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yorkarchive.bsky.social
Explore York Archive
@yorkarchive.bsky.social
510 followers 490 following 180 posts
Making over 850 years of the city of York's history accessible to all. Keep up to date with our latest projects and activities here.

Website: https://exploreyork.org.uk/archives/
Blog: http://citymakinghistory.org
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yorkarchive.bsky.social
Interested in Local History? 

Joining a Local History Group is a great way to get to know people and learn about your local area. 

You can find contact details for the local history groups in York on our website on the link below.

#Archives #LocalHistory #York

https://shorturl.at/TVcTt
A diverse group of people attentively listening in a crowded indoor setting, with a woman in a striped shirt smiling in the foreground.
November 21, 2025 at 12:35 PM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
An exciting day in our reading room yesterday as we had some filming going on! 🎥🎬

It was great to see some of our collections get the star treatment⭐. We can’t wait to share the end result with you in the New Year, so watch this space!👀

#archives #york #exploreyourarchive #filming
A camera on a tripod is set up in a library, focused on a wooden table displaying documents and photographs, with bookshelves in the background. A dimly lit room with wooden tables displaying historical photographs and documents. A bright light is set up for filming. A wooden table in a library with historical documents and photos spread out, accompanied by a large studio light setup for filming. A woman sits at a wooden table in a library, examining archival materials. A large studio light is positioned nearby, illuminating her work.
November 20, 2025 at 12:20 PM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
A snow day for us here in at the archive. Perhaps not the best day to be in the temperature controlled reading room! ❄️🥶

#archives #york #snow #winter
A colorful nutcracker statue stands in front of a historic building labeled "Library" and "Archive" as snow falls gently around. Snow falling on a historic stone wall and tree in grassy space. A red brick building is on the right, with a wet pathway leading through.
November 19, 2025 at 10:03 AM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
With the temperatures dropping this week some of us may need some of these sweets advertised as “the pocket doctor.” ❄️🥶

This image of Lord Mayor’s Walk dates from the early 1930’s. 

#archives #york #winter #chilly.
A row of early 20th-century English terraced shops, including a cobbler and a fishmonger, with a vintage phone booth on a foggy street. There is an advert for Stanley's Winter Nips medicinal sweets on the gable end of a terraced house.
November 18, 2025 at 10:31 AM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
Join us for York Disability Week 2025 at York Explore 👋

From archival-inspired art and artworks by international students to a standout talk by Stephen Unwin, there’s something for everyone. All events are free and accessible.

#ExploreTogether #LetsCreate #YDW25 #YorkDisabilityWeek25
York Disability Week 2025 events at York Explore: "A Census of Disability Joy" art exhibit (Nov 28-30) and Stephen Unwin's book talk (Dec 5). Eleanor Worthington art prize (Nov 28-30). QR code for more info.
November 17, 2025 at 3:04 PM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
There is still time to pop into our Christmas exhibition in the reading room. 

The exhibition and the Christmas fayre with stalls by local artists and crafts are open until 4pm! 

#archives #christmasmarket #supportexplore #christmas #york
Vintage ad with a green background promoting slippers as the best gifts for men. Includes decorative borders and stylized text. A close-up of a handwritten recipe in cursive script on a page, detailing ingredients and instructions for a dish. Decorative patterns with gold, red, and green colors on paper, showcasing intricate medieval-inspired designs. Handwritten notes visible.
November 15, 2025 at 2:15 PM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
It is Christmas Fayre eve! ☃️🎄

There will be stalls from amazing local artists and crafters on library lawn giving you the chance to get your Christmas shopping done early and support the library and archives! 

#SupportExplore #York #Archives #Christmas #ChristmasCards #York #ChristmasMarket
Festive Christmas Fayre poster with ornaments, snowflakes, and candy canes. Key details: Saturday, 15 November, 10am-4pm, free entry. Includes raffles, tombola, local artists, and craft stalls. Hosted by York Explore Libraries and Archives. York Explore Christmas Fayre events: 10:15am Supersingers choir, 11am Under 5s Storytime, 3pm Raffle. Stalls and archives showcase 10am-4pm. Two handmade Christmas cards with intricate red and gold designs. Each card displays "Merry Christmas" at the top in festive fonts.
November 14, 2025 at 10:45 AM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
It is only a few days now until our Christmas fundraiser fayre!

Featuring a raffle with great prizes, a terrific tombola, and stalls from amazing local artists and crafters.

We will also have an exhibition in our reading room displaying archives with a Christmas connection.🎄

 #Archvies #Christmas
A decorated Christmas tree with colorful lights and ornaments stands on a checkered floor, surrounded by wrapped presents. Library display case with colorful "RAFFLE" sign, showcasing books, a teddy bear, and various prizes. Surrounding shelves are filled with books. Sign listing York Explore Christmas Fayre raffle prizes, including Paddington collectible, signed books, chocolate, and more.
November 12, 2025 at 1:31 PM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
We will be observing the two-minute silence for Remembrance Day in our reading room and the library building at 11am today. Please join us.

At the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month – we will remember them.

#LestWeForget #RemembranceDay
A field of poppies, with a tree in the background and a blue sky
November 11, 2025 at 9:30 AM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
Next week the reading room will be closed as part of our Setting the Record Straight project.

To find out more about setting the record straight and upcoming closure dates take a look at the dedicated page on our website below.

https://exploreyork.org.uk/archives/setting-the-record-straight/
November 10, 2025 at 9:01 AM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
Only one week to go until our Christmas Fayre here at York Explore, 10am-4pm.

There will be stalls from amazing local artists and crafters on library lawn, a tombola, a raffle, and an exhibition of Christmas related archives in our reading room! 

#SupportExplore #York #Archives
Festive Christmas Fayre poster with ornaments, snowflakes, and candy canes. Key details: Saturday, 15 November, 10am-4pm, free entry. Includes raffles, tombola, local artists, and craft stalls. Hosted by York Explore Libraries and Archives.
November 8, 2025 at 10:59 AM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
Join us for York Disability Week 2025 at York Explore! 🎉

Featuring a Disability Arts Showcase, a talk by Stephen Unwin, and the Eleanor Worthington Prize exhibition.

All events are free, just drop into the library to view the exhibitions. 

#Archives #LetsCreate #YDW25 #YorkDisabilityWeek25
York Disability Week 2025 event poster. Key events: "A Census of Disability Joy" from Nov 28–30, Stephen Unwin's talk on Dec 5, and Eleanor Worthington Prize showcase until Jan 30. Includes contact info and QR code for details.
November 6, 2025 at 10:03 AM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
This is at the rear of 23 High Petergate, which is a Georgian house opposite St Michael Le Belfrey Church.

Guy Fawkes was born on 13 April 1570 and his baptism is in St Michael's register on 15 April 1570. 

#Archives #York #BonfireNight #GuyFawkes
November 5, 2025 at 3:05 PM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
A Sanger's Circus parade in 1908 saw elephants marching along Monkgate. 

#archives #york #circus
A procession of elephants walks down a cobblestone street, escorted by a man on horseback. Victorian-era buildings line the road.
November 4, 2025 at 12:10 PM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
Two weeks until our Christmas Fayre here at York Explore, 10am-4pm.

There will be stalls from amazing local artists and crafters on library lawn, a tombola, a raffle, and an exhibition of Christmas related archives in our reading room! 

#SupportExplore #York #Archives
Festive Christmas Fayre poster with ornaments, snowflakes, and candy canes. Key details: Saturday, 15 November, 10am-4pm, free entry. Includes raffles, tombola, local artists, and craft stalls. Hosted by York Explore Libraries and Archives.
November 1, 2025 at 12:02 PM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
For our archives treat🍬🫙

We have a selection of designs for some ‘fancy jam jars’ from our records of Redfearns National Glass Company. In September 1967, Redfearn Brothers Limited of Barnsley merged with National Glass Works (York) Ltd.
A collection of design sketches for glass jars, featuring detailed patterns and dimensions. Central sketch is titled "Proposed 7lb Fancy Jam Jar." Technical sketches of a jam jar with dimensions. Includes top and side views, a section view, and notes on weight, capacity, and design details.
October 31, 2025 at 1:45 PM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
Happy Halloween! 🎃

It is time for trick or treat archives edition!

For our archives trick 🎩🪄

We have the records of the York Society of Magicians. Founded in 1945 by the then Lord Mayor of York, Harold Chapman de Bourg. 

#archives #york #halloween #trickortreat
A collection of magic-related items including a book titled "Greater Magic" by John Northern Hilliard, a handwritten magic program, and flyers for magic events. Cover of a manuscript titled "The Supremes: The Ace Linking Finger Rings" by Ace Gorham. Handwritten notes are in the top left corner.
October 31, 2025 at 1:45 PM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
For Halloween and to celebrate #EYAMonsters, how about this ghostly looking figure sporting a toga from our Hugh Murray Collection. 👻🎃

Archive ref: HMU/P/15/163

#halloween #archives #spooky.
A dimly lit church altar with tall candles and a large framed religious painting flanked by ornate columns in the background. There is a transparent, ghost like figure on the left hand side of the image.
October 30, 2025 at 3:31 PM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
An archives exhibition with a DJ set?

It was amazing to be able to attend the 25th Anniversary celebration of York People First, with an exhibition of their archives, co-curated with members of the history group.

#ExploreYourArchive #York #LetsCreate #Archives
Display setup for a 25th anniversary event, featuring purple balloon numbers "25" and a board with photos and information about the history of York People First. A man sets up DJ equipment on stage in a hall. A display with a large purple "25" and informational boards is nearby.
October 29, 2025 at 1:10 PM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
We are holding a Christmas Fayre here at York Explore on Saturday 15 November, 10am-4pm.

There will be stalls from amazing local artists and crafters on library lawn, a tombola, a raffle, and an exhibition of Christmas related archives in our reading room! 

#SupportExplore #York #Archives
Festive Christmas Fayre poster with ornaments, snowflakes, and candy canes. Key details: Saturday, 15 November, 10am-4pm, free entry. Includes raffles, tombola, local artists, and craft stalls. Hosted by York Explore Libraries and Archives.
October 28, 2025 at 4:30 PM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
You can help conserve York’s archives this Christmas!

We are selling our archive inspired Christmas Cards. The designs are inspired by collections of the Knowles Family papers in the archives.

A pack of five cards are availble for £6.

The cards are availble this week in most Explore locations
Two handmade Christmas cards with intricate designs. The top card features a red and green crisscross pattern, while the bottom card displays golden and red floral motifs. Both cards have "Merry Christmas" written at the top.
October 28, 2025 at 10:31 AM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
It is Setting the Record Straight this week, which allows our team to dedicate time to improving access to our archive collections.

These images are of Approved plans that cover a variety of building work across York, for commercial, residential and city properties.

 #archives #exploreyourarchive
Blueprint of a Martins Cleaners storefront design, featuring large red "MARTINS" signage on both sides, with city names like Leeds and Sheffield. Architectural drawing of a proposed shopfront for "Mackenzie Martins," featuring elevation and section views, on a wooden table. Architectural plans for a storefront renovation labeled "Martin's" in York, UK, showcasing elevation views, sections, and a block plan.
October 22, 2025 at 11:03 AM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
These images taken of Lower Wesley Place on 28 February 1933 show the effects of the heavy flooding in York.

Lower Wesley Place was located in Hungate, and the homes seen in these photographs were cleared and demolished as part of the Hungate slum clearances later in the decade. 

#archives #york
A narrow cobbled street in a historic neighborhood is flooded. Residents stand by doorways and children play in water, with buildings lining the street. A group of people stand on wooden planks above floodwaters in a narrow, brick-lined alley, observing the scene with concern.
October 20, 2025 at 11:10 AM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
The brush-making department in the workshops for the blind at the Yorkshire School for the Blind, c.1920's (ref: y_11998)

The Yorkshire School for the Blind was founded in 1833 by The Wilberforce Memorial, and was also known as The Wilberforce School for the Blind.

#archives #exploreyourarchive
Four men wearing aprons and caps, work around a wooden table making brushes. Brooms hang on the wall behind them.
October 16, 2025 at 3:31 PM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
We had great fun supporting the History Misbehaves session at Clifton last night! 

There was some amazing storytelling on show, lots of laughs, an even some singing! All inspired by our archive of the Clifton Cycling Club here at Explore. 🚴

#archives #exploreyourarchive #sportheritage #letscreate
A group of adults, mostly elderly, sit around a table in a classroom setting, engaged in discussion. A flip chart and a large screen are visible.
October 14, 2025 at 11:02 AM