York – www.chrisrcook.com

Tours of Old York #4: An Artist Visits…

And now for a slightly different tour of old York – York as seen by a visiting artist.

In 1952 the curator of York Art Gallery – Hans Hess – approached L. S. Lowry to paint a scene of York for the annual Evelyn Award. For this Lowry would be awarded the princely sum of £50 or – in 2025 money – around £1,250.

In the end, Lowery was to paint three images of York; two he offered to the art gallery to select from – ‘Clifford’s Tower, York‘ and ‘A View of York (from Tang Hall Bridge)‘ – and a third – ‘Wilson’s Terrace‘ – that he sold on to a private collector.

Of the two images offered to York Art Gallery, they selected ‘Clifford’s Tower, York‘ which, as of writing, can currently be seen in one of the upper galleries.

‘Clifford’s Tower, York’

Robin Hood’s Bay in Winter / Ethel Walker

Ethel Walker’s Robin Hood’s Bay in Winter.It seems to be on permanent exhibition at York Art Gallery and, I must note, looks better in person.

Taken from ArtUK.

Winter Sea / Paul Nash (1925–1937)

Paul Nash’s Winter Sea. Painted between 1925 and 1937.

The ‘Baedeker’ Raids over York

‘Raids over York‘ is an interesting and detailed view of the Baedeker air raids on York.

F. R. Stubbs, Ironmonger

While I’ve mentioned F. R. Stubbs before, I don’t think I’ve actually posted the Stubbs ghost sign that sits on the corner of Merchantgate and Walmgate.

‘York’ sign at the east end of York Minster

The ‘York’ sign at the east end of York Minster

Tis a shame it’s made of Astroturf tho’.

York Minster, West Front / James Valentine (between 1860 and 1879)

An old photo of what was, back then, a rather new view.

The 185th Anniversary of the York Minster Fire of 1840

It’s the 185th anniversary of the fire at York Minster on 20^th May, 1840 and here’s a print to mark the occasion!

York Snaps – April 2025

A few little pictures of York in the April sun – including the now obligatory shot of the Bile Beans sign.

The Bile Beans sign on Lord Mayor’s Walk.

Bile Beans and York Minster

The west end of York Minster.

The west end of York Minster with College Street.

York Minster from Low Petergate.

Gallery: 2025 Misc.

Prints of York’s Old Station

Not quite a Tour of Old York but, whilst scrabbling around in the Internet Archives library, I came across two rather wonderful illustrations of the first York station and the sidings that used to extend towards Lendal Bridge.

Category: York