AS the person responsible for including Stubbs shop on the list of York's Listed Buildings, about ten years ago, I wish to make a plea.

A very important part of the reason for making Stubbs a listed building was because of the quality of the shop fittings which survive inside on the ground floor.

I am sure people will remember with pleasure the banks of small drawers containing different sizes of screws, nails etc. on at the back of the shop; and the solidity of the wonderful heavy counters from which we have been served for so many years.

These fittings almost certainly date back to the time before the premises were acquired by Stubbs and when they were part of York's first department store.

The datestone on the front of the building tells us it was built in 1878 and that it was known as Fossbridge House.

Its first occupant was the firm of W J Whitehead and Co, linen-drapers, and the accommodation consisted not only of the shop and warehousing, probably serviced from the River Foss, but also workshops where milliners and seamstresses worked in the back.

Whatever new use may be found for the building, some way of retaining the fixtures and fittings intact should be found.

Many people would feel that if they were taken away, a large part of the character of the building would be lost with them.

Alison Sinclair,

Norfolk Street,

Bishopthorpe Road, York.

Updated: 11:23 Saturday, September 01, 2001