About Us
The Helmsley Archive is a collection of more than 9400 images illustrating the history of Helmsley over the last 150 years; more than 3880 images are currently available on our website.
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A brief description of our albums are shown below.
Helmsley
Helmsley Town - Views around the Town
Helmsley Castle - Views of the Castle from 1850, through its "clearance" in 1925, up to the present day.
Festival of Britain 1951 - A pageant presented at Helmsley Castle depicting scenes from Helmsley's mediaeval history. For more information please click here
Helmsley Churches - All Saints' Helmsley, St Mary's Rievaulx, Primitive Methodist, Catholic and others.
Birds Eye Views - Views of Helmsley taken from the roof of the Town Hall, August 2011
Railway - Helmsley station operated from 1871 to 1964: the last passenger train was on 27th June 1964 and the last freight train was on 7th August 1964. Official closure was on 10th August 1964
Helmsley Arts Centre - The Old Meeting House was originally built as a venue for Quaker meetings in 1812, and used regularly until 1980. It was purchased in 1984 as an arts centre, but suffered a disastrous fire on 15 August 2000; it was rebuilt, renamed Helmsley Arts Centre, and reopened on 27 April 2001.
Helmsley Youth Groups - Scouts, Brownies, Junior Red Cross, Methodist Youth Group - and Dancers!
Around and about - Not central Helmsley but worth a look!
What's all this about? - Images about which we have little idea other than they were found in Helmsley. Please let us know - help us out!
Local Schools
Lady Feversham's C of E (Low) School - By 1832, Lady Feversham's Charity School had been set up in Ryegate. In 1847, it moved to a new building at the entrance to Duncombe Park; it closed in 1979.
Lord Feversham's C of E (High) School - Lord Feversham's C of E (High) School was in existence at Knipes Hall from 1867 to 1953. It was a boys' school, until girls were admitted in 1947.
Helmsley Methodist School - The Sunday School room in the Chapel was used as a day school from 1852; the school closed in 1979.
Queen Mary's School, Duncombe Park - Queen Mary's School occupied Duncombe Park from 1925 until 1985.
Gilling East and Harome School - As part of Operation Pied Piper children were evacuated from Mersey Street School, Hull from 1939 to 1940. 20 boys went to GIlling East School, and six girls went to Harome School.
Please click here to see the photographic album of their experiences.
Ryedale School - Took pupils from September, 1953; officially opened on 3rd May 1954.
Helmsley Primary School - Opened in 1979.
Helmsley Wesleyan Day School
Other local schools - Including Pockley, Fangdale Beck, East Moors, Nawton and Rievaulx Schools.
Nunnington School - The original village school was founded in 1678; a new boys' school was erected in 1869 by Mr J Rutson.
Everyday Life
People - We don't know the identity of some of these people, and are uncertain about others; please contact us if you can help!
Duncombe Park and Workers - Home of the Duncombe family
Christmas Past - Costume fun at Christmas! Can you help us with the names?
Farm Life - Farming activities over the years.
Rievaulx - Mainly pictures of the Abbey - over the years
Sport - Mostly cricket and football.
The Ryedale Players - Programmes, cast lists and scenes from productions between 1944 and 1965.
Advertisements - Adverts from guidebooks, brochures, pamphlets and programmes showing shops and services.
Royal Visits & Celebrations
Duke of York's Visits 1896 & 1900 - The Duke of York visited Helmsley in July 1896 for the York Agricultural Show, and also laid the Foundation Stone for Helmsley Town Hall at 12.30pm on Wednesday June 20th 1900.
Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee 1897 - Celebrations on Tuesday 31st August and Wednesday 1st September, 1897
King Edward VII's Coronation 1902
King George V's Coronation 1911
King George VI's Coronation 1937 - It is unclear whether some of these images belong to King George V's Silver Jubilee celebrations. Please contact us if you can help!
Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation 1953 - Celebratory events on 2nd June 1953.
Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee 1977 - Celebrations taking place from May to July 1977. Please click here to see the colour and sound home movie!!
Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee 2002
King George V's Silver Jubilee 1935 - It is unclear whether some of these images belong to King George VI's Coronation celebrations. Please contact us if you can help!
Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee 2012
The Military
Military and Related Organisations - Including The Yorkshire Hussars, King's Royal Rifles, Yeomanry, Home Guard, Observer Corps, British Legion etc.
