The View from Clifford’s Tower looking towards Skeldergate Bridge, York, 27/12/15.

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Clifford's Tower, English Heritage, flooding, floods, River Fosse, River Ouse, rivers, Skeldergate Bridge York, Tower Street York, views, York, York Castle, Yorkshire

The row of trees, reflected in the flood water, usually mark the bank along the River Ouse. The ground between the trees and Tower Street is usually occupied by a park. Beyond the Skeldergate Bridge the flood waters of the Ouse have joined those of the Fosse.

Clifford’s Tower, one of a group of buildings and green spaces that form an area known as York Castle, affords excellent views of York and I should think it has done since the reign of King Henry III. Clifford’s Tower, currently maintained and garrisoned by the staff of English Heritage, seemed to be a popular spot to stand and try and absorb the enormity of the situation.

Clifford’s Tower.

 

Photo Archive: King’s Staith viewed from Bridge Street, York, 24/07/14.

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Bridge Street York, flooding, floods, King's Staith York, Kings Arms Public House York, Public houses, pubs, River Ouse, rivers, Then and Now, Weather, York, Yorkshire

King’s Staith viewed from Bridge Street on a beautiful July day back in 2014.

I knew that the “King’s Arms” on King’s Staith had a history of flooding, in fact one Tripadvisor review describes it as “The Iconic Pub That Floods“, but on all my previous visits to York I have been fortunate that the River Ouse hasn’t been in flood, making my visit last Sunday a notable exception.

King’s Staith viewed from Bridge Street on Sunday 27th December 2015.

My travelling companion assured me that I would be able to keep our appointment in York, despite the various flood warnings, because he had studied the route carefully and I must admit that we travelled as far as the Fishergate Bar, which provides pedestrian access from Paragon Street, through the city wall, into George Street. Then the day started to take a surreal turn, as we were faced with the River Foss, which had burst its banks.

The “King’s Arms” public house, King’s Staith, 27th December 2015.

Later in the afternoon we reached Bridge Street and stood, with quite a crowd of pedestrians, watching the River Ouse distort a scene I thought I knew. The beer garden of the “King’s Arms”, not to mention most of the ground floor, had disappeared and with it any sense remaining sense of normality.

Having said that, from the very same spot on Bridge Street, I could see diners at “The Slug and Lettuce” eating their Sunday lunches in a building that must have had flooded cellars, which leant the afternoon an added, surreal, twist.

York is a city I love and I wish all of the city’s residence, students and visitors well at this difficult time.

 

 

 

 

Inspecting The Scarborough Bridge, York, 24/03/15.

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bridges, engineering, Network Rail, Public Transport, railway bridges, railways, Reflections, River Ouse, rivers, Scarborough Bridge York, York

Hard at work.

According to Network Rail’s website, the Scarborough Bridge, which carries the railway line from York to Scarborough over the River Ouse, wont need replacing for another 120 years following its six million pound “facelift“, so these chaps must have been inspecting the recently completed work. It looks like a very tricky job!

This was the scene when I returned to the stop about an hour later. Do you think they’ve gone home?

Ouzel, Puffin’, Coot and Swallow, York City Rowing Club, West Esplanade, York, 24/03/15.

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Boats, Coot, names, Ouzel, Puffin, River Ouse, rivers, Rowing, Swallow, The Star in The City York, trees, West Esplanade York, York, York City Rowing Club, York Minster

Note, sandwiched between the “Ouzel” and the “Puffin’“, “The Star Inn the City“, which offers, “casual Brasserie-style dining“, but I’ve only been in there for a cup of tea. Above the “Ouzel” you can just see the three towers of York Minster, partially obscured by one of the Yorkshire Museum Garden’s wonderful trees.

The Blades, York City Rowing Club, West Esplanade, York, 24/03/15.

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blades, oars, River Ouse, rivers, Rowing, West Esplanade York, York, York City Rowing Club

Oarsmen on the River Ouse, York, 10/06/14

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coxless four, oarsmen, River Ouse, rivers, Rowing, York

Viewed from the Bridge Street looking towards Lendal Bridge.