This is how York looked, as the first lockdown took hold.
It was 24 March, 2020. The previous night the Prime Minister had broadcast to the nation to tell us to stay at home.
The following morning, we reported, the city centre “was very subdued but not empty”. Most shops were shut and the new restrictions on Shambles Market meant that only food stalls were open.
Most pharmacies were operating a one-in, one-out policy.
The city walls were shut to enforce the social isolating policy.
And the gates to Museum Gardens closed. A notice on the gates said: “The recent fine weather has seen large numbers of people using the space, putting social distancing measures at risk.”
These pictures were taken between 9am and 10am on 24 March by our photographer following the social isolating rules.
Little did we know then that we would still be in lockdown 12 months later.
York’s first lockdown
Monkgate 
The junction of Wigginton Road and Haxby Road 
Exhibition Square and York Art Gallery
A sign of the times 
Shambles without tourists 
Low Petergate 
King’s Square 
Goodramgate 
College Street 
Gillygate 
York Theatre Royal 
A heartening message 
York Explore Library and Archives 
Closed: the City Walls 
Closed: Museum Gardens 
Monk Bar 
Monkgate 
Bootham Bar 
Lendal Bridge 
The river and the Guildhall 
The River Ouse with a train on Scarborough Bridge 
Few stalls are operating on Shambles Market 
Almost empty 
But the food stalls can open 
Lord Mayor’s Walk at the Monk Bar junction
