HERE'S a photograph to make you sit up and take notice.

Taken in 1907 from the stretch of the city wall that runs beside Station Road the photo (above) shows, on the left, York's 'new' railway station - and, on the right, the 'old' one where the city council offices now are.

The 'old' station (actually York's second) was built inside the city walls in 1841, while the 'new' station (the one we use today) was built just outside the walls in 1877.

When this photograph was taken in 1907, however, both old and new stations were clearly in use at the same time. You can see the steam rising from an engine pulling out of the old station and preparing to head out through the breach in the walls.

This photograph, and the others here today, were supplied to us by Ivan Martin of YAYAS, the Yorkshire Architectural and York Archaeological Society. They are part of a collection of 140-or-so photographs that Ivan often uses when giving talks about York's history.

We will use many of them in coming weeks. Today, including the one of the two stations, we have seven for you.

The others show:

Goods wagons parked inside the city walls, before 1860

York Press:

The photograph was taken by J Beckett 20 years or so before the breach was knocked though the city walls at Station Road in 1876 and the 'new' station was completed in 1877. The view along the walls to the Minster is still a hugely popular one today, but looked very different when this picture was taken more than 150 years ago. The old station would have been to the right of the photograph.

Lendal Bridge, c1870

York Press:

Another photograph taken before the breach was knocked through the city wall at Station Road.

Aerial view of Clifford's Tower and York Prison, taken in the 1920s

York Press:

There was something of a craze for taking aerial photos in the 1920s, says Ivan: sometimes from aircraft, sometimes from balloons. This one gives a particularly good view of the entire walled prison compound. Clifford's Tower stands to one side, while next to it is the prison, cell blocks radiating out from the governor's house in the centre.

Look carefully at the Eye of York, and you can see that two tennis courts have been set up on the grass. People are actually playing on the right-hand court, while a small cluster of people watch them from the left hand side. We've included a close-up so you can see for yourself (below).

York Press:

Who knew that the Eye of York was once used for tennis courts? Any more information, anyone?

Cattle pens on Barbican Road, c 1925

York Press:

The cattle pens were obviously for the cattle market just across the road. There are a couple of other interesting things about this photo, though, says Ivan. You can see the worn patch on the grass of the mound rising up to the walls - that's where children used to play. There's also a well-worn footpath running along the mound just below the wall. And rising above the wall from the houses on the other side is a row of early telegraph poles.

Foss Basin, c1906/7

York Press:

Several barges are moored up in the basin. The walls of the crown court are visible to the left, while in the distance you can just see Leetham's Mill.

Skeldergate, 1892

York Press:

Skeldergate is flooded in this photo - the people gathered front right are looking out across the flood waters, just the way people do today. The large warehouses on the other side of the flooded street show a clearly Dutch-influenced style - that was quite common in York at the time, says Ivan. The big sign on the Dutch-influenced building seems to say 'Halliwell & Co', though the rest of the lettering is illegible.

  • The Yorkshire Architectural and York Archaeological Society (YAYAS) has been promoting and protecting the history, heritage and architecture of York and Yorkshire since 1842. You can find out more about the organisation by visiting www.yayas.org.uk