THESE old photographs show York's former garden suburb reduced to rubble following the demolition of condemned houses in the early 1960s.

The Groves - so-called because it contained rows of fruit trees and vegetable plots in Victorian times to supply the city centre market - was largely cleared of its poorer- quality properties, along with parts of Layerthorpe and Hungate.

The first image shows the demolition of condemned Coronation Street-styled houses in the Newbiggin Street and St John's Street area.

New views of the Minster were provided by the scheme in Lowther Street, clearing a way through to Townend Street, as the second picture highlights.

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Picture three shows an old truck, laden with rubble, during the demolition clear-up.

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Terraced housing in Pilgrim Street, shown in picture four, was also knocked down.

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  • This article was first published in The Evening Press in January 2002.