Fruit 'n veg on Blake Street

Red clock 2

Same time, same place (Blake Street) as this picture, but now looking away from St Helen's Square. It's not a particularly noteworthy view, but I wonder why the window was bricked up and what the ironwork was used for. 

Windows in England were taxed from 1696 to 1851, which accounts for a lot of older properties having them filled in; perhaps that was the case here, as there is another blocked window just to the right of the photograph. It was in effect an easily administered tax on wealth in the years before the introduction of income tax. 

Time for tea 2, Bullivant's

Not a terribly well-framed shot, but a reminder of how much York depends on tourism. There are just so many cafés and restaurants of various kinds. This is one on Blake Street is of the more traditional sort, as evidenced by the lace. Below is breakfast in Bordeaux for Jenny Freckles of Saltaire Daily Photo who has just treated us to a virtual coffee.

Red clock 1

A upper storey Blake Street view enhanced by the red timepiece and showing dormers and neo-classical dentellated cornice. 

Assembly rooms, York

A dull view down Blake Street towards St Helen's Square. The building with the columns, right foreground, is the Assembly Rooms (1730-1735), probably the earliest neo-classical construction in Europe.

Originally built for high-class Georgian social gatherings, it is now home to Ask, an Italian restaurant, but remains open for viewing and hosts civic functions five times per year. It was bought by York Conservation Trust in 2002.  For excellent views of the interior, including a 360º tour, see the preceding link or this.