Wistful wisteria

A random photo of the Treasurer's House to take my leave, at least for the moment. Thanks to all who have taken the time to visit and comment. I've enjoyed discovering a few new places near and far, from Saltaire to Sarasota, and also York, my new home, but time constraints mean that I'm unlikely to be able to get back to photoblogging for a while. 

Reach for the sky!

York Minster's chapter house, a must-see construction, even more fascinating from inside.

St John extension

Another angle on the recent extension to the University of York St John. This is just around the corner from one the "flying sheds" which delight some and dismay others.

Seen from St John

The view from just outside the Uni of York St John, for which see Monday's post. Sorry that I'm not able to keep up with either posting or reading at the moment. 

University of St John, York

This is the older part of the new university, formerly "only" a college, showing some of its famous chimneys. The building is on Lord Mayor's Walk, parallel to the north-eastern-ish section of the city walls.

The British Isles from Gillygate

If you are confused about the difference between the UK, GB and the British Isles, it's Woodlands Junior School, Kent to the rescue. Their clear, well-illustrated site covers the historical and geographical ins, outs, ups and downs of this corner of the world. Enlarge the poster for the detail.

Mirror, mirror

Window and mirror reflections in Gillygate Framing. 

Treasurer's House garden wall

Enough said.

York Minster triptych

The central tower, courtyard lamp and chapter house of this magnificent building photographed from just by the Treasurer's House garden wall, for which see tomorrow's post.

Best seat, City Screen café (lost post)

I'm always happy if I get this spot; I occasionally finish off a week's language training here, most recently with a client from Annecy, France. This is the River Ouse and Lendal Bridge reflected in the full-length double-glazed windows of the City Screen café. I must try to stitch a double-length shot of the real and the reflected scene one day.

Cubes, curves and cathedral

Minster and monster? This shows part of the modern extension to the University of York St John with the cathedral twin towers in the centre. I really enjoy the new architecture every time I pass. There are so many pleasing features, not least the type of brick. The cuboids above and contours below form a bold but satisfying contrast, as does the wave of brick flowing away from a line of 19th century terraced houses. The link takes you to the Lord Mayor's Walk side of the development.

Woodsmill Quay, York 2

This is the quieter, non-tourist side of the River Ouse, where former warehouses are now luxury flats. These buildings are between Lendal and Skeldergate bridges, opposite the famous and frequently flooded King's Arms pub. I like the fact that the gantry has been retained.

Esplanade moorings

This kind of scene sometimes has me looking up the price of boats. We are now on the Esplanade, just beyond the arch shown a few days ago, looking downstream towards Lendal bridge and York town centre. 

All Saints too 2

For a wintry view of approximately the same scene, go here. This is what you see across the River Ouse from the City Screen café terrace.

St Mary's abbey ruins

For a quiet read or a lounge on the lawn, this spot by the ruins of St Mary's abbey in Museum Gardens takes some beating. For what I think is a better view, try this, and for history, this.

Melton moments 2

Students and IELTS candidates at Melton College enjoy the spring sunshine during a recent lunchtime. The young folk on the left are from Germany; for an earlier post of Spanish students, go here.

St William's College

A distant shot of this attractive building which features here, here and here on this blog. 

Steam surprise

Who should we bump into on platform 10 of York station but Oliver Cromwell (the engine, not the man in the pony-tail). We took a rather more ordinary train to Darlington to a conference featuring a speaker from Manila and another from Bordeaux. 

Esplanade archway

Looking through the arch at the bottom of Marygate onto the Esplanade and Lendal Bridge. The ice-cream van of a few days ago is parked just this side of the arch and its adjoining tower.

York Museums Trust

St Mary's Lodge, situated at the Marygate entrance to Museum Gardens, is home to York Museums Trust. 630,000 people visited the four venues managed by the trust in the 2010-2011 season, up by 100,000 from the previous year.

I scream, "Ice cream!" 2

The ice-cream van and the York boat tell us that the tourist season is well under way. This is the bottom of Marygate, between Scarborough Bridge (rail) and Lendal Bridge.

Easter music

York Evangelical Church musicians warming up for the guest service last Sunday at St Clement's Hall. I couldn't get the piano.

The Bay Horse, Marygate

The Bay Horse, Marygate, is the pub that York almost lost, as a click on the link will reveal. The building dates from the 1890s, and but for a dip in the housing market a few years ago, may have ended up as flats. It is situated a few paces from Museum Gardens and the River Ouse, just off the main tourist track. 

Puzzling Museum Gardens

The lush spring foliage almost hides the façade of The Yorkshire Museum at this point. The comprehensive museum and gardens website is well worth the visit.

Centenary Chapel 2

A slightly more distant view of York cemetery's Centenary Chapel shown a few days ago. On this occasion, the chapel was the venue for Ebor Ruggers who were showing off their work during Open Studio week. 

Railway reflections?

A surprising find the the National Railway Museum warehouse is this beautiful model boat. The warehouse is an Aladdin's cave of railway memorabilia, including a display cabinet of chamber pots and handbells for those who might be interested. 

Gray's Court garden

Between the city walls and the Minster, these gardens belong to Gray's Court café and restaurant, worth a visit for the house alone. Follow the labels for earlier posts.

Albatross and Red Boat

on the River Ouse in York, between Ouse and Skeldergate bridges. 

More blossom

… opposite the railway station. This picture is a few weeks old; the daffodils look pretty dreary at the moment, and will soon be gone.

More blossom

… in York cemetery. 

Bar Convent

The Bar Convent is situated on the corner of Blossom Street and Nunnery Lane, just outside Micklegate Bar, whence its name. It is the oldest living convent in England and today comprises accommodation for up to 30 in 18 guest bedrooms, meeting rooms, a museum and a  café in a Grade I listed Georgian building. 

Behind these buildings is All Saints' RC Secondary School. 

Micklegate within with …

tell-tale TO LET signs on the pretty timber-framed building seen in yesterday's post. Several Micklegate businesses have closed or relocated recently (see labels); let's hope the economy picks up soon.

Micklegate within without

That's within the walls but without traffic or any other clutter. See tomorrow for Micklegate with … what?

Lady in Red 10

The tourist season is picking up and the River Ouse is getting busy. An alternative to taking a  guided tour is to hire a small 8-seater self-drive Red Boat.

Centenary Chapel

… in York cemetery. An enlargement might reveal that the windows are trapezoid, slightly narrower at the top than at the bottom. 

Walmgate Bar, Gatehouse Coffee

… showing the rather cramped counter area. Follow Walmgate Bar and Gatehouse Coffee to see where it is. 

More magnificent magnolia

… once again in York cemetery, looking over to Cemetery Road.

Between bridges

Looking from Ouse to Skeldergate Bridge. 

Walmgate Bar, Gatehouse Coffee

Walmgate Bar viewed from within the walls, showing the later extension. This must be the site of the quaintest café in York, Gatehouse Coffee. Run by Calvary Baptist Chapel, it is open to all and serves high quality coffee and snacks at very reasonable prices.

White on white

The Centenary Chapel seen through magnolia in York Cemetery. 

Blake Head, Bleak House 2

Recently re-posted here, this is how it looks today. Sad, n'est-ce pas?

Micklegate bookshop

A close-up might reveal some of the very collectable titles. So far, this business has survived the recession.

Passé composé

The French House on Micklegate, seen here in its former glory, shown above after closure. I like way the owners have used packing cases to convey the message.

Ebor Ruggers

Displaying in York cemetery's Centenary Chapel during the Open Studio event. 

Clifford's Tower 5

We've seen it in snow and in sun; now through magnolia. Follow the labels for other views.

Surrounded

 

or almost, as there are gaps in the walls, and strangely there are very few daffodils planted below the Nunnery Lane section of the fortifications. The 2010 photograph above was taken near Walmgate Bar  on the east of York, whilst the one below, taken today, looks towards Micklegate Bar  on the south.

These books are made for …

walking? I used to read walking home from school, with the occasional bump into a lamp-post. This mobile library is parked outside York art gallery. It's a great service for outlying communities and in York, at least, has survived the cuts.

Green steam at NRM

FRANK GALBRAITH is an 0-4-0 steam locomotive with a vertical boiler and high speed cylinder action with chain drive to the wheels. This shunting locomotive built in 1957 at the Sentinel Wagon Works in Shrewsbury for Teesside Bridge & Engineering Co. could be operated by a single man acting as both driver and fireman and this 4WTG design was listed as Teesside No 5.

If you like steam engines, go here to Doc Brown's site from whence I took the above information.

Bedern Hall

This restored 14th century hall on Bartle Garth, originally part of the College of Vicars Choral, is available for weddings, conferences, seminars and similar events. There is a Mothers' Day lunch this coming Sunday. 

The venue is centrally situated, but easily missed, tucked away between Goodramgate and St. Andrewgate, a few minutes on foot from York Minster.  The snow is from 2009-10.