In 1866 York held an Industrial and Fine Arts Exhibition in specially-built premises on Bootham Field.

The exhibition was opened on July 24 by the Archbishop of York, supported by the Lord Mayor, James Meek, and closed to the public on October 31, with a ceremony on November 2 after receiving 380,691 visitors.

Work on the building didn't begin until March 17, 1866. It was designed by Edward Taylor with architects JB and W Atkinson. It featured a grand central hall, two picture galleries, an annex for machinery and carriages, a room for The Fairy display - a chromatic fountain - and refreshments rooms. It was made of wood and filled with plaster panels to show off materials used.

1.The view from the exhibition grounds. The range of coats of arms painted on the plaster can be seen clearly: "The whole of the heraldry being painted in the Medieval style, the colours, all flat, strongly edged with black, agree better as an architectural feature of the building than if painted in the ordinary manner" says a souvenir from the time. The centre panel shows the royal arms. The two rows either side are the arms of the "noble patrons". On the wings of the building are heraldic emblems of the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh.

2. Part of the exhibition's interior. On the left is the stand of Wheeler and Wilson of Liverpool showing lockstitch sewing machines. "manufacturers" names under the gallery.

3.The arrangements were very grand and the decorations elaborate with painted detail, flags, banners and statuary. These "with the stained glass windows, various decorative cases and compartments, and a vast variety of ornamental goods, displayed, make the most charming coup d'oeil". The great hall and galleries contained a "valuable collection of manufactured goods, specimens of natural history, a collection of engravings, photographs and objects of antiquarian interest."

4.The triumphal wooden arch on Bootham celebrated the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales on August 10, 1866. The Yorkshire Gazette of June 16, 1900 reported: "Another triumphal erection of a Roman character formed a handsome feature across St Leonard's from the library to the then Mrs Pearson's house. The central span was 21 feet and the structure rose to a height of nearly 60 feet... The two other arches - one on Ouse Bridge, and the other near the Friend's School, in Bootham - were also very imposing in appearance."

Photographs reproduced courtesy of www.imagineyork.co.uk, a Lottery-funded project based at York Reference Library. Copies of published pictures can by obtained from Anne Wood or Helene Brown in photosales. Ring (01904) 567135, or email photosales@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 09:55 Monday, August 30, 2004