It is a long time since I had a walk through the University grounds - pre Covid-19 in fact. The very first Covid-19 case reported in the UK involved a student from the University and their family who were in York for a graduation ceremony (though they are said not to have been on campus before they were taken ill. This shot shows the oldest building on the campus
Heslington Hall is a Grade II* listed rebuilt manor house near the village of Heslington, now in the city of York. The Hall is today the administrative centre of the University of York.
The original Manor house was built in 1568 for Sir Thomas Eynns and his wife Elizabeth. Over the centuries it was owned by a variety of eminent people. Architect Philip Charles Hardwick was commissioned in 1854 to rebuild the hall in the Victorian style. Parts of the original manor house which were preserved include two staircase towers, the courtyard and the pendant stucco ceiling of the great hall.
At the outbreak of the Second World War the house was vacated by the owners who allowed it to be taken over by the Royal Air Force as the headquarters of No. 4 Group RAF, part of RAF Bomber Command. The hall was not re-occupied by the owners after the war.
When the University of York was founded (it opened to students in 1963) Sir Bernard Feilden supervised the conversion of the Hall into the administrative headquarters of the University, a role which it continues to fulfil.
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
So why do I write history notes on the buildings that I post photos of? Well, I often see photos and wonder about the places shown. So, the intention is to give at least a little background information to stop you wondering!
As for the interior, I've never been in there, but I suspect the interior will have been substantially transformed to make it suitable for it's role as an administrative centre, but I might be wrong.
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
So why do I write history notes on the buildings that I post photos of? Well, I often see photos and wonder about the places shown. So, the intention is to give at least a little background information to stop you wondering!
As for the interior, I've never been in there, but I suspect the interior will have been substantially transformed to make it suitable for it's role as an administrative centre, but I might be wrong.
Ian
Thank you Brian. I would love to have a look inside to see what history has survived.
Ian
Thank you Vesna - I've always thought it a lovely building.
Ian