Escrick Park

Escrick Park is a country house, now a school, dating from around 1680-1690, originally built for Henry Thompson. It was extensively altered and extended in 1758 by John Carr for Beilby Thompson, with further additions in the mid-19th century and 20th century.

The main block is cement rendered with ashlar dressings, while a rear range built around 1765 is of pinkish-brown brick with red brick and ashlar details. The roof is slate. The main block is three storeys and seven bays, with a single-storey, two-bay extension to the right forming a side entrance and a single-storey, single-bay extension to the left creating a loggia and library. Set-back wings flank the rear; the right wing is two storeys and three bays, and the left wing is two storeys and four bays. A mid-19th century entrance is formed by a portico of four Ionic columns supporting a frieze, cornice, and balustrade, with a six-panel double door.

The ground floor of the main range features largely full-height openings, with 20th-century casements. A blind window is present on the left extension, and a tripartite window with two-pane sashes is located on the right. A first-floor band is visible, followed by single-storey ranges with balustrades (balusters are missing from the left side). The first floor has 12-pane sashes, and a second-floor band is present. The attic storey features six-pane sashes, with all openings within architraves. A moulded modillion cornice, frieze, and balustrade, alternating panels with groups of six balusters, adorn the facade, along with decorative urns to the corners. The roof is hipped and concealed. Rainwater heads inscribed ‘BT 1758’ indicate work by Beilby Thompson. The rear range, designed by John Carr, has canted bays and mainly 12-pane sashes with ashlar sills and flat arches of red gauged brick, with some early 20th-century infill between bays.

Inside, a mid-18th century imperial staircase features a rod on carved vase balusters and a wreathed handrail. The ceiling displays medallion heads of Democritus, Heraclitus, Hippocrates and Socrates in the corners, alongside panels with naturalistic motifs, all framed by a modillion and fleurette cornice; however, one half of the ceiling was damaged in a flood. Other good cornices are also present. The former dining room, now the headmaster's study, was remodelled by Carr and incorporates a Neo-Classical ceiling, frieze, cornice, and panelling. A late-18th century fireplace in yellow and white marble, likely by John Fisher of York, is also a feature. The library, remodelled around 1830, includes fitted bookcases, a gilded ceiling, and decorative cornices, probably by Edward Blore.

The property now serves as Queen Margaret's School.