Fairfax House in York is one of the finest examples of an Georgian house in England. It was designed by John Carr and built in the mid eighteenth century. This exquisite attraction in York's Castlegate was first under the ownership of Joseph Marsh. Its name is taken from a previous owner Viscount Fairfax named Charles Gregory, whom bought the town house as a gift to his daughter Anne when they moved from England capital city, London to the northern capital, York. It was passed on many times after it was sold only eleven years before it was bought by the York Civic Trust in the 1980's with the aid of a grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund. Fairfax House previous occupants let the house fall badly into decay. There was previous attempts to revamp Fairfax House especially when in 1919 the council approved the planning permission to convert the house into a cinema and dance hall by the St George's hall Cinema Company.

Fairfax Houses has many interesting period features and none so as impressive as the stucco ceiling courtesy of Benjamin Cortese. Although most of the furniture is not from the original house, it is still impressive to say the least furnished with Chippendale chairs and period features. There is also a collections splendid furniture from the Noel Terry collection whom was the great-grandson of Joseph Terry, the founder of the Terry's Chocolate in York. There is also a variety of watches, barometers and clocks on display as well as an impressive gallery of paintings with some dating back to the seventeenth century.

Fairfax house is now open all year round and has a gift shop with guided tours on Fridays at 11am and 2pm. There is disabled access to the house although it is restricted. If you are disabled please call before you visit so assistance can be made available.

This memorable attractions is ideally place in the City of York as the Castle Museum and Cliffords tower are in easy reach. The Castle Museum itself takes you back in time many of York's historical periods and hosts the actual cell that the notorious highwayman Dick Turpin spent his last days before being hung at the nearby Knavesmire. Cliffords Tower dates back to the thirteenth century standing dramatically on a high mound proving to be one of York's most impressive land marks offering one of the most impressive views across the cities skyline.

Fairfax House
Castlegate
York
YO1 9RN
Tel 01904 655543
Fax: 01904 652262