WE feature some more very early photographs of York this week, showing us familiar scenes which have changed tantalisingly over the last 140 years.

The photos all date from the 1860s. York has probably seen less change than many cities since then – at least in terms of its basic layout and historic buildings. But not everything is the same...

Our first photo shows you York Minster as no-one living has ever seen it. The picture clearly shows the work being done to create Duncombe Place. Before this, the Minster had been approached along Lop Lane – which was very narrow, and obscured the views of the great cathedral. After the buildings on the left were removed, the area was flattened and grassed, with trees being added along the perimeter. The memorial to the South African war dead was added about 40 years later.

Our second photo is thought to have been taken in 1863 when Lendal Bridge was being built. This time we have a view of Barker Tower, seen from the south side of the river, with the Ebor works to the right. These belonged to wholesale ironmonger and iron and steel manufacturer S Varvill.

There is something wonderfully cheerful about our third photo, taken in 1863 in Lawrence Street. The load on this cart was obviously very heavy, given the number of horses needed to pull it – a wonderful illustration of the principle of “horsepower”.

Our fourth photo shows North Lodge, once the home of the three-times Lord Mayor of York John Close. The house was demolished in 1872 and the Station Hotel built on its site. This picture is thought to date from the 1860s.

Finally, we have a photo captioned simply York Model Band about 1860. We’d love to know more about it. Any ideas?


Photographs reproduced courtesy of the City of York Council’s Imagine York website imagineyork.co.uk