Olio & Farina

Oil and wheat starch! The name just doesn't work as well in English as it does in Italian. This new delicattessan and shop is in part of the former House and Sons building.

Banks Music Shop - Lendal

I was thinking the other day that Banks Music has been around York for long time, I remember it when it was in Blake Street on the corner of Stonegate and my aunt from Canada bought my brother and I our very first guitar as a Christmas present. Looking at the signage above the door I see that it was established in 1756 so has been going for a really long time. Other music shops have come and gone over the years but Banks manages to stay in business.

Museum Chambers

The Museum Chambers building on the corner of Blake Street and Museum Street has finally had the wraps removed to appear spruced up after being shrouded for several months whilst it was sandblasted.

Lakeland Shop - Blake Street / Stonegate Corner

Since this entranceway was painted black I feel that this shop has lost the welcoming charm it had when it was painted blue and cream when it was occupied by Banks' music shop. It seems a shame to me that the paint job was not sensitive to the ornate carved Victoriana and that more of design was not picked out in a different colour. I suppose the paint job had an attack of "the accountants" when it was planned as it would have cost more to make the entrance more welcming. Probably a case of penny wise and pound foolish!

Antiques Centre - Duncombe Place

The Antiques Centre is at the junction of Duncombe Place, Blake Street, Museum Street and St Leonard's. In the left hand background you can see the St. Leonard's building. To the right is the stage door of the theatre.

Doors within the walls 13 - Georgian building next to Bank Blake Street

The solicitors in this building have moved and the name plates next to the pillars have been removed.

TSB St. Helen's Square, Blake Street

Standing next to Swarovski on the corner of St. Helen's Square and Blake Street is the imposing facade of a branch of TSB. I remember this building as the Yorkshire Penny Bank and the Penny being droppped during inflationary times to become Yorkshire Bank before being taken over by Llooyds TSB.

Bracket Clock - Blake Street

This clock hangs above an employment agency in Blake Street opposite the Assembly Rooms. The word HOUSE on the face of the clock refers to the previous occupants of the building; House & Sons an electrical retailer and repairer. The Mediaeval timber framed origins of the building are well disguised with a brick facade having been added during Georgian times. House and Sons started in Stonegate in 1903 and moved into Blake Street in 1924. They also had a shop in Goodramgate with premises that ran back into Ogleforth where their registered office was at number 4. The business closed in autumn of 2004 as competition in the electrical business became cut-throat and margins declined.

St Wilfred's - Duncombe Place

This view of St Wilfred's is taken from the same place that the "Minster viewed over rooftops" photo was taken. The red brick building with the tall chimneys in the middleground is Grays' solicitors on the corner of Duncombe Place and Blake Street.

View over rooftops to York Minster

York minster in juxtaposition on the horizon against the red brick and pantiles of the buildings in between. For thos of you trying to work out the location of where the shot was taken the only clue I'll give is "Blake Street".