View from Queenstaith to Kingstaith

From Queenstaith over the River Ouse you can see the buildings along Queenstaith. In the far left is the King's Arms pub famous for being flooded when the river rises. The building was originally built as a customs house for when ships travelled up the Ouse to York. It was known as the Ouse Bridge Inn before succumbing to being rebranded as the King's ArmsOn the far right of the picture is the Lowther Hotel, another public house. Cumberland Street runs uphill next to the Lowther.

Unloading Gantry - Queenstaith

Now derelict, the gantry forms a frame for Skeldergate Bridge in the background. At one time there were numerous warehouses along Queenstaith and Skeldergate serving the river traffic of goods. Nowadays most of the warehouses have either been converted into apartments or knocked down and replaced with large apartment buildings or been converted to some other use.

Lowther Hotel - Viewed from Queenstaith

The river is running serenely at about normal level and a gull has just wheeled into the frame in the bottom left completely spoiling the composition.

Carr's Lane - Bishophill to Skeldergate

This picturesque cobbled lane runs between the Golden Ball on Bishophill down to Skeldergate. There is an explanatory plaque on the wall with a brief history of the lane. It should not be confused with the similarly named Carr Lane in Acomb.

Text of the plaque .......
Formerly known as Le Kirke Lane, Kirk Lane or Kirkgail (13th century)

Later renamed Carr's Lane, possibly because John Carr, distinguished architect and Lord Mayor of York lived in a large residence on the north east corner of the lane.

The Old Rectory - Victor Street

This is another building I have not found any information about yet but it seemed a very striking building to me as I walked along Victor Street in Bishophill area. Looks like I'll have to do some digging.

Imposing Building Near Victoria Bar

I don't know what this building was originally, it seems to shout "Unitarian Chapel" at me but I honestly don't know. Even today I am not sure what it is used for but suspect from the number of doorbells at the entrance that it is probably now a block of flats or apartments if you want me to be a bit more posh!

Opposite the Victoria Vaults is Victoria Bar, how many of you thought it was another pub when I mentioned it in yesterday's blog? In York, bars are gates and gates are streets, easy when you get used to it but confusing when you are not. Entry and exit through the bar is controlled with a card operated rising bollard which was installed to stop cars rat running through the Bishophill area.

Victoria Vaults - Nunnery Lane

Just a little further on from the Trafalgar Bay is another Public House known as the Victoria Vaults, almost facing Victoria Bar. I am not sure how old the building is but has a very similar structure to Woolpack House in Peaseholme Green.

Trafalgar Bay - Nunnery Lane

Running at right angles to Blossom Street and Micklegate is Nunnery Lane which runs down the side of the convent. Just beyond the convent is the Trafalgar Bay public house. The nuns seem to be well served with public houses with the Windmill opossite them on Blossom Street, The Punch Bowl across the Junction in Micklegate and The Trafalgar Bay more or less on the back doorstep, not that I have ever seen any nuns in any of them!

Bar Convent - Blossom Street

Standing on the other side of the junction to the Punch Bowl in Blossom Street is the Bar Convent. There used to be a school associated with the convent but got swallowed up when secondary education in York was streamlined with all the Roman Catholic schools being brought under one umbrella. The convent has a small museum and Cafe both of which are open Monday to Friday from 10:00 until 16:00.

Wetherspoons Punch Bowl - Micklegate

Standing on the junction of Micklegate and Blossom Street is one of the pubs known as The Punch Bowl. There is also a Punch Bowl in Stonegate and used to be one on the Corner of Haxby Road and Lowther Street which change dnames to the Independent some years ago. To tell them apart you always mentioned their location when talking about them.

Citizens Advice Bureau - Micklegate

This building nestling in the shadow of Micklegate bar has seen several uses over the years, I can remember when I first left school (many years ago now) it was the Youth Employment Centre. The Citizens Advice Bureau has been here though for a good number of years.

Recently there was a problem with the management of the service and all the volunteers walked out. Following an enquiry and the resignation of a manager the volunteers have now returned to work.

St Sampson's Church - Church Street

Like a lot of the churches in the city centre St Sampson's is no longer used as a church. Nowadays, it is used as a centre for over 60s. The church stands in Church Street next to St Sampson's Square and the market can be accessed from either end of the church down Patrick Pool or Silver Street.

British Heart Foundation - Furniture and Electrical

In the last few days the British Heart Foundation has opened up a furniture and electrical shop in Piccadily. It is situated next to Dave Dee's Banana Warehouse so it is inevitably going to provide some competition for him. It is amazing what a new sign and a lick of paint has done for this rather run down corner.

Ice factor - Eye of York

For the winter season the Eye of York has been transformed into a skating ring. For those not familiar with York, the Eye is located next to the Castle Museum and Clifford's Tower. This photo was taken from the steps of Clifford's Tower.

Carved Wooden Indian - Petergate

For those of you intrigued by yesterday's wooden Indian here he is in situ. For anyone still not sure where he is, you can find him in Petergate close to the junction with Goodramgate and Church Street just a couple of doors from Poundland where everything costs a pound, no need to ask, even if it might only cost 99p in the shop next door!

Carved Wooden Indian

I am sure this carved wooden Indian used to stand on the pavement outside this shop and had a sign board in his right hand and cigars in his left hand. Back in those days I am sure the shop was a herbalist shop that also sold products from the London Rubber Company. Don't ask me the connection between herbs and London Rubber Company; I can't think of one! See tomorrows blog for the location of this particular ornamentation.

Continental Beer Cafe - Patrick Pool

Opposite Ernie Roy's electrical shop in Patrick is this wonderful black and white timbered building which houses a cafe selling a range of continental beers.

Ernie roy's Electrical Shop - Patrick Pool

I'm a bit late today with my posting, ran out of scheduled posts and had to dash into town to take a few photos for the next few days.

In these modern days of multiple retailers it is good to see small independent specialist retailers still survive. Ernie Roy has had a shop in Patrick Pool next to Newgate Market as long as I can remember. I must be getting old as I have used that phrase several times recently! I have even managed to catch a customer entering the shop in this photo, though it is not hard to do. It is always a busy shop and whenever I have been in I have had to join the queue to be served. Inside is a veritable alladin's cave of electrical equipment, well worth a visit as they probably have that part you want to do that repair you have been saying "it just needs a ......... and it will be right as rain". The last item I bought there was a small toggle switch to repair a desk lamp and was able to purchase it over the counter.

Doors within the walls 23 - St Michael Le Belfrey Church

I have waited for months to get an oppurtunity to photograph this door without a vehicle parked in front of it or them being open. St. Michael Le Belfrey stands in the shadow of York Minster but is an interesting church in its own right despite it being ignored by most visitors who are making their way to the Minster.

Pedestrian and cycle tunnel by Railway Museum

This is a tunnel that a lot of visitors to the railway museum will use on their way to the National Railway Museum. It passes under the York to Scarborough railway line just before the line crosses the River Ouse over Scarborough Bridge.

Buskers - Coppergate Centre

Two of the better buskers you can see around York playing folk music. Stuart and Paul also often turn up to the Friday night session at the Tap and Spile in Monkgate. Note the little yellow ticket in the fiddle case, this shows that they are approved by the city council to perform as buskers in York.

St. Lawrence Church - Lawrence Street

St. Lawrence Church is a large Victorian Gothic building built in 1888 in the grounds of an older smaller church. All that remains of the older church that was demolished when the present church was built, is the tower. The present church dwarfs the old tower which has remained consecrated.

Waggon and Horses - Lawrence Street

On a wet and rainy afternoon there is probably no more welcoming site than a good pub. This is a good pub as well, The Waggon and Horses in Lawrence Street. It has recently been refurbished and opend up as a Bateman's house and also sells a range of interesting guest beers. For visitors to York it also provides accomodation.

Going

The York Wheel is now being dismantled and moved to another town. All the pods have been removed and the structure is being dismantled.

In just a few days it will have completely gone. Talks are going on though about the possibility of a new one being erected in North Street Gardens.

Roof Adornment - DEFRA - Peaseholme Green

Adding a roof adornment helps to make an otherwise plain government building a little more interesting. DEFRA moved to this building which replaced an old run down factory owned by engineering firm Adams Hydraulics some years ago.

St Saviours Church Tower - St Saviourgate

This church is now used as an archaeological visitor centre called DIG . You can just see some autumn colour on the tree on the right behind the tower strikingly lit by the low autumn sun.

Lantern Tower - All Saints - Pavement

This is a very striking lantern tower on All Saints church at the junction of Pavement and Coppergate. Yes, I am still playing with my new toy!

Tom Adams Cats - Kings Square

I did a post some time ago on Kings Square in which I included a photo of one of the buildings which has a model cat on the ridge line of the roof. Having treated myself to a long phthalic looking telephoto last week I took a close up view of the cat.

The netting over the cat is to stop pigeons perching and leaving messages on the sculpture which also includes a sculpted pigeon to give the appearance of the cat stalking a pigeon.