WE'VE dug some great old photos of some of your favourite York pubs out of our archives. Some are still with us, others sadly long since disappeared. See which ones you remember.

First up is a series of photographs take in the early 1930s by amateur photographer Edwin Lofthouse. Mr Lofthouse recorded all of the public houses, hotels and off-licences in York owned by John Smiths. And as well as providing an unforgettable glimpse of some of the best pubs of the 1930s, his collection also offers a window on the life of the city back then.

All the Edwin Lofthouse photos here were taken in 1935. They show:

  • The Falcon Inn in Micklegate. The effigy of a falcon can be clearly seen above the first floor window. Reinhard's ladies' outfitters is two doors to the left with a car parked outside

York Press:

The Falcon, Micklegate, 1935

 

  • The Red Lion Hotel on Merchantgate. The tram lines and overhead wires are clearly visible as the street curves into Piccadilly in the foreground.

York Press:

Red Lion, Merchantgate, 1935

 

  • The Old George Hotel on Fossgate. The layout of this area of the city was very different to what we know today. This part of Fossgate was demolished in 1953 to make way for The Stonebow and to allow traffic to pass more easily through the city – previously through traffic had used St Saviourgate.

York Press:

Old George Hotel, Fossgate, 1935

 

  • Lawrence Street in 1935 showing the Waggon and Horses with Walmgate Bar in the distance.

York Press:

Waggon and Horses, Lawrence Street, 1935

 

  • A busy scene in St Sampson's Square showing The Mail Coach Inn before its alteration and refurbishment. On the left is the Black Bull Hotel.

York Press:

The Mail Coach Inn, St Sampson's Square, 1935. The Black Bull is on the left

 

Other old pub photos we've dug out of our archives include:

  • a 1980 photograph of the Red Lion at Haxby

York Press:

Red Lion, Haxby, 1980

 

  • a view of The Flag and Whistle in Huntington when it was still being built in 1982

York Press:

Under construction: Flag and Whistle, Huntington, in 1982

 

  • an interior shot from November 1989 showing Gordon and Lynn Watkins, landlords of the Ebor Inn in Bishopthorpe, who had raised money at their bonfire night for the restoration of the village hall. We assume the children in the photo were not being served alcohol..

York Press:

Gordion and Lynn Watkins at the Ebor Inn, Bishopthorpe, 1989

 

And finally, we have a lovely photo from July 1987 showing Sid and Jenny Spencer of the White Swan, Newton upon Rawcliffe, who retired after 18 years in charge of the pub. That was more than 28 years ago, but we bet there are still some locals who remember the pub in their days...

York Press:

Sid and Jenny Spencer of The White Swan, Newton upon Rawcliffe, July 1987

 

  • If you have any stories/old photos you would like to share with us, please email them to stephen.lewis@thepress.co.uk or call 01904 567263.

Please do NOT send original photos by post or bring them in by hand – we would hate them to get lost or damaged. If you can’t scan the photos, contact us and we will arrange to do so.