The Magpie is a controversial bird. In Europe and the UK it’s associated with superstitions, magic, and named the ‘devil’s bird’ who has an eye for shiny things and, given the chance will pinch your jewellery. There are rhyming prophecy’s too. Such as, ‘One for sorrow, Two for joy, Three for a girl, Four for a boy, Five for silver, Six for gold, Seven for a secret never to be told’ . And also ‘a single magpie in spring, foul weather will bring’ .
Yet elsewhere, it is seen as a special bird. In China, the Magpie is linked with good luck and fortune and see as half dove, half crow. In Chinese art a group of magpies can mean many good wishes, and if shown with bamboo and plums it is meant to wish you love and joy in your relationship.
In The Groves, The Magpie Pub, formerly known as the Magpie and Stump once stood on the corner of ‘Del Pyke’ and Townend Street has a long history. It can be seen on this map from 1852 (thanks again to Ros for sharing that).
We know from Rachael Gleve on ‘Closed Pubs’, that;
‘…My grandma ran the pub in the 1980s, Mary and Frank Clayton, and my mum Christine Sharp, remembers Jack who was the cleaner. My grandma died in the pub 1984…’
We’ve heard stories too. That the Magpie was a proper run pub for locals where rules were followed, no kids allowed and a group of students being thrown out as they thought it fun to turn the TV off during an important footie match, much to the disappointment of those watching. But also of its role as a community space, that during a night in the late 1990s, the pub provided overnight shelter and refuge for sixteen local residents who had to be evacuated from their homes as police negotiated a siege situation nearby.
While The Magpie is now closed the memories live on in the stories we hear and tell. So to celebrate these, we’ve installed just down from The Ox, The Magpie, created for us by York artist Jo Ruth, looking out on the new flats, where the Magpie and Stump public house stood as far back as 1852. You can see Jo’s Magpie on Thornaby House on the corner of Del Pyke and Townsend Street.
While The Magpie is now closed the memories live on in the stories we hear and tell. So to celebrate these, we’ve installed just down from The Ox, The Magpie, created for us by York artist Jo Ruth, looking out on the new flats, where the Magpie and Stump public house stood as far back as 1852. You can see Jo’s Magpie on Thornaby House on the corner of Del Pyke and Townend Street.
You can see more of Jo Ruth’s work on Instagram @joruth https://www.instagram.com/joruth where you’ll be able to see more development of The Groves images, and on her website www.joruth.com
Do you have a story about The Magpie? Maybe a photo or memory? Or something else to share about The Groves, if so please do get in touch – tellusastory@wearethegroves.org.
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