Explore York Archive

23/12/2025

23❄️

Only two more sleeps until the big day

Behind today’s door we have another duo of blocks that take us back to Rowntree park and its many spaces for activities and sport

“I wanted to get the feeling of movement and fun – the patterns are made from textured wallpaper.” – Emily, Harvey

22/12/2025

22⛄📅

Today’s features a staple of Christmas across the UK, the Pantomime with a very well-known character to audiences in York.

“The long tradition of pantomime is alive and kicking in York, with Berwick Kaler as the famous Dame” – Emily Harvey.

21/12/2025

21

We have another double day in our .

We are exploring a broad span of time when looking at the features in York’s landscape seen in today’s blocks. We have the rivers of York, the Ouse and Foss, markets and their historic place in the city, and a more recent addition to the landscape, the Millenium Bridge.

The artist and creator described both blocks as follows:

1 - “The rivers Ouse and Foss are why York is here. They divide and define he city.
York residents can be seen Walking or biking by the river, crossing it via bridges, sitting by it with a coffee or beer, fishing or swimming in it and boating on it, excited by it when it floods.
In the Panorama the river represents the idea of time flowing, things stay the same and are always changing.”

2 - “From Roman times to the present day York’s markets are at the centre of the city.”

20/12/2025

20🎅

Today’s block takes us to Rowntree Park and memories of swimming in the city.

“There used to be a lot of places to swim; people have happy memories of swimming in the open air in Rowntree Park.

I added the polos for fun, made in York and known as ‘lifesavers’ in America” – Emily Harvey, artist & creator.

20/12/2025

Left everything a bit late?

Don't fret as you can still purchase some of our archive inspired Christmas cards and help conserve York’s archive collections. ⛄✉️

The designs are inspired by collections of the Knowles Family papers in the archives.

JW Knowles and Sons [c1861-1953] were a family firm of glass painters, restorers and church decorators based in Stonegate, York. Their house on Stonegate is currently occupied by the Wyse clothes store and still retains some of their original glass work inside it.

A pack of five cards are availble for £6 and each purchase will support the preservation of York’s history.

📍The cards are availble this week at the following locations:

Bishopthorpe Library
Clifton Library
Copmanthorpe Library
Dunnington Library
Dringhouses Library
Fulford Library
Explore Haxby & Wigginton Library
Huntington Library
Poppleton Library
Strensall Library
Tang Hall Explore Library
York Explore Library and Archive
and our Mobile Library!

19/12/2025

19/12/2025

19🎄

Behind our door today our block is inspired by York’s many varied and wonderful buskers and street performers. 🤹🎤

“I dressed the tightrope walker in a traditional harlequin costume – he would be recognised by people living in York in 1600 as well as today...” – Emily Harvey.

18/12/2025

18⛄📅

Only one week until Christmas!!🎄

It is a bit of a Nightmare Before Christmas vibe behind today’s door.

This block displays York’s historic connection with the supernatural:

“There are lots of stories of ghosts in York – spot the hanged man here and even the owl has a ghostly owl next to it (I didn’t plan this – it just appeared – spooky!)” – Emily Harvey, artist & creator

Hopefully you all have been good, and you won't be visited by three ghostly spirits on Christmas Eve.

17/12/2025

17🎄❄️

For today’s we have two blocks for you!

These blocks are celebrating York’s pubs, live music, and dancing.

Emily Harvey noted her inspiration for both panels:

1 – “About the first block York has loads of pubs, each with their own character, history, special beers, and entertainment.”

2 – “From the archives we know that York people have always loved dressing up and dancing, the styles may change but we keep on dancing!”

16/12/2025

Today's Archives & Records Association Scotland - ARA Scotland theme is . So we are sharing this image of the historic bells of St. Olave's Church in Marygate, taken c.1900

The bells were originally cast in 1789.🔔

16/12/2025

16📅🎄

Today we have education and learning as the featured theme in our panorama panel.

"This block shows children learning to read – the angel and the girl are from a stained glass window in All Saints Church in North Street (an angel teaching the Virgin Mary to read) I liked the idea that a girl in the 1400’s is learning just like modern children.

You can also see a student receiving her degree from one of the Universities in York."

- Emily Harvey, artist and creator.

15/12/2025

Christmas is fast approaching but you still have time to get your hands on our Christmas cards and help conserve York’s archive collections. ⛄✉️

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

JW Knowles and Sons [c1861-1953] were a family firm of glass painters, restorers and church decorators based in Stonegate, York. Their house on Stonegate is currently occupied by the Wyse clothes store and still retains some of their original glass work inside it.

A pack of five cards are availble for £6 and each purchase will support the preservation of York’s history.

📍The cards are availble this week at the following locations:

Bishopthorpe Library
Clifton Library
Copmanthorpe Library
Dunnington Library
Dringhouses Library
Fulford Library
Explore Haxby & Wigginton Library
Huntington Library
Poppleton Library
Strensall Library
Tang Hall Explore Library
York Explore Library and Archive
and our Mobile Library!