OUR recent series of articles and old photographs depicting York in the late 1800s has touched a chord with readers.

“I love these articles and pics of old York … more please,” enthused “Kim the swim” in a recent comment on our website. “I love to look at these old photos too. Keep them coming please,” added “Little Ted” a week later.

We are always happy to oblige. So this week Yesterday Once More has dipped into the City of York Council’s online Imagine York archive once more. And we’ve come up with some real gems.

First up is a stunning, ”‘widescreen” image of Lendal Bridge taken in the 1880s. The caption doesn’t reveal much: simply pointing out that the bridge is seen from Manor Shore. But we love the Victorian frock-coats worn by the two elegant gents in the foreground, and the wide-skirted Victorian dress worn by the woman pushing what looks like a buggy or pram. The figures are as real and alive as if this photo, by an unknown photographer, was taken yesterday.

Another river scene for our second photo. This shows boats moored on the River Ouse at Clementhorpe – just about where the posh flats are today, we guess – looking towards Skeldergate Bridge. There is something wonderfully workmanlike about these boats. Not pleasure cruisers these, but working boats from a time when the river was still an important transport artery.

Our third photograph shows Marygate, again in the 1880s. Not much is different from the scene you would see today – and yet somehow, everything is different. The street looks to be cobbled, for a start: and, in the absence of cars, you get a real sense of the true proportions of the road.

Our last picture also shows Marygate. Taken by an unknown photographer in the 1880s, it purports to show the location of the fishpond once used by the monks of St Mary’s Abbey.

A direct link back to the monks of St Mary’s. Now that’s what you call bringing history to life.