Way we were

100 years ago: An influential committee of York gentlemen was formed to promote an exhibition of old York views, and portraits of local worthies, to be held in March and April of this year, with a view to arousing interest in the preservation of the many ancient and picturesque buildings in and around the old city, and of illustrating the vast changes that had taken place in the streets, fortifications etc, during the previous two centuries. Those who possessed "any oil paintings, engravings, messotints, lithographs, pencil drawings, original copper-plates, or photographs of Old York, or of York worthies, likely to interest the antiquary collector, or student," and were willing to lend them for an exhibition were invited to communicate with the Exhibition Committee. Arrangements had been made with the Education Committee of the York Corporation for the collection to be shown in the Exhibition Buildings, and every precaution for the safety and insurance of the exhibits would be made, and measures adopted to prevent their being photographed or copied without permission from the exhibitors.

50 years ago: Why not send the statue of Queen Victoria from outside York Art Gallery to Mentone in the Riviera instead of Acomb, asked an anonymous reader. "While many people are being disrespectful to our statue of Queen Victoria, and, therefore, probably to their own great grandparents who subscribed to it, there is a spot in the world where her memory is still cherished - southern France." Queen Victoria popularised the French Riviera with her subjects, and so many statues were erected to her. Much "stupid" and malicious damage was done during the Italian occupation, from the word Victoria being obliterated to the mutilation or complete removal of statues, causing genuine distress amongst local people.

25 years ago: York City Art Gallery would be one of the first in the country where visitors will have to pay to get in. The charge would be for a trial period of one year set at 20p, although York residents, pensioners and students would still get in free. The decision was approved by the City Council in the face of strong opposition from some members, one of whom called charging for entrance "morally wrong", and had suggested that instead more collection boxes be put up for voluntary donations. Another councillor thought charges should not be made as the art gallery had the best toilets in Yorkshire, which were often used by bus passengers in preference to the public ones at Bootham Bar.

Updated: 15:45 Friday, January 07, 2005