FOR our archive selection of pictures today, we've peered into the Durham City packets in The Northern Echo's photo-library. These were the packets for photographs whose subject matter began with the letter C – castle, cathedral, Crossgate, colleges...

The Northern Echo: OLD TIMBERS: The woodwork in the bell tower of Durham Cathedral was being replaced when this picture was taken in October 1979. The timbers are inscribed with the name of Francis Ellis and the date 1766. In that year, Mr Ellis framed and re-hung eight bel

OLD TIMBERS: The woodwork in the bell tower of Durham Cathedral was being replaced when this picture was taken in October 1979. The timbers are inscribed with the name of Francis Ellis and the date 1766. In that year, Mr Ellis framed and re-hung eight bells which were first rung on October 25 that year to celebrate the sixth anniversary of George III acceding to the throne

Perhaps the most impressive pictures are the ones taken from Crossgate. Crossgate is the ancient route from the west into the city via Neville's Cross, hence its name. The cross would have been erected to mark out the pilgrims' route to the shrine of St Cuthbert.

Without calling into doubt the professionalism of generations of Echo librarians, there are some rather curious pictures that have ended up in the C packets. If you have any thoughts, information or memories about any of them, please email chris.lloyd@nne.co.uk