THERE are worse places to wait for the ferry than on the steps beside York's historic Barker Tower...

We don't know who the gentleman in the top hat is, but the photograph was taken by the renowned early photographer William Pumphrey in October 1852.

The tower was built in the 1300s as part of York's medieval defences. A great iron chain was stretched across the River Ouse between it and Lendal Tower on the opposite, eastern bank of the river, and boatmen wanting to navigate the river had to pay a toll to get across.

This part of the river also became a popular ferry crossing point. According to the History of York website, the tower was leased for long periods to various ferrymen (and at least one woman) who ran passengers across the Ouse here right up until January 1863, when Lendal Bridge was opened. The very last ferryman, John Leeman, was apparently given a horse and cart by public subscription, presumably so that he could continue to go on earning a living.

Our second photograph of Barker Tower dates from about 1860 - ie just a few short years before Lendal Bridge opened. The Yorkshire Architectural and York Archaeological Society (YAYAS), from whose archive this photograph comes, attributes it to 'Knowles' - presumably John Ward Knowles, the York stained glass maker with premises in Stonegate who was also a keen photographer. The 'Ebor Works' premises on the right of the photograph, behind the row of handcarts, belonged to S. Varvill, who was a wholesale ironmonger and iron and steel manufacturer.

Both these photographs, together with the others on these pages today, comes from the YAYAS archive.

The other photographs show:

- A train puffing out of the city from near the old railway station inside the city walls. York's 'modern' railway station opened in 1877, but the tracks into the old station remained in use for several decades as carriage storage space, so it is hard to date this image precisely

- an old-style motorised fire tender outside what looks like the York women's prison (now part of the Castle Museum). Again, the date of this photograph is not certain, but it looks as though it could be 1930s. The engine's registration number is VY5444

- Low Petergate crammed with horse-drawn delivery carts in about 1900 - proof that congestion didn't only arrive with the motor car...

- Fossgate in about 1905, with Calpine's printing office prominent in the foreground. The next shop down belonged to T Welburn & Son, of York and Warthill, 'growers of fruit and garden produce'. The street remains very much a foodie street to this day

- Queen Street in about 1910, before it was widened, looking up towards Blossom Street in the distance.

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