York’s secular buildings are a fascinating hotch-potch, and often little-known. Probably the most visible examples are the bars, or gatehouses, guarding entry to the city centre. York also retains a handful of guildhalls, and a larger quantity of ancient pubs. King’s Manor is a fine building, previously the quarters of the abbot of St Mary’s Abbey. Within the abbey precinct, St Mary’s Lodge, St Leonard’s Hospital and the Hospitium all provided care for the sick, the poor and the visitor.
A number of ancient dwellings are still in use in York, primarily as retail outlets. Houses in Lady Row and Newgate date back to the c. 13th. The remains of a Norman House can be seen in a courtyard off Stonegate. And Barley Hall, originally a medieval townhouse but hidden behind a modern office block facade, has been restored to its former glory. Open to visitors, it recreates medieval domestic life. The great hall is particularly impressive, and can be viewed from the Coffee Yard snickelway.
To find out more, pick a marker from the map above, or an item below, or just browse the list.
- York GuildhallYork Guildhall marks the point at which the Romans forded the River Ouse and provided ...
- York CastleYork Castle was originally a large fortified complex, comprising the keep of Clifford’s Tower, prisons ...
- The Treasurer’s HouseBuilt to house the treasurers of York Minster, the original medieval structure has been largely ...
- The Norman HouseOnly two walls of this house on Stonegate, dating from 1180, remain. Made from dressed ...
- St William’s CollegeA unique non-monastic religious building, St William’s College was named after Archbishop William Fitzherbert, who ...
- St Mary’s TowerThis tower is part of the defences that surrounded St Mary’s Abbey, rather than York’s ...
- St Mary’s LodgeBuilt in 1470, the lodge, next to St Olave’s Church, was the main entrance into ...
- St Leonard’s hospitalSt Leonard’s was the largest medieval hospital in England and cared for the ill and ...
- St Anthony’s HallIn 1446 King Henry VI granted a charter which founded the Guild of St Martin. ...
- Mulberry HallThe name Mulberry Hall has been applied to this site since 1372. It was the ...
- Minster LibraryThe building, once a private chapel for the Archbishop’s use, was built in 1230. It ...
- Merchant Taylor’s HallGuild life can trace its roots back to Saxon times, with the formation of the ...
- Merchant Adventurers’ HallIn 1357 a number of York’s men and women came together to form a new ...
- Lady RowDating from the 1320s, they were built for the Minster’s priests. The cottages are notable ...
- King’s ManorCurrently leased to the University of York, King’s Manor was built in 1270 as a ...
- Jacob’s WellPreviously the parish room for the Priory Church of the Holy Trinity, this unusual medieval ...
- HospitiumThe Hospitium is a large stone and timber-framed building, once part of St Mary’s abbey. ...
- Gray’s CourtGrays Court is possibly the oldest continuously occupied house in the United Kingdom. Dating back ...
- Clifford’s TowerClifford’s Tower is a keep within the larger complex of York Castle. It is situated ...
- Bowes Morrell HouseThe plan of this timber-framed L-shaped building, incorporating an open hall, is unique in York. Dating from ...
- Bedern HallDating from the 14th century, Bedern Hall was the refectory, or dining hall, for York ...
- Barley HallHidden behind a modern office block façade until the 1980s, the oldest parts of Barley ...
- 5 College StreetA ghostly child has been seen staring out of the window in the upper floor ...
- 12 NewgateDating from 1337, this is probably the second-oldest house in York. No 12 is one ...