31, Castlegate

YORK

SE6051NW CASTLEGATE 1112-1/28/145 (North East side) 24/06/83 No.31

GV II

Office, now restaurant. 1825-6, with C20 alteration. By PF Robinson and GT Andrews for their own use. Front of orange brick in Flemish bond, English garden wall bond to right return; overhanging boarded eaves and brick stacks to slate hipped roof. EXTERIOR: raised ground floor on semi-basement; 2-bay front to Castlegate. Renewed 6-panel door in basement, to left; on ground floor, to right, 12-pane sash window with painted stone sill and flat arch of gauged brick. Rear: altered openings in basement. Two 12-pane sash windows to upper floor. Right return: 5 bays. Gabled round-arched porch projects in centre, with renewed 6-panel door and divided overlight. In basement, small-pane windows with segmental arches, the one to left of door 2x6-pane horizontal sliding sash. Full-height external shouldered stacks in bays flanking entrance. INTERIOR: reset late C18 chimneypieces in rooms on ground floor (former drawing offices): that in larger room has fluted pilaster jambs with acanthus capitals, frieze with moulded urn and leaf motifs, and enriched cornice shelf: replacement grate has late C19 tiled slips. In smaller room, fireplace has tapered fluted pilaster jambs and moulded enriched frieze with composition urns and plain centre block. HISTORICAL NOTE: plans submitted by PF Robinson and GT Andrews for remodelling the adjacent York Castle were accepted in 1825 and executed between 1826-35 and susequently demolished. This building functioned as Andrews' office until his death in 1855, and was used by successive partners in the practice until 1891. It is probably the earliest surviving purpose-built architects office. (City of York: RCHME: The Central Area: HMSO: 1981-: 113).

Listing NGR: SE6048151561