A closer look at how North Yorkshire’s economy has evolved
With the start of a new year comes a host of opportunities and the potential for greater fulfilment in your job or even embarking on a change of career.
Discover thousands of fascinating images from North Yorkshire’s past. Browse our extensive collection and own a piece of history today.
Here we look back through our archives to see how communities have been involved in a host of roles that have been vital for North Yorkshire’s economy over the decades.
From delivering the post in Kirkby Malzeard and milk around Castle Bolton to the long-running cheesemaking tradition in Wensleydale and the mammoth task of constructing the Crimple Beck Viaduct between Pannal and Hornbeam Park in Harrogate in the late 19th century, the images provide a fascinating insight into people’s working lives from yesteryear.
There are also photos of blacksmith Bob Spencer shoeing a horse at his smithy in Hawes during the mid-20th century and fisher girls packing barrels with salted fish in Scarborough dating back to the 19th century.
If you have any further information about any of the images on this page, our archivists would be keen to hear about it. Please email yny@northyorks.gov.uk.
Delivering the post to High Intake Farm near Kirkby Malzeard in the mid-20th century. The postman is Ronnie Robson, a columnist on the Ripon Gazette, a pest controller and author. From the Bertram Unné photographic collection.
Ure Bank bobbin mill workers pictured in Ripon. The mill closed in 1957, and this image is part of the Ripon Re-Viewed collection created by Ripon Civic Society and supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF).
The courageous work party involved in the construction of the Crimple Beck Viaduct between Pannal and Hornbeam Park in Harrogate, pictured together in 1880.
Milk delivery in and around Castle Bolton in Wensleydale. This valuable service was provided by Walter Bostock and Jimmy the donkey in the 1950s and 1960s. From the Bertram Unné photographic collection.
Working on the last boat to be built in Knaresborough. The date of the photograph is not known
Cheesemaking at the Hawes creamery in Wensleydale during the mid-20th century. From the Bertram Unné photographic collection.
Various business carts belonging to Lonsdale Yates of Harrogate in the early 20th century.
Workers at the band sawmill on the Harewood Estate during the 1960s. From the Bertram Unné photographic collection.
Cutters at Bell’s Clothing Factory in Ripon. This image is part of the Ripon Re-Viewed collection created by Ripon Civic Society and supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF).
Sunday newspaper seller Arthur Bainbridge in the doorway of Burton’s menswear shop in Ripon. This image is part of the Ripon Re-Viewed collection created by Ripon Civic Society and supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF).
Blacksmith Bob Spencer shoeing a horse at his smithy in Hawes during the mid-20th century. From the Bertram Unné photographic collection.
Fisher girls are pictured packing barrels with salted fish in Scarborough during the 19th century.