York from the air - in the 1940s!

That photo prompted reader David Wilson, from Acomb, to get in touch. They were indeed allotments, he confirmed - and his dad Jock Wilson, who used to be the swordbearer at the Guildhall, had one of them.

Now Mr Wilson's wife Betty has supplied us with this wonderful aerial view of York, which dates back to the late 1940s. It must do, she says, because it has been hanging on her bedroom wall since at least 1950.

At first glance, it looks as though not much has changed since the photo was taken. But look in more detail, and you can see quite a few buildings and areas of the city that are very different now.

To help you, we include a few close-ups taken from the original photograph.

One focuses in on the area around the Eye of York - and again, you can clearly see the allotments on the circular area of land in front of what is now the Castle Museum. "We had the one facing what the Castle Museum," Mr Wilson, 84, says.

Close-up showing allotments at the Eye of York and the foundations of a never-completed council building

In the top right hand corner of that same close-up, you can clearly see the foundations of a building that is certainly not there today. "They're the foundations for a big council building that was going to be built," Mr Wilson says. We've heard rumours at Yesterday once More about this council office that never was - but it is interesting to see photographic evidence. we'd be interested to hear from anyone who knows more.

Close-up showing Clifton Aerodrome

Another close-up (above) shows the old Clifton aerodrome, with the Minster in the foreground; and a third (below) shows the RSPCA dogs home that faced the Foss basin. Several barges can clearly be seen moored in the basin.

Close-up showing the old RSPCA dogs' home at Foss Basin

Since Mr Wilson's father, Jock, was the swordbearer at the Guildhall for many years, he took part in many important ceremonial duties. Mr Wilson also shared a few of his father's photographs with us.

One shows a gathering of swordbearers and macebearers from across Yorkshire who attended a celebration in York in 1935. Naturally enough, Jock Wilson is there: he is the man seated one from the left in front.

Yorkshire sword-bearers and mace-bearers attend a celebration in York in 1935. Jock Wilson is seated, one from the left

Another, dated July 1924, shows the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Louie Newton, with his counterpart the Lord Mayor of York William Dobbie, at the Great Yorkshire Show. It was held at the Knavesmire that year.

The visit of the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Louie Newson, to the Great Yorshire Show at Knavesmire in July 1924. York's Lord Mayor William Dobbie is also in the photo

One wonderful photograph, for which we don't have a date, shows the Chief Constable of York Harry Herman, resplendent in full uniform, leading a procession of dignitaries for the opening of the assizes at the Guildhall. The Guildhall, as seen in the picture is clearly still badly damaged by fire, so this must have been some time after the York Blitz, and before the Guidhall was fully restored. Behind the chief constable in the procession is the town clerk, TC Benfield, while further back still is Jock Wilson.

Chief Constable of York Harry Herman leads a procession to the opening of the York Assizes at the Guildhall, probably 1940s. Behind him is the town clerk, TC Benfield, and further back Jock Wilson

And last but not least we have another photo from Jock's collection which shows a visit by Queen Elizabeth (later better known as the Queen Mother) in July 1946. Jock is the man in the hat holding the hilt of the ceremonial sword which is being shown to the Queen. Also in the photograph, and holding the blade of the sword, is the Lord Mayor of the day, Fred Gaines.

Queen Elizabeth (better known later as the Queen Mother) during a visit to York in 1946. Also shown are the Lord Mayor of York Fred Gaines and, holding the sword's hilt, Jock Wilson