Doncaster Civic Trust

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Doncaster Civic Trust

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Doncaster Civic Trust was founded in 1946 to help in the work of conserving and improving our City

04/10/2026

The Doncaster Civic Trust has spent 80 years campaigning for the city's heritage to be preserved.

01/10/2026

29/09/2026

12/09/2026

Our next (9 of 23) location has a Green Plaque installed.
The Yorkshire Penny Bank
At a general meeting in April 1842, it was decided to erect a building to house the Savings Bank, first set up in 1817. The Bank had set up in the Town Hall, in the Magdalens. But in July 1842 it was resolved that new premises, opposite the Mansion House, was to be bought for the new building.
The first stone was laid on 6 March 1843. The architects were Hurst and Moffatt of Doncaster.

The premises were acquired by the Yorkshire Penny Bank in 1895. A two storey extension to Scot Lane was added in 1906, the architect was Frederick Masters of Doncaster.

The extension to High Street dates from 1923.

The bank dropped the Penny from its name in 1959.

05/09/2026

Our next (8 of 23) location has a Green Plaque installed.

The Subscription Betting Rooms

The Subscription Betting Rooms were built on High Street; designed by Messrs Woodhead and Hurst. Nowadays the portico is all that remains, forming the southern entrance to Priory Walk.

The establishment provided entertainment for the gentry during race week, and there was a subscription fee of one guinea. When the Rooms were opened for the first time 200 members were enrolled. As well as betting facilities, food, newspapers and writing facilities were provided. During the rest of the year the building was used for public functions. Paganini gave a concert there in 1833.

The Rooms were under constant police surveillance and were raided in 1871, eventually closing in 1892.

The Civic Trust played a key role in saving the portico for the Subscription Betting Rooms. Built-in 1826. It was used by the Nobility and Gentry during Leger Race Week. It has also been used for various commercial purposes including being a cinema.

04/09/2026

Our next (7 of 23) location has been identified as a Virtual Plaque site.

Harold Arnold Building.

Harold Arnold was a joiner who established himself in business in 1850 on Silver Street. He became a house builder but soon took on other work including various chapels in the area. In 1879 he erected this building on Printing Office Street. It was for use as workshops and offices for his firm. The building is interesting for its fine display of ornamental brickwork as well as the tiles.

The building was often threatened with demolition but the persistent objections of the Trust were successful.

By 1881 the firm employed 75 people but Harold Arnold died the following year. His son, William Sayles Arnold, took over the business. W S Arnold built himself a house on Printing Office Street in 1883 which was demolished a few years ago. . The firm’s yard was located between the house and the workshops. Arnold continued to live in his house until 1888 but eventually he built another much grander residence, Edenfield, in 1894. The house stands at the top of the Town Field now renamed Rutland House

02/09/2026

Address

Doncaster
DN47DY

Telephone

+447592275448

Website

http://doncastercivictrust.org.uk/

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