George Yeld (1845 – 1938) was a Classical Master at St Peter’s School.  He taught here for 52 years, from 1867 to 1919, and he appears to have been a popular teacher, organising the annual play (always Shakespeare).  He married Emily Elizabeth Adams, sister of the Reverend Thomas Adams who taught mathematics at St Peter’s, and had four sons, all of whom attended our School.

Yeld was a man of many interests.  Alongside his passion for teaching, he was a climber and explorer, editing the Alpine Journal for thirty years.  He was also a keen botanist and gardener, breeding and hybridising Hemerocallis (daylily) and Bearded iris.  He was the first to introduce a hybrid, “Apricot”, which won the Royal Horticultural Society’s Certificate of Merit in 1892.

As a Master at St Peter’s, Yeld occupied the cottage that is now our Music School.  Some of his daylilies still survive in the garden.

It is our aim to build our collection of Yeld’s daylilies – in the intervening century, many have been lost to us, and the varieties of those remaining have become uncertain.  The full list of his varieties is below, and we would warmly welcome any help in sourcing any examples.  If you can help, please contact Philippa Dunford-Jeffs, Development and Alumni Manager, on 01904 527 363, or at p.dunfordjeffs@stpetersyork.org.uk.