Explore York Archive

30/08/2025

To finish off the month of the theme we are sharing a selection of material from our Dustin Gee Collection.

Gerald Harrison who performed under the name Dustin Gee, was an English impressionist and comedian, best known for his double act with fellow comic, Les Dennis.

The collection includes stage photographs, correspondence, programmes and scrapbooks about Dustin’s career.

You can browse the archive collection on our catalouge by following the link in the comments.

27/08/2025

An amazing chance to work with some of our archive collections collections and create your own stories of Clifton from them.

🎭 Bring Clifton’s stories to life!

Ever wondered what your neighbourhood’s history would sound like as an audio drama? Now’s your chance to help us create one! 🎙️✨

Join workshops with Kate Valentine from Digital Drama and Paul Birch from Riding Lights Theatre Company — no experience needed, just your imagination and passion for storytelling.

📅 Mondays, 5.30pm - 7.00pm, starting October 6th
📍 Clifton Explore Library

Interested? Sign up by emailing arts@exploreyork.org.uk, calling 01904 552662, or popping into Clifton Explore Library 👋

👇 Link in the comments for full dates and info ℹ️

26/08/2025

Today is and we couldn't let it go by without sharing this good boy. 🐶

This Old English Sheepdog is posing with an unidentified clergyman.

25/08/2025

Remember and beware the ire of the Pasture Masters!

This menacing sign lists some of the forbidden activities on Walmgate Stray attached to the Herdsman's Cottage on Heslington Road (c.1910).

21/08/2025

Workmen from J.W. Knowles and Sons decorating the interior of a church, early 20thC. 🎨

J.W. Knowles and Sons were a family firm of glass painters, restorers and church decorators based in Stonegate, York. The business was founded by John Ward Knowles (1838-1931) in around 1861.

15/08/2025

We've got whole heap of historic OS maps in the book sale at York Explore. The book sale ends on 24th August so pop in and grab a bargain! 📚🗺️

13/08/2025

Great to see the staff at Explore: Acomb Library Learning Centre featuring on the BBC.

The six-year-old cat has become the unofficial and much-loved mascot at a York Library.

12/08/2025

🚨New blog post!🚨

Our new blog post is up. Looking at the history of one of York's most recognisable buildings by Emma, one of our amazing placement students.

https://citymakinghistory.org/2025/08/11/yorks-built-heritage-a-closer-look-at-the-judges-lodging/

This blogpost was written by Emma Darbyshire, one of our wonderful placement students from York St John University. Emma was part of a group working with some of our photographic collections here a…

11/08/2025

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/

08/08/2025

It's today🐈.

To celebrate our feline friends we are sharing this poem and lovely woodcut from the 'Silver Penny' (CBK/1/64), a 'penny book' from our collection of Chapbooks.

The Chapbooks were printed and sold in York by James Kendrew, a printer based in Colliergate, in the first quarter of the 19th century.

07/08/2025

A group of children looking in to the window of Arthur Hemmen's shop on North Street, c.1920's. (archive ref: y942_741_hem_18).

06/08/2025

The Explore Your Archive theme for August is humour and to celebrate we are sharing an amazing project.

'Time Travel radio' combined stories from Manor Court records from the 1680's and community magazines from the 1980's to showcase the humour that can be found in archive collections.

'Time Travel Radio' was a History Misbehaves production made by Acomb residents at Acomb Explore Library with guidance from Paul Birch at Riding Lights Theatre Company and Kate Valentine from Digital Drama .

Jorvik Radio’s Nick Love interviews writer Paul Birch and director Kate Valentine to uncover the creative process behind the acclaimed audio drama. From digg...