This film looks at the proposed building of new houses in the centre of York, and the sympathetic requirements needed for creating modern homes in such a historic environment. Title: Urban Renewal – A Project in York The film opens with a view of York’s Micklegate Bar with traffic passing through it. A view follows of another historic gate at Walmgate Bar. This cuts to a view looking along Coney Street not far from New Street. The commentary quotes historian and liberal politician Lord...

This film looks at the proposed building of new houses in the centre of York, and the sympathetic requirements needed for creating modern homes in such a historic environment. Title: Urban Renewal – A Project in York The film opens with a view of York’s Micklegate Bar with traffic passing through it. A view follows of another historic gate at Walmgate Bar. This cuts to a view looking along Coney Street not far from New Street. The commentary quotes historian and liberal politician Lord Esher who thought industry should move out from the historic core of York to the outskirts. General views show people walking along streets or using cars and motorcycles as they leave their place of work. Other views show busy streets with shoppers and tourists. The film moves on to show historic buildings such as Kings Manor. A man leaves the building and walks along pathway towards an archway. The film moves to a quayside scene on the river Ouse, a broader view of the river follows as a motorboat heads towards Lendal Bridge. A couple walks towards the camera on a path alongside a section of city wall. A view shows a well-kept garden at Gray’s Court Hotel, just near the wall. A general view shows the city wall with the minster in the distance with perfectly kept lawns and flower beds alongside the wall. The Shambles area of York follows with distinctive overhanging buildings and narrow highways the film passes by the ‘Little Shambles’ Street sign. A view follows of the Shambles market. A variety of gables, roof lines, windows and frontages which are typical of the variety of buildings to be found in York’s city centre. Many streets have narrow passages leading to courtyards and other spaces. General views show a crowded Shambles area, which follows a medieval street plan. A view follows of an array tiled roofs in the city culminating in a view of York Minster. It towers over one of the narrow streets in the Shambles. Another view near the minster shows St Williams college in nearby College Street. The film shows the contrast between evening and daytime in terms of how busy the city centre is at night, as many streets such as Coney Street appear to be empty. The commentary states that if the city is to be revitalised urban renewal must take place. In the Aldwark area of York a century of neglect has led to near dereliction of some properties. An old streetlamp lights up the street sign ‘Bedern’ attached to a wall. Nearby several buildings are in a poor state of repair. General views of the city follow, and the film picks out one modern tall office block, Yorkshire House on Rougier Street built in 1962. The next view shows a modern NCP car park. The commentary states that after clearing old buildings a new building which replaces it can be unsympathetic to the historic environment of a city like York. The film shows some older style buildings next to an overbearing, modern office block. A street sign attached to an old terraced building shows the name ‘Aldwark’. Above it a directional sign which reads ‘To The Ancient Hall Of The Merchant Taylors’. The commentary says that York has a good urban renewal plan. A map shows the area where Aldwark highlighted in red. The model for improvement is to develop mews style buildings as often seen in London. The film shows typical mews areas in the capital. Varied rooflines will also be part of the plan, the film shows rooflines of older buildings in the city. The film shows other areas of the city and the commentary lists the various materials found in many of York’s historic buildings. On the map a white section is highlighted in red area showing Aldwark. This white area shows the outlines the area of an old brewery bought by Shepherds for redevelopment. General views of historic buildings shown earlier outline that the urban renewal should be attractive and sympathetic enough to attract people back into the city to live. The film shows the cleared area not far from the city wall, and an archaeological survey being done following the clearance of the brewery buildings. Several relics were found from the Roman, Saxon and medieval periods. An architect’s impression of the new development uses sketches and coloured drawings to show references to the old-style dwellings of York which are key to the design of the new buildings. Using different styles of window, varied roof lines etc. and based on mews areas as seen in London, more views of architect’s impressions follow. A general view looking across the city to the minster ends the film. Credit: Shepherd Homes Credit: Produced by Cygnet Films Ltd BUSHEY STUDIOS ENGLAND