REGARDING your report (The Press, July 24) about the puzzle of how a sailing ship passed York bridges to moor at King’s Staith - Skeldergate Bridge at the time of the photograph had a section that lifted to allow vessels with masts to get to the unloading staiths.

In this photo, as I remember, it was a replica pirate ship used in films. The lifting part of the bridge was on the St George’s side of the river. The small tower (now a cafe) was the lift mechanism and toll house.

The council closed the lifting part in I think the 1970s as there was little marine traffic using it.

Over the years the road surface was replaced and the surface waterproofed with bitumen.

Bob Allison, Hawthorn Grove, Heworth, York