WE can't recall visiting the North Yorkshire market town of Thirsk before in this section of Memories, but when the photos of the men laying the cobbles came tumbling out of a packet in The Northern Echo's photo library, we knew we had to find a way of including them.

The lighting is so perfect, the men are so hard at work, and we just loved the detail – on the front cover, for instance, you can see a pile of oil-fired lamps which, in the days before traffic cones, used to be hung from barricades and with a low level glow warn of the dangers of the roadworks.

If any of the pictures trigger any memories or information you would like to share, or if you can identify our mystery cars, please email chris.lloyd@nne.co.uk

The Northern Echo: A LOAD OF COBBLES: In April 1965, the Echo punned: "We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to make everyone happy, says Cllr Peter Hatch, chairman of Thirsk Parish Council, of the town's market place footpath." Here, Sidney Bendelow,

A LOAD OF COBBLES: In April 1965, the Echo punned: "We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to make everyone happy, says Cllr Peter Hatch, chairman of Thirsk Parish Council, of the town's market place footpath." Here, Sidney Bendelow, Alan Spence and Fred Bowes, are laying the new stones. "The path was to have been in blue sets at the wish of Major Peter Bell, the Lord of the Manor, who owns the market place, but after advice from county council officials it was agreed it should be in hand-picked cobbles set in concrete." The officials stressed the cobbles would be smooth and easy for walking. Fifty years later, cobbles still grace Thirsk Market Place – blue sets would have been very wrong, don't you think?

The Northern Echo: MARKET DAY 1920: Alf Richardson of Middlesbro' is selling his "fresh country eggs" and to the van to the right of him is selling "pure cream ices" – unfortunately a lady is obscuring the name of the vendor

MARKET DAY 1920: Alf Richardson of Middlesbro' is selling his "fresh country eggs" and to the van to the right of him is selling "pure cream ices" – unfortunately a lady is obscuring the name of the vendor.

The Northern Echo: SAME VIEW, 1984: Very little has changed in terms of the buildings which face on to Thirsk Market Place in the 60 years between the two pictures – even the Golden Lion pub, which is now a takeaway but which in the 1920s picture had a chequerboard front,

SAME VIEW, 1984: Very little has changed in terms of the buildings which face on to Thirsk Market Place in the 60 years between the two pictures – even the Golden Lion pub, which is now a takeaway but which in the 1920s picture had a chequerboard front, was still serving ale in the 1980s.

The Northern Echo: FROM THE ARCHIVE: Thirsk Market Place in May 1963 with the Golden Fleece – where alcohol was sold to a wounded soldier 100 years ago – in the background. We know people like identifying old cars, but the Morris in the foreground is far too easy. So ho

CARS EVERYWHERE: Thirsk Market Place, with the Golden Fleece in the background, on May 20, 1963. We know people like to identify old cars, but the snub-nosed Morris at the front of the picture is far too easy. So how about the black two-door coupe parked on the cobbles and, as a bonus, the four-door saloon on the top deck of the Progressive Deliveries transporter? Email your thoughts to chris.lloyd@nne.co.uk

The Northern Echo: PLANNING NIGHTMARE: Directly behind the CT lorry – Christine Tyler Chairs – is the Finefare supermarket, now occupied by the Co-operative, which was new when this picture was taken in May 1963 (there's our black two-door mystery coupe, from the &q

PLANNING NIGHTMARE: Directly behind the CT lorry – Christine Tyler Chairs – is the Finefare supermarket, now occupied by the Co-operative, which was new when this picture was taken in May 1963 (there's our black two-door mystery coupe, from the "Cars everywhere" picture, appearing again). Its squareness stands out like a sore thumb. Unfortunately, soon afterwards the three old buildings to the right of it were also replaced to the detriment of the street scene.

The Northern Echo: TUNS TURMOIL: This picture was taken on November 20, 1968, to illustrate a story which began: "Thirsk was alive last night with a suggestion that the Three Tuns, the second largest hotel in the town, would be saved from the bulldozer and so the Marke

TUNS TURMOIL: This picture was taken on November 20, 1968, to illustrate a story which began: "Thirsk was alive last night with a suggestion that the Three Tuns, the second largest hotel in the town, would be saved from the bulldozer and so the Market Place would retain one of the most impressive buildings in the district." Scottish & Newcastle Breweries had been hoping to sell the hotel to a London property firm which wanted to build a shopping centre on its site. The hotel was probably built in 1698 as a dower house for the Bell family, who were the lords of the manor.

The Northern Echo: TIMELY LANDMARK: The Market Clock in Thirsk was completed in 1896 and marks the wedding in 1893 of the Duke of York and Princess May of Teck – they later became King George V and Queen Mary

TIMELY LANDMARK: The Market Clock in Thirsk was completed in 1896 and marks the wedding in 1893 of the Duke of York and Princess May of Teck – they later became King George V and Queen Mary.

The Northern Echo: OLD AND NEW: Another chance to see the unforgivingly square front of the Finefare supermarket, here in January 1979. To its right are the far more appealing curves and bays of the Golden Fleece Hotel, a coaching inn which dates back to Tudor times

OLD AND NEW: Another chance to see the unforgivingly square front of the Finefare supermarket, here in January 1979. To its right are the far more appealing curves and bays of the Golden Fleece Hotel, a coaching inn which dates back to Tudor times.