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yorkarchive.bsky.social
Explore York Archive
@yorkarchive.bsky.social
510 followers 490 following 210 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
This image was an entry as part of the “Snap your street” collection from 1998, which was a collection of images from York’s recent history. The image itself is from the 1984 York Minster fire, with this year marking the 41st #EYAAnniversaries of the fire. 

#archives #york #yorkminster
Colour photograph of the Rose Window engulfed in flames in the South Transept of the Minster.
December 6, 2025 at 12:30 PM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
6🎄📅

Behind today's door we have a lovely depiciton of the fireworks in the night sky on bonfire night. 

#york #archives #adventcalendar #christmas
Colorful abstract mural divided into sections with swirling patterns and textures. Text at the borders mentions social, educational, and moral influences of York, alongside phrases like "My family's" and "York has a BLOODY RICH history."
December 6, 2025 at 8:30 AM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
Tomorrow!

To celebrate Explore Your Archive week we will be hosting an exhibition of all things Clifton. We will be showcasing records offering an insight into life in Clifton and the stories of its people through the years.

📅Saturday 6th December 
🕰️10:00am-12:30pm & 1:00-3:30pm
📍Clifton Explore.
Explore Your Archives event in Clifton on Saturday, 6th December, 10:30am-12:30pm & 1:00pm-3:30pm, at Clifton Explore.
December 5, 2025 at 12:18 PM
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/
December 5, 2025 at 10:02 AM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
Day 5❄️ 🗓️

Today we have the York Walls represented, with a bird flying in a (rare) blue sky above the city and some hidden designs and tasty treats in the bricks of the wall. 

#Archives #York #Christmas #ArchiveAdventCalendar
Colorful ceramic mural featuring a blue sky with a bird, stylized rooftops, greenery, and text about community and rivers.
December 5, 2025 at 9:03 AM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
Check out our Explore newsletter for December and find out more about what our team have been upto recently.

shorturl.at/v9nSi
Hello! Here's Your December Newsletter from Explore
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December 4, 2025 at 4:15 PM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
4🎄📅

Behind door number four we have images of the Panorama being created. Highlighting some of the artistic methods used by the wonderful artist, Emily Harvey, who created the panorama co-creatively with York residents. 

#archives #york #art #christmas #adventcalendar
Clay tile with imprints of leaves and spiders, surrounded by plastic wrap. Toy spiders and a leaf lie on a wooden table nearby. A detailed sketch of a sailing ship is juxtaposed with a carved block featuring a similar ship design, ready for printing.
December 4, 2025 at 10:15 AM
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.
December 3, 2025 at 4:30 PM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
3🎄📅

Today we are also celebrating the #ExploreYourArchive theme of #EYAPets. This panorama tile features a design inspired by observations over York of the astronomers John Goodricke, Nathaniel Piggott and Edward Piggott. (archive ref: GPP)

#archives #York #Christmas #adventcalendar
Colorful ceramic mural depicting constelations with animals, plants, and swirling patterns. Text mentions Civil War, archaeology, and chocolate aroma. A handwritten page from 1787 detailing observations of a comet, with a sketched map showing its trajectory past constellations and coordinates.
December 3, 2025 at 11:20 AM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
Day 2 📅🎄

Behind door number two of our York Panorama advent calendar shows two iconic features of York's landscape, the railway station and Holgate windmill. 

#archives #york #adventcalendar #christmas
Artistic mural depicting a landscape with a windmill, birds, and trees. Text reads: "Seeing Holgate Windmill turn in the sun" and mentions parties at Bishy Road.
December 2, 2025 at 10:15 AM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
This is the remains of a Norman house, the oldest domestic building in York being believed to be built c.1170, found near Stonegate in the 1960's. 

Where the house is was going to be used for a sub station for North Eastern Electric but was saved and restored by the Ministry of Public Buildings.
Ancient stone wall with a small arched window and overgrown plants at its base. These are the remains of a Norman House found near Stonegate in York believed to be from the 12th Century.
December 1, 2025 at 3:30 PM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
It is day one of our archives advent calendar! 🎄📅

We will be sharing images from our amazing York Panorama: What York means to us artwork, which celebrated its 10th birthday this year. 

#archvies #york #christmas #adventcalendar 

Today you we are sharing with you a depiction of Ouse Bridge.
Colorful ceramic artwork depicting a cyclist on a decorated bridge with surrounding text mentioning York, a clock inn, and a dragon boat race. Plaque titled "York Panorama" by Emily Harvey, inspired by 600 residents' thoughts, part of the Heritage Lottery funded "York: Gateway to History" project.
December 1, 2025 at 10:50 AM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
For this weeks EYA Focus Theme 'Beauty', this image of the beautiful York Minster showcases the special kind of beauty it has to offer, one that isn't loud or fleeting, but that rises slowly out of history and stands resilient through centuries. 

#EYABeauty #YorkMinster #BeautyInArchitecture
Exterior of York Minster and part of the Minster Gardens, c.1900 Gothic cathedral with two tall towers, intricate stone facade, and large arched windows, set against a clear sky and open lawn.
November 30, 2025 at 10:02 AM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
Our annual Disability Arts Exhibition for #YorkDisabilityWeek25, will be running from Friday 28th November - Sunday 30th November.

Join us from 10:30am-12pm on Friday as one of our archivists will be on hand to answer questions about the collections that inspired our Disability arts exhibition!
Poster for "A Census of Disability Joy" event, showcasing a map of York with artistic elements. Event dates: Nov 28-30, at York Explore Library and Archive. Describes a collaboration with disabled artists, based on 1800s records, celebrating disability identity. QR code for more info. York Disability Week 2025 poster details events: "A Census of Disability Joy" exhibit (28 Nov - 30 Nov), Stephen Unwin talk (5 Dec), and Eleanor Worthington Prize exhibition (28 Nov - 30 Jan).
November 27, 2025 at 1:15 PM
yorkarchive.bsky.social
To celebrate Explore Your Archive week we will be hosting an exhibition of all things Clifton. We will be showcasing records offering an insight into life in Clifton and the stories of its people through the years.

📅Saturday 6th December 
🕰️10:00am-12:30pm & 1:00-3:30pm
📍Clifton Explore.
Explore Your Archives event in Clifton on Saturday, 6th December, 10:30am-12:30pm & 1:00pm-3:30pm, at Clifton Explore.
November 26, 2025 at 10:30 AM
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.
November 23, 2025 at 11:02 AM
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