The winter of 1894-95 was a cold one. A very cold one. So cold, in fact, that many climatologists came to refer to it as the 'end of the Little Ice Age'.

It was the culmination of ten harsh winters in Britain. Between February 5 and February 14, 1895, the average temperature in Wakefield, not too far away, sank to an icy -12.7 degrees C. Across Yorkshire, rivers, lakes and ponds froze solid.

Among them was the River Ouse. And, thanks to the Yorkshire Architectural and York Archaeological Society (YAYAS), we have a wonderful photograph from that winter, showing just what the Ouse looked like.

York Press:

Skating on the River Ouse, 1895. Photo: YAYAS

The photograph was taken from King's Staith looking down towards Skeldergate Bridge. It shows boats and barges apparently frozen in place in the river, and crowds of people playing and skating on the ice. Another crowd of onlookers - less bold, perhaps? - watch them from the safety of South Esplanade.

The photograph, like the others on these pages today, was given to us by Ivan Martin of YAYAS. It is one of a number of images of old York that he uses when giving his regular talks.

The other photographs supplied by Ivan today show:

The River Ouse in 1933

York Press:

The photographs was taken from the Ouse Bridge, looking towards Lendal Bridge.  on the left-hand side were subsequently demolished as part of a clearance that enable the Viking Hotel (now the Park Inn) to be built. The chimney in the distance may have belonged to the Rowntree Cocoa Works, which were bombed in 1942.

A drawing by T Hearne showing Micklegate Bar and St Thomas's Hospital, probably in the early 1820s

York Press:

Micklegate Bar still had its Barbican at the time Mr Hearne drew this scene. The barbican was demolished in 1826, according to Ivan Martin, so the drawing provides an interesting glimpse of how the bar might have looked before then.

According to A History of the County of York, St Thomas' Hospital, outside Micklegate bar, was founded some time before 1391 'for the maintenance of poor persons of either sex... and especially for hospitality by day or night of all poor travellers and sick poor passing through York'.

In 1478, the building was passed to the Gild of Corpus Christi, and then in 1582 to the recorder and town clerk of York to be 'employed to the mayntenaunce and relief of the poore'. Wool merchants trading with Holland brought back Dutch styles with them, so the Dutch appearance of part of the building was probably the result of that, says Ivan Martin.

Bootham Bar in 1911

York Press:

This seems to be a postcard. The early motorcar pictured driving through the bar also features in a number of other postcards from about the same time, Ivan Martin says.

The wooden shelter to the far left of the photograph would have been a stop for horse-drawn carts - there is a horse trough in front of it, which seems to be being filled with water.

Just to the left of the shelter, behind the lamppost, can be seen a small wooden structure leaning against the wall. This would have been a men's toilet, Mr Martin says. By the time this photo was taken, it had a roof - but that had not always been the case. The late Hugh Murray once told Mr Martin an amusing story about this toilet. 'Ladies of ill repute' used to gather on the stairs above the toilet and watch the men doing their business below. Following a number of complaints, the toilet was finally roofed over.

Jubbergate in about 1920

York Press:

The tower of Holy Trinity Church in King's Square - which was demolished in 1937 - can just about be seen in the background.

Market Street, York, in about 1920

York Press:

The lamp visible on the left hand side of the street is typical of the Victorian gaslights which were installed around the city, Mr Martin says. They were attached to the outside of buildings in such a way that the light could shine into the shops.

Holgate Windmill, seen probably from Holgate Road in 1925

York Press:

The mill dates from 1770, but in the 1930s, following storm damage, the city council had the sails and the fantail removed. This photo was clearly taken before that had happened. An advert for Acomb Show posted on a fence to the left of the photograph has the date 1925 on it, so the photo may well have been taken in 1925 or 1926.

Stephen Lewis

  • The Yorkshire Architectural and York Archaeological Society (YAYAS) has been promoting and protecting the history, heritage and architecture of York and Yorkshire since 1842. You can find out more about the organisation by visiting www.yayas.org.uk