A READER has come forward to explain exactly what happened to the stones when the huge York Castle walls were demolished in the 1930s.

We asked in a recent Yesterday Once More article where all the stones went, and also for memories of the demolition work in progress. Several readers told how the stones had ended up in various places across York, and possibly as far away as Australia.

Now David Poole, of Penyghent Avenue, York, has given us the full story. He said: "In April 1935, the city council completed a tender in the sum of £500 with George Fort of Burnley to demolish the walls and male prison buildings - a most apt name for a man who would demolish a castle.

"In December 1935, the council let him have use of a plot of land in Lower Dennis Street, right opposite the castle on the other side of the river, for a period of three years to erect a stone-cutting yard. Whether the stone was floated across the river or taken by road via Castle Mills Bridge, I do not know, but older residents may have memories."

He said Mr Fort was asked by the council in 1937 to use some of the stone to strengthen the foundations of the river bank in the Hungate clearance area, agreeing to pay one shilling per cubic foot.

He said Stockton Lane was widened in 1937, and the stone was used to realign front garden walls.

Mr Fort went on to complete other assignments in York, including the demolition of Christ Church in King's Square, and several slum clearances including Regent Street, and he then came to live in the city for many years.

Meanwhile, another reader, Alderman Reg Pulleyn, has told how he recalls some of the huge blocks of stone appearing on waste ground between Foss Island Road and Navigation Road. "They made a wonderful playground for us children."

He added: "In the late 50s to early 60s, I was signalman at York Yard Signal Box near the old Landing Lane Bridge. The bridge was very narrow, so a pedestrian bridge was built along one side, near the signal box, using the huge blocks of stone of the castle walls as the abutments.

"The stones are now under the approach road to the new Landing Lane bridge."

Updated: 11:45 Tuesday, April 30, 2002