also had a message to world leaders: 'Make peace not war.' He often called himself 'the luckiest man in the world,' and expressed awe at all the attention he was getting. 'I'm just a country boy. Now I'm a star on TikTok,' he told AP in 2023. 'I'm a legend! I didn't plan this, it came about.' Small-town museums and groups around Normandy that work to honor D-Day's heroes and fallen shared tributes online to Larson, one of their most loyal visitors. 'He was an exceptional witness and bearer of memory,' the Overlord Museum posted on Facebook. 'He came every year to the museum, with his smile, his humility and his tales that touched all generations. His stories will continue to live. Rest in peace Papa Jake,' it read. 'Thanks for everything.'

D-Day veteran and TikTok star ‘Papa Jake' Larson dies at 102
D-Day veteran and TikTok star ‘Papa Jake' Larson dies at 102

Hamilton Spectator

timea day ago

  • Hamilton Spectator

D-Day veteran and TikTok star ‘Papa Jake' Larson dies at 102

PARIS (AP) — D-Day veteran ″Papa Jake″ Larson, who survived German gunfire on Normandy's bluffs in 1944 and garnered 1.2 million followers on TikTok late in life by sharing stories to commemorate World War II and his fallen comrades, has died at 102. Tributes for 'Story Time with Papa Jake' poured in from followers across the United States, where he had been living in Lafayette, CA., and from towns around Normandy still grateful to Allied forces who helped defeat the occupying Nazis. 'Our beloved Papa Jake has passed away on July 17th at 102 years young,' his granddaughter McKaela Larson posted on his social media accounts. 'He went peacefully and was even cracking jokes til the very end.″ 'As Papa would say, love you all the mostest,' she wrote. Born Dec. 20, 1922, in Owatonna, Minnesota, Larson enlisted in the National Guard in 1938, lying about his age since he was only 15 at the time. In January 1942, he was sent overseas and was stationed in Northern Ireland. He became operations sergeant and assembled the planning books for the invasion of Normandy. He was among the Allied troops who stormed the Normandy shore on D-Day, June 6, 1944, surviving machine-gun fire when he landed on Omaha Beach. He made it unhurt to the bluffs that overlook the beach, then studded with German gun emplacements that mowed down American soldiers. After D-Day, he fought on through the Battle of the Bulge. In recent years, he made repeated trips to Normandy for D-Day commemorations. 'We are the lucky ones,' Larson told The Associated Press at the 81st anniversary of D-Day in June, speaking amid the immaculate rows of graves at the American cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. 'They had no family. We are their family. We have the responsibility to honor these guys who gave us a chance to be alive.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store