Another Milladdio - The Habit - Goodramgate

Just over the road from the Chinese Shop is a shop called The Habit. The sign hanging outside it is another Milladdio piece which I find full of humour. Unfortunately, because of the scaffolding, I had to photograph it from the reverse side. If you click through to the photo on Picasa and enlarge you will see that the signature is reversed as a result.

Chinese Shop Sign - Goodramgate

Earlier this month I did a post on York artist Milladdio, this is one of his works hanging in Goodramgate for your admiration. The picture is signed along the strip at pavement level of the picture under the window. Click on the picture for a closer look in my Picasa web album or better still see the picture on Milladdio's website. It is quite different to most of his other work as there are no people with large heads in the picture!

The Chinese Shop - Goodramgate

Wonderful timber framed building in Goodramgate is the Chinese Shop. Notice the colourful shop sign hanging over the door. More on that tomorrow.

Tree growing in wall - Holy Trinity Goodramgate

I always think it is a bit sad how neglect can set in, I'm not sure what visitors think as they approach this lovely old church from Petergate down the alleyway and are greeted with a tree growing in the gated wall. If they get in touch I'll take a ladder down and have a go at wire brushing out the mortar on top of the wall to get rid of bits of growth and maybe even remove the tree to grow it on as a Bonsai!

Jewellery Shop - Petergate

Before it was a jewellery shop many years ago I can remember when this shop was a gun and camera shop, strange combination I know. I bought my first SLR in this building, a Practika Nova, the one before the Nova B. In the bag of the shop they had a shooting range for customers to try out the guns. I think the owner moved from here to the chandlers shop at Linton Locks but maybe my memory is playing tricks on me as I can't remember the name of the owner.

L'Occitane

Just could not resist this one, visitors from the Orient, are they admiring the paint job or just looking in the shop window.

Culpeppers - Petergate

Culpeppers is the shop not the people in the photograph, unless by some strange coincidence they are Culpeppers!

Corner of Stonegate and Petergate

The markings on the pillar just above the heads of the pedestrians reads ANO DO 1646 indicating the building was erected in 1646 AD. That makes it a very old building indeed! The building is situated at the corner of Stonegate and Petergate just a stones throw from the Minster.

Jigsaw - Stonegate

Man Walking Down Coffee Yard - Stonegate

Teddy Bear Shop and Tea Room

Situated on the corner of Stonegate and Little Stonegate the Teddy Bear shop probably has appeal for some though not for me at the moment as my lads have grown up and there are no signs of me becoming a grandad yet.

At The Back of Stonegate

Sadly, some of the buildings that look fine from the front in Stonegate are terribly neglected at the back. Probably accountants squeezing the last penny out and neglecting maintenance! Off Stonegate is an alleyway called Hornbeam Alley where this building is located. The guttering is old wooden and rotting with grass growing in it. When it rains the gutter overflows down the wall resulting in green mossy growth around the window. The top section of down piep into the hopper is missing but the gutter seems to be blocked there so water is not running down the walls above the downpipe. Fortunately the flashing above the bay window is still intact keeping moisture out from the window. What a sad sight!

The Punch Bowl - Stonegate

The Punch Bowl in Stonegate ranks amongst the most picturesque with the wonderful display of flower baskets and the intricate carving on timber facing on the building. Like a lot of public houses nowadays it does a good range of food in addition to a good range of beers.

Crabtree and Evelyn - Stonegate

Compare and contrast yesterday's photo with Crabtree and Evelyn just a couple of doors down the road in Stonegate. The white square with blue border, blue glass with the etched stars that allow the light to shine through, the bright light shining through the patterned, leaded windows and the luxurious blue of the paintwork all say "please come into my shop".

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!

Boyes Store - Goodramgate

Boyes is one of those shops in town with fairly low prices and has always been a good value for money shop. I understand it has a good fabric section that my wife often visits. Years ago the store used to be located in building just over the river next to Ouse Bridge. The building was old and the interior decoration was best described as a bit tacky giving the shop a run down feel that used to put people off entering the place. This shop though has none of that old tacky atmosphere and is pleasant inside and stocks a wide range of items.

Old White Swan - Goodramgate

The Old White Swan in Goodramgate should not and in fact cannot really be confused with the eyesore in Piccadily which is the White Swan Hotel. The Old White Swan is clean and tidy and a fully functioning public house serving a range of good beers and serving food. Just under the arch is a covered over yard where you can sit and enjoy your beer and food almost al fresco but protected from any inclement weather by a glass canopy.

Autumn Colours - City Walls

I just could not resist the autumn colours of the trees next to Layerthorpe postern and the walls at the start of Jewbury as you come off Foss Islands Bridge.

Peejay Pet Store - Layerthotpe

My wife calls this place "The Big Rabbit Hutch" it used to be a pub called the "Frog Hall". Sadly along Layerthorpe the two pubs have shut. The other one was the "John Bull" was demolished some years ago to make way for what can only be described as a big tin shed car saleroom.

Cloud Pattern over River Foss

Looking downstream from Foss Islands Bridge I was struck by this wonderful cloud pattern in the sky. The tall chimney stands next to Morisons and was part of the York Power Station. The generating hall used to stand where Staples and Halfords now stands. You can just make out the red sign for Staples beside the lamp standard in the centre of the photo.

Ware and Kay Solicitors

For a modern building I always think this does not look too bad. I particularly like the clock with the red face which can be seen in the topmost window on the right of the photograph. The building stands by the lights at Foss Islands Junction.

Woolpack House - Peaseholme Green

Now used as a medical centre for the Jorvik Medical Practice this building used to be a public house run by Cameron's brewery. The pub was known as The Woolpack hence the name of Woolpack House. For some reason Cameron's beer was not well liked in York although the Strongarm beer was popular with those that drank it most of the Bitter was undrinkable as it was not well kept by most pubs.

York Observatory - Museum Gardens

Continuing on the topic of the Museum Gardens this is a small observatory set up in the Museum Gardens.

Inside the Multangular Tower

The multangular tower also stands in the Museum Gardens but can be accesed via the gate at the side of the library or by walking through St. Leonard's Hospital.

St. Leonard's Hospital

The old St. Leonard's Hospital stands inside the museum gardens, this view is from beside the library. The building date sback to the 13th century and was once the largest hospital in northern England.

York Artist - Milladdio

After our allotment social evening a few of us went on to the Tap and Spile for a bit of folk music. I got in to conversation with an interesting young man and his partner. He handed me one of his artworks in postcard format which I agreed to show on this blog. His work is fascinating and often includes scenes of York in the background. The Tap and Spile features in one or two of his works which can be viewed on his website.

Retrace Route Round the Walls

A new idea at each entry point to the walls is this RETRACE plaque. Place a sheet of paper over the rectangle and rub in the brass rubbing style and when you have been all the way round you should have a complete joined up rubbing of the route around the walls. You should just about be able to make out the raised section in the top right hand corner of the plaque. I see that the idea has been funded by the National Lottery, wonder if they would make a grant to the "fund for prevention of dehydration of morris men" to prevent Ebor Morris drying out when they do the dance tour of the walls ;-))

Foss Islands Junction - From the Walls

This junction used to strike fear into the hearts of learner drivers, maybe it still does. the junction was a mess of multiple junctions and narrow hump back bridges and was a favourite of driving test examiners as it sometimes meant you didn't have to work in a hill start if you stopped on one of the hump back bridges. The building in the right hand foreground is Ware & Kay Solicitors with Allied Carpets in middle background. As is usual when you are waiting for a bus there are three buses in a row, two Coastliners and a First Bus going over the bridge, not that I was waiting for one!

Quilt Museum Garden - Bit more built

Progress seems to be slow on this garden, this was the scene last July, it will be interesting to see it planted up, presumably next spring.

View Over Rooftops of Aldwark

Two ugly buildings for the price of one! Dominating the view over the rooftops of Aldwark from the city walls is Hilary House, almost as ugly Stonebow House in the background. When considering ugly buildings most people in York forget about Hilary House which looks down one of nicest streets, St. Saviourgate. Several of my "Doors within the walls" photographs are of doors in St. Saviourgate. I suppose that it could be perversely argued that the houses in Hunts Court were not designed in sympathy with their surroundings of Hilary House which predates the houses in the foreground. I would place Hilary House as the third most ugly building in the city.

Lovely Bow Windows

I have often admired this well proportioned house at the end of Jewbury where St Maurice road starts. I particularly like the bay windows and the ornate architrave of the door. The photograph was taken from the walls on the section between Monk Bar and Foss Islands.