YORK'S riverside may be occupied by trendy bars and exclusive apartments after years of redevelopment, but the buildings are still recognisable in these pictures from the city's more industrial past.

For hundreds of years, the Ouse has been the city's lifeline, bringing vital trade, traffic and goods to the city.

While today almost all the traffic on both the Ouse and the Foss is for leisure cruises, our photographs show the days when the barge ruled York's waters, particularly the picture, above, of Skeldergate Wharf at Queen's Staith, taken in 1970.

Contrast this view of Queen's Staith with the picture below, showing an artist's impression of the new Merchant Exchange Building taking shape there now.

Some of the old buildings still remain, all now converted into luxury hotels, offices and apartments.

Updated: 09:47 Friday, February 27, 2004