York Unlocked Festival 2024 once again opens a wealth of York’s architecture and urban landscape to the public.
Inviting people into often unseen and private spaces that make up York’s rich built history, within the 50 sites this year, we’re delighted to take part again and, in kind collaboration with our tenants, offer access to seven of our buildings.
De Grey House
10am - 2pm Saturday - drop in
Plans for three bays of buildings on this site were drawn up in 1835 by G T Andrews and P F Robinson, but this was the only one to be constructed. Originally a thoroughly modern Regency townhouse, De Grey House is now York Conservation Trust's registered office. You'll also find the Council for British Archaeology and York Music Hub here, and its rehearsal space at the back is used by York Citizen's Theatre Trust. De Grey House has been home to the Newey Clock for several decades; built in 1906, the clock's mechanism can be viewed in casing in the first floor boardroom.
Herbert House
10am - 12pm Saturday & Sunday - drop in
Situated on Pavement, an ancient mercantile district of York and built by the Company of Merchant Adventurers, Herbert House was the birthplace of Sir Thomas Herbert, courtier to King Charles I, and has been home to four of York’s Lord Mayors. Herbert House comprises three post-Medieval timber-framed buildings, the oldest dating to around 1545. Its striking and bowed façade is the result of C20th changes, which you can explore during your visit.
Drop in to Herbert House to hear the YCT team talk about its past, present and future.
23 Stonegate
10am - 3pm Sunday - drop in
This complex of townhouses was built in the later part of the 16th century and Roman remains have been found in cellar excavation. Home to the surgeon Tempest Anderson 1846-1913, it’s been the home of the York Medical Society since 1915.
Assembly Rooms
10am - 4pm Saturday & Sunday - drop in
Located on Blake Street and designed by Lord Burlington, built in 1735, York’s Assembly Rooms is the first neo-classical building built outside Italy. Based on an Egyptian hall design and predating Bath’s assembly rooms, don’t miss this astonishingly beautiful building, built to attract the growing number of tourists to York in the 18th century.
St Anthony’s Garden
10am - 4pm Saturday & Sunday - drop in
Tucked away on Peaseholme Green you’ll find a garden idyll in the centre of York. St Anthony’s Garden wraps around one side of St Anthony’s Hall and is home to The Thin Ice Press, the York Ghost Merchants' Dispensary and Arras Restaurant. The sensory garden won the 2009 York Design Award and demonstrations of wood carving, lime plastering/mould making and hot lime mortar will be available thanks to the team from Pinnacle Conservation.
St Anthony's Garden is open to the public most days of the year
The Thin Ice Press
10am - 4pm Saturday & Sunday - drop in
A new and welcome addition to St Anthony's Garden, in the old School House you’ll find The Thin Ice Press. Originally a University of York initiative, come and see the extraordinary historic printing presses and typesetting equipment keeping traditional printing techniques alive in the heart of York.
St Anthony’s Hall
10am-4pm Sunday - drop in
Built in 1445-6 as home to St Anthony’s friars and their herd of pigs, the hall has been home to the Guilds of York, a prison, a workhouse, a Blue Coat School and the Borthwick Institute of Historic Research, a forerunner of the University of York. Today it’s home to Trinity Church and the Quilters’ Guild.
Most buildings are general access, but some will require booking to facilitate group tours.
For the full programme, access details, timings and booking tickets, please visit the York Unlocked website.
