FORMER patients and medical workers may recognise these fascinating historic pictures of former York Hospitals.

The 19th century York County Hospital building, in Monkgate, remains as one of the city's most distinguished buildings after the hospital closed in 1976.

It has since been Yorkshire Water's headquarters before being sold and redeveloped for housing.

Our picture shows student nurses working in Ward 4, a women's gynaecology ward, which was opened by Princess Mary in late 1932 or early 1933.

The red brick Naburn Hospital, which opened in 1906, was once set in landscaped gardens on the banks of the River Ouse.

At its peak in the 1970s, the psychiatric hospital had 15 wards with more than 400 beds and a staff ofmore than 270. It closed in 1988.

The hospital has a colourful history and survived a series of controversies, including a food poisoning outbreak, catering staff strikes and claims of gross understaffing.

The 120-bed Military Hospital in Fulford Road was built in 1862, but suffered the same fate as York County Hospital when the new District Hospital opened in 1976.

Fulford Maternity Hospital was closed in 1983 and many items including beds, theatre trolleys, scales and even operating tables, were later put up for auction.

Clifton Hospital, which was closed in 1994 after 150 years of treating psychiatric paitents, was sold for about £10m to property developers in 1995.

Updated: 09:40 Friday, May 10, 2002