YORK has managed to keep much of its characteristic city outline intact down the years.

These pictures from previous editions of the Evening Press illustrate some of the reasons why the historic city has retained that admirable reputation - its varied and distinctive rooftops.

From 1985 we see a scenic aerial shot of snow on the tops of buildings in the city centre. The picture was taken from its most famous roof - that of York Minster.

Some varied and apparently random shapes are on show from a picture taken in 1974, looking from Stonegate towards St Sampson's Square.

The Minster itself dominates the background of a photograph, again from 1974, though another famous building, the Mansion House, is actually the subject of the building work being carried out - on its roof.

The Minster recedes a little more into the background in a picture from the following year, 1975, which also includes Fossgate, taken from St Denys Church.

Another of York's oldest buildings, Clifford's Tower, takes pride of place in the background of another picture, also taken from St Denys Church.

The church is also the vantage point for another image, looking down on Walmgate, with industrial chimneys of various shapes and sizes in the background. HUDDLE: A bird's-eye view from Stonegate, looking towards St Sampson's Square in 1974 MAN AT WORK: York Minster dominates the background in this picture, showing work being done on the roof of the Mansion House in 1974 NUMBER PLEASE? The telephone exchange, on the right, Fossgate and the Minster figure in this 1975 picture, taken from St Denys Church DOMINATING: Clifford's Tower dominates this 1975 picture, taken from St Denys Church, which also takes in United House and the Castle Museum MILL ON THE FOSS: St Denys Church was also the vantage point for this view of Walmgate and Leetham's Mill

Updated: 08:17 Friday, March 21, 2003