Explore York Archive

02/04/2026

Today's is so we are sharing our lovely library building York Explore Library and Archive.

The building was designed by Walter Brierley and opened in 1927 and had an extensions added in 1934 and then in 1938. It has been home to the archive collections since 2015.

01/04/2026

Today we start and the first theme is so we are going to talk a little bit about ourselves and our wonderful collections.

Explore York Archives is responsible for acquiring, preserving and promoting the Archive and Local History collections relating to the City of York council area. We are an independent Industrial and Provident Mutual operating under a fixed-term, fixed-sum contract with City of York Council, currently in place until March 2034. Explore receives two thirds of its income from its contract with City of York Council and the remainder is raised through its trading subsidiary, grants, donations and other fundraising

Our collections contain thousands of unique documents, plans and photographs that tell the story of over 850 years of York’s history. Our oldest document dates from 1155, the most recent from this year.

We also look after thousands of books, historic newspapers and maps about the city and surrounding area.

The civic archive contains the records of City of York Council and its predecessors, whilst our community collections include personal and family papers as well as the records of York-based charities, businesses and community groups

You can find out more about the collections we hold, our opening hours and how to visit us on our website in the comments below

29/03/2026

Tune in tonight to listen to this wonderful audio drama inspired by our archive collections of Clifton Cycling Club. There will also be an exclusive interview with the artists who made it all happen.

Tune in to Jorvik Radio 94.8 FM this evening at 10.00pm to listen to History Misbehaves: Spokes and an exclusive interview with playwright Paul Birch from Riding Lights Theatre Company and director Kate Valentine of Digital Drama 📻

Commissioned by Explore York Libraries and Archives, History Misbehaves: Spokes is a community audio piece inspired by the remarkable archive of the Clifton Cycling Club, founded in 1895 at the Old Grey Mare on Clifton Green.

Over six sessions at Clifton Explore Library, local residents explored the archive and created poems and character pieces inspired by the club’s camaraderie, humour, and warmth.

History Misbehaves: Spokes celebrates the everyday stories that link Clifton’s past and present.

25/03/2026

With the Easter fast approaching here is a reminder of our opening hours.

Good Friday 3 April: Closed.

Saturday 4 April: Archives reading room open as normal.

Easter Day: Closed.

Easter Monday 6 April: Archives and reading room closed.

Tuesday 7 April: Open as normal.

For Explore Libraries and Cafe opening hours over the Easter period please check our website, linked in the comments below.

24/03/2026

🚨We are hiring🚨

We are recruiting Archives and Digitisation Assistants (x2), to join our archive team here at Explore York Libraries and Archives

Closing date is 9am, Tuesday 31 March.

Find out more about the role and apply on our website via the link in the comments below.

23/03/2026

You can also grab a copy of this amazing 17th century map in our shop here at York Explore Library and Archive.

Did you know we sell copies of historic maps of York? Here is the fabulous Samuel Parsons map of Dringhouses, 1624, hanging in pride of place on a customers wall! In A0 or A2 size, these make a brilliant addition to any history lovers' space...we've recently sold them for birthdays and Mothers day! York Archive

16/03/2026

The Family History Society are here at Explore York Libraries and Archives today.

Always wanted to discover your family history but didn’t know where to start?

Having challenges with your research and need further advice?

Want to share your discoveries and meet others interested in family history?

Every Monday at York Explore you can come along to the Family History Room where you will be able to receive free expert advice from members of the York Family History Society . Sessions are drop in – no need to book!

Every Monday 10am to 4pm in the Family History Room, first floor York Explore Library and Archive .

11/03/2026

These women are telephonists working in the early 20th C. ☎️

They are thought to be Miss Quinn and Miss Topman. York's first telephone exchange was housed over a chemist's shop in Parliament Street and was opened in 1886 by the National Telephone Company.

09/03/2026

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/

06/03/2026

We found this document during our most recent volunteering session with a belt that it is looking a bit worse for wear.

Unfortunately, over the last one hundred years the belt has begun to imprint upon the document, leaving behind a green impression on the front and back covers of this collection of commission inquiry correspondence from 1905.

However, it does also highlight the amount of dirt these records have collected over the years, as the belt has kept a clean band on the front cover. This document is part of our collections of records relating to the Ouse, Foss, and Ouse and Foss Navigation Companies.

Our wonderful volunteers are working to clean and repackage the records in these collections to help preserve the records and make them ready for cataloguing. As part of this process this document will be losing its belt, be cleaned with a smoke sponge and packaged in acid-free archival folders.

02/03/2026

Holgate Windmill c.1910-1930's

Holgate Windmill dates from c.1792 and was in production until the early 1930s. It closed due to its unsafe condition after storm damage caused its sails to be removed. The mill was built using local handmade bricks and is unusual because it has five sails, a fantail, and it is double shuttered.

It is the last remaining windmill in York, although historically the city had been surrounded by them. The mill was acquired by the York corporation in 1939 and there were several unsuccessful attempts to restore the mill to working order.

In 2001 the Holgate Windmill Preservation Society was formed, the group were able to raise funds to restore the windmill to and begin producing flour once again.

24/02/2026

🚨There is still time to apply🚨

We are recruiting an Archivist (Physical Collections) – Maternity Cover, to join our archive team here at Explore York Libraries and Archives.

Closing date is 5pm, Friday, 27th February.

Find out more about the role and apply on our website via the link in the comments below.