THESE photographs date from a different shopping era. They recall the days when no one had heard of retail parks or shopping malls, and even a clothes shop went by the grander title of gentleman's outfitters.

We have two York entertainers to thank for the publication of these marvellous pictures tonight. They belonged to the late Zena Arthur, musician and organist at St Lawrence's Church in York. She died about five years ago.

Recently Mrs Arthur's friend Ivy Eden, known to Radio York listeners as one half of the Ivy and Ada duo, was asked to help clear out Mrs Arthur's home on Stockton Lane and she came across a collection of old photographs of York. These were among them.

"We used to go around entertaining together," Mrs Eden recalled of her friendship with Mrs Arthur. "I used to do the dialect and she would lead the sing-along on her accordion.

"She was a brilliant musician and an exceptional character."

At one point, Mrs Arthur was a member of Ted Levitt's Dance Band.

Mrs Eden remembered with a smile how her friend's driving was "notorious". "We were coming up from Malton to Whitwell Hill and she said, 'I think I've left my glasses on the piano'. She did a U-turn immediately.

"Another time she reversed into a brand new Rolls Royce. She said: 'I thought I heard someone pipping.'"

Mrs Eden, who lives in Huntington, York, has no idea why Mrs Arthur had these marvellous pictures of tailors Isaac Walton in her possession.

Isaac Walton served his apprenticeship in his uncle's drapery shop in Hartlepool before opening his first store in London in 1878. A branch in Newcastle followed.

The York outlet was a popular business for more than 70 years.

The men bought their business suits and other formal wear here, while the women kitted out their sons in smart school uniforms for the new term. It was the sole supplier of school clothes for Archbishop Holgate's and Nunthorpe, among others.

These pictures take us back to near the beginning of the Isaac Walton story. It was established at the start of the last century in a building that took in numbers 9, 10 and 11 Pavement, and joined up at right angles with 39 and 40 Parliament Street. In other words it occupied roughly the same space as Marks & Spencer today.

Its eye-catching window display of hats, hats and more hats was a familiar sight for many years.

In one of the photographs the shop's facade is decked out in bunting, with a Union Flag flying. In front of the windows is a horse-drawn float on which pose soldiers in various uniforms. More soldiers can be seen sitting on the first floor balcony.

It is obviously a celebration of some sort, but of what? Could it be an early store promotion, or perhaps connected to victory in the Boer War in 1902? If anyone knows the answer, please contact Chris Titley on (01904) 653051 ext 337 or write to me at The Evening Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York YO1 9YN.

Among the other businesses on Pavement at the time of Isaac Walton's opening were: William Dove & Sons, ironmonger; the Yorkshire Agricultural Club; W Elsworth, bookmaker; J R Wood, solicitor and York coroner; Montague Folkard, chemist; John J Hunt, the brewers and wine merchants; D Melia and Co, tea merchants; and Isaac Poad & Sons, corn and potato merchants. And the Golden Fleece pub was there and is still going strong today.

On Parliament Street, you could find the York Union Bank, where Barclays stands today, and the National Telephone Co public call office.

The second Isaac Walton picture is taken in a different location. It appears to be a stall at an agricultural show, possibly in Driffield. That would account for the heavy promotion of riding suits in the window (riding breeches, made to measure, 30 shillings).

"It's a well known fact," the notice states at the bottom of the window, "that our reputation for style and workmanship cannot be surpassed; details to the minutest particular being our principal feature enables us to arrive at perfection of fit and finish."

By the 1930s, Walton's advertising was a little snappier: "Best value, best style, best choice. For hosiery, underclothing, shirts, collars, gloves, ties, hats, caps, umbrellas, bags, boxes, rugs, dressing gowns etc at popular prices."

Isaac Walton, a York family firm, was also in London and Newcastle, the advert revealed.

In the 1930s the shop moved from its Parliament Street location. It briefly took premises at the top of Fossgate, before switching to Lendal House, Lendal - where Burn & Co, solicitors, can be found today.

There it stayed until 1961 when it moved into the new shopping centre at Spurriergate. It was still a family business with Richard and John Walton joint managing directors.

The firm thrived for another decade. But in 1973 when its lease expired, Isaac Walton, tailors and outfitters, closed its doors for the last time.

"Shop window dummies fetched up to £11 in Spurriergate, York, when the contents of the former York branch of Isaac Walton & Co Ltd, outfitters, went under the hammer," was the sad obituary in the Evening Press.