WE have another great gallery of photographs from the collection of the Yorkshire Architectural and York Philosophical Society (YAYAS) today (see gallery, top) - starting with two pictures of the old Rowntree railway.

There is no date on the photographs. But if you look closely, you can see that the name on the side of the small tank locomotive in one of the photos is the Newton. According to The Rowntree Society, the Newton was bought in 1895 from TA Walker of the Manchester Shipping Canal to shunt coal at the factory. So the photographs must date from between 1895 and 1909, when Rowntree's bought their first new engine, Locomotive No 2.

York Press:

Loco The Newton on the Rowntree railway. Photo: YAYAS

The railway linked the Rowntree's factory to the Foss Island branch of the North Eastern Railway. By 1895, when the Newton was bought to replace an earlier second-hand locomotive, the Marshall, Rowntree had one-and-a-half miles of standard gauge track, the Rowntree Society says.

Next up is a stunning photograph showing the old Monk's fishpond at the bottom of Marygate, taken in wintertime. Again, there's no date. But the photograph was one of many donated to YAYAS from the collection of Dr William Evelyn, the great champion of York's heritage, so must date from the early 1900s.

Fishponds were commonly associated with abbeys, providing a source of fresh fish for the monks, so this area is presumably named after a fishpond which was once used by the monks of St Mary's. But we'd love to hear from anyone who knows more.

York Press:

The Monks fishpond at the bottom of Marygate in winter. PHOTO: YAYAS

Some unusual photographs of the Minster and its associated buildings, next. The first is a photograph showing what is described simply as 'The Residence, York Minster'.

This is what is now generally known as the 'Old Deanery'. Designed by J.P. Pritchett in Tudor style, and built between 1827 and 1831, it was regarded in its day as being a very up-to-date building, as it had a hot water system. Sadly, it stood for little more than 100 years, and was demolished in 1938.

Two other photographs, taken probably at about the turn of the last century, show the Minster from the south and from the north-west. The great cathedral itself is instantly recognisable as the building we know and love today - but the setting in which it stands has changed quite a lot since these photographs were taken.

York Press:

The Old Deanery. Photo: YAYAS

And finally, we have two photographs showing a military encampment in a park near York. Again, these come from Dr Evelyn's collection, so would have been taken in the first couple of decades of the 20th century. There is nothing to indicate directly where or when, but they look to us as though they may well show the military camp at Strensall during mobilisation for the First World War. Any thoughts, anyone?

  • The Yorkshire Architectural and York Archaeological Society (YAYAS), from whose collection these photographs come, is 175 years old this month. It 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