BUSTLING: that’s the only word to describe Coney Street and Spurriergate as they appear in this photograph from the late 1950s or early 1960s.

It is partly the sheer number of cars and vans parked in the street that make it appear so busy - not to mention narrow.

The date on the photograph is October 1, 1962. We suspect it may be slightly older, however. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, a whole row of shops on Spurriergate leading to the corner of High Ousegate was demolished, partly to widen the street but also to make way for a new, modern block of shops.

That new block would have been on the left hand side of Spurriergate in this photo. It is hard to be sure, because of the angle from which the photograph was taken, but we suspect this photo dates from before the row of older shops was demolished. That would help explain why the street looks so narrow...

Stephen Lewis