Minster Dominates Skyline

The Minster dominates the skyline in York but often when you are close to it you can not see it because other buildings block the viewing angle. Turks Head Court in Aldwark is one of the exceptions. The Aldwark area of York used to be a very industrialised area of the city but in the 1960s Lord Esher was commissioned by the council to review the usage of the area as it was becoming derelict and disused. Lord Esher came to the conclusion that it would be nice to create dwellings in this area. Plans were drawn up and the area created as a dwelling area. because it is a little off the normal tourist routes very few tourists go into the area except on the ghost walks. A shame really because they are missing views like this one of the Minster from Turk's Head Court.

Although the gas works in York ceased operating in York many years ago you can still see traces like the pipeline across the River Foss that carried gas from the gas works into the city. Nowadays natural gas is piped through these pipes from the pump control room in Layerthorpe. Below is a pile drill on the site of the old gas works drilling deep holes to put in foundations for buildings to be erected on the site (probably another hotel). Just beyond the drill there will be a new road linking Malton Road to James Street giving the chance to avoid the circuitous route round Foss Bank onto Foss Islands Road to Lawrence Street and Hull Road.

When I first came to York and I fractured my arm I came to this building to have it set. In those days it was the County Hospital. My recollections are not pleasant ones, I was not fully under the anaesthetic and could feel the surgeons pulling at my arm to get the bones back into position. The building itself is now yet another block of flats.

Bulmer's Now Gone

Bulmer's shop on the corner of Lord Mayor's Walk by Monk Bar is now empty, deserted and up for sale. The shop was described as a selling service. You would take your items for sale into the shop where they would be displayed and when they were sold you collected your money less a fee paid to the shop. I have heard tell that the building is to be bought bu a hotel chain and turned into yet another hotel. I am amazed at how quiet the photograph seems, I must have timed it well for there to be no traffic in the picture although it was taken at about ten o'clock in the morning.

A welcome addition to the music shops of York. The shop was set up by Steve the former owner of Mor Music which he sold on when he became tired of the "Box Shifting" aspect of selling large volumes of guitars in his shop in Walmgate. Red Cow Music covers a much wider range of interesting musical instruments. Steve has also been the sponsor of some interesting musical events in the city including a beginners and improvers  night for melodeon players in the Royal Oak. The Ebor Morris Men are also pleased with his sponsorship in getting the programmes printed for the annual Festival of Traditional Dance in September.

The York Glaziers Trust use this old building the Bedern Chapel, formerly used by the Vicars Choral of York Minster.

The magnificent door into the chapel really does lean at a slight angle away from the vertical. The trust has just completed a lengthy task with stonemasons who together have restored the ancient rose window of York Minster. The East end of the Minster is now free of scaffolding and makes a fantastic view of the Minster. The observant amongst you will have noticed in the photo of the Chapel that the lower half of the Windows have been filled with concrete. I find this rather suprising as the work of the Glaziers is concerned with glass.