The second day of the York Residents Festival began with a visit to the York Medical Society buildings and garden. This is a real hidden gem, not normally open to visitors. It is the second time I've visited here, the previous occasion being at the height of the summer 18 months ago when it was open for the York Bloom! Festival.
The York Medical Society website gives the following history of the buildings: "23 Stonegate is one of the larger timber-framed houses to have survived in York. With its beautiful walled garden, it is a haven of peace in the centre of the city. The house's medical associations go back to the beginning of the nineteenth century at least, and it was owned by the York Medical Society (founded 1832) from 1944 until 2018 when it was sold to York Conservation Trust to protect and maintain the building while enabling York Medical Society to continue to use the building on a long-term basis.
The property is interesting partly because of the many additions and alterations which have taken place over three centuries. The greater part of the structure is Elizabethan and was built in about 1590, a date attested to by the lead rain-water head (the oldest of its type in York) high up over the main entrance doors. However, parts of it are much earlier - such as the low and narrow wing to the left of the entry, known in the early deeds as 'Little Paradise', and also a fireplace in the south-east wing on the garden side.
Today, the house is reached by a long, narrow, stone-paved entry between two shops on the south side of Stonegate. This entry began as a small courtyard which is now almost completely filled in by later buildings."
This is the rear of the building, and since it had just started raining, I was the only person in the garden.
So much to see in York, and the more I discover, the more I find there is still to discover!
Thank you to you all for your lovely comments and your favs, which put this shot on the Popular Page.
The museums and attractions that open for the Residents Festival can change each year, although there wasn't any that I hadn't visited before in this years programme, it was interesting to see what had changed, and what different features caught my eye this year.
You are right Jesika. It isn't normally open to casual visitors. I made my first visit a couple of years ago in the Bloom! festival, and went back last weekend to get more photos of the building interior.
To find lots of interesting things about York, there is a Facebook page called York Past and Present where fascinating pieces of history are shared. There is so much to see, and the more I discover the more fascinated I become!
Thank you to you all for your lovely comments and your favs, which put this shot on the Popular Page.
The museums and attractions that open for the Residents Festival can change each year, although there wasn't any that I hadn't visited before in this years programme, it was interesting to see what had changed, and what different features caught my eye this year.
Ian
You are right Jesika. It isn't normally open to casual visitors. I made my first visit a couple of years ago in the Bloom! festival, and went back last weekend to get more photos of the building interior.
To find lots of interesting things about York, there is a Facebook page called York Past and Present where fascinating pieces of history are shared. There is so much to see, and the more I discover the more fascinated I become!
Ian
Thank you Vesna, it is a lovely hidden corner of York!
Ian