Minster Court

The north-west wing

The complex consists of four houses, on three sides of a courtyard: number 1 in the north-west wing, numbers 2 and 2A in the north-east range, and number 3 in the south-east wing. There was formerly a fourth range, almost surrounding the courtyard, but that was demolished in the 1820s.[1][2]

In the 1850s, the building was purchased by Robert Corbet Singleton.[3] More recently, it has been used as housing for people connected with nearby York Minster, including the minster organist and several canons.[1][2]

1A Minster Court

The north-west and south-east wings have partly medieval stone walls, while the other walls are of 18th-century brick, probably replacing timber framing. The north-east range has three roofs, dating from the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. The range was altered in the early 17th century, from which period dates one of its ground-floor ceilings, but most of the range was further altered over the following 150 years. In the 18th century, the north-west wing was heightened and extended to the south-west.[1][2]

In the 18th century, a storage building was constructed to the north-east of the complex. In 1850, it was extended to adjoin the complex, and an organ was installed. From 1945, it was converted into a house, numbered 1A, which does not form part of the listed building.[1][2]

Inside, the north-west wing, there are three rooms with decorated 18th-century fireplaces, plus a large 18th-century kitchen fireplace, a mid-18th-century staircase, and two 18th-century ceilings in first-floor rooms. The north-east range has an early-17th-century ceiling, and many 18th-century fittings. The south-east wing has an 18th-century staircase and rich 19th-century decoration in several rooms, particularly the study. In the attic is some 17th-century panelling.[1][2]

53°57′48″N 1°04′53″W