This set of old photos looks at the fascinating story of The Queen's Hotel in York.

The building, on the corner of Micklegate and Skeldergate, housed a popular pub until its closure in 1971, as well as shops.

But although the building was cherished as a fine example of 18th-century craftsmanship, it had fallen into severe disrepair, described in 1974 as severely "fractured".

City leaders agreed to its demolition - but said a replica of the building must be re-erected in its place.

The site was duly cleared, but the archaeological work on site led to more controversy.

Archaeologists faced a race against time, with developers keen to get started. But in January 1989, they found a Roman wall suggesting a significant building, and it was suggested this could even have been Eboracum's Forum.

The report accompanying one of the 1988/89 photos claims: "York's controversial Queen's Hotel site could have held the nerve-centre of the whole Roman Empire at one stage in its history, an expert has claimed."

The replacement building was completed in 1990 and now houses Sainsbury's and Langley's solicitors and Reeds Rains estate agents.