Views of York - Life on the river (From York Press)

Views of York - Life on the river

8:21am Tuesday 12th June 2012 in History articles

HENRY Barlow Carter painted this view a number of times, writes Peter Brown in his catalogue to the Views Of York exhibition at Fairfax House, where this painting is on loan from a private collection.

An earlier version of the view, dating from 1840, shows a taller Lendal Tower, with a water tank on top. The tank was part of John Smeaton’s system for pumping water around the city.

In 1846, however, the New York Waterworks Company took over the businesses and moved the waterworks to Acomb Landing.

“The tank was then removed and architect GT Andrews was employed to create a medieval appearance, giving it this crenellated parapet,” writes Peter.

“Across the river, Simpson’s Flour Mill is in operation, if evidence of smoke from the chimney is an indicator. Between Barker Tower and Lendal Tower a successful ferry operated, moving around 250,000 passengers each year. However, it would operate for only ten more years after this view, being replaced by Lendal Bridge in 1863.”

• The exhibition runs at Fairfax House until August 31. To find out more, visit the York Civic Trust website, yorkcivictrust.co.uk