Situated within York’s medieval city walls, this Victorian railway worker’s cottage has been meticulously restored by its current owners. It has three bedrooms, a wonderful open-plan kitchen, living and dining space, and a picturesque rear garden. From the top floor, mesmerising views look out towards York Minster. The house lies in Bishopshill, close to popular ‘Bishy Road’, an area renowned for its independent shops and cafés, and at the end of Victor Street is a beloved community-run historic pub.



We have written more about this house in our Almanac.



Setting the Scene



Built in the 1870s, the house has been lovingly restored by the current owners, who have carried out much of the work themselves. This is particularly true of its carpentry: the stair rail has been extended into the newly carved-out top floor, and the wooden sash windows have been carefully reconstructed.



A considered palette of natural materials, including limed oak, copper and clay have been used to reinstate lost original features and enhance those that have endured. New hearths have been laid in line with the recently levelled floors.



The Grand Tour



A wrought-iron gate opens into a prettily planted front garden. A path leads to the front door; from here, a wide checkerboard-tiled hallway guides towards the rear of the house, where an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area lies.



A side return extension provides space for a kitchen table. Above, a pitched ceiling is lined with tongue-and-groove panelling and punctuated by skylights. Reclaimed flagstones chime with an original brick floor laid in a herringbone pattern.



The kitchen takes clear inspiration from 20th-century Arts and Crafts furniture, and has been influenced by the current owner's love for Heal's cabinets. It has slate worktops cut from a reclaimed pool table and a wonderfully patinated copper backsplash. An original cast-iron stove and a wash copper are reminders of the home's history. At the back of the room, a glazed door opens into the tranquil garden.



Between the kitchen and the music or sitting room is a dining room, used as a living space by the current owners. Slightly raised, it offers a demarcation between the different spaces of the ground floor. A guest WC, which doubles as a utility cupboard, is adjacent.



The front of the house is home to a sitting or music room. Its large bay window draws in soothing light, and an original picture rail, cornicing and ceiling rose remain intact. Timber boards lie underfoot, and there is another wood-burning stove set within a blue-painted surround.



An original staircase ascends to the upstairs, where two atmospheric bedrooms and a bathroom are located. The latter has encaustic Spanish floor tiles and reclaimed quarry wall tiles, creating an open shower next to a bathtub. An antique cupboard with a marble top forms a freestanding washstand. A new, hand-built window frames a delightful view towards the city walls.



The second floor is now home to a third bedroom, a rarity in the area, where generous windows frame a splendid outlook of York Minster.



The Great Outdoors



The house is surrounded by nature. A small, private garden, packed full of flowering plants and a tree, sits at the front; at the rear is a picturesque garden framed by Victorian red-brick walls. In the summer months, the latter is used as an extension of the kitchen with its ample space for a dining table and chairs. From here, a gate opens onto a back lane.



Out and About



The city is arranged around York Minster, an enormous cathedral originally built by the Romans. One of the largest of its kind in northern Europe, the Grade I-listed cathedral has been destroyed and damaged by various fires and battles. Today, it houses magnificent medieval stained glass as well as two functioning bell towers and is open daily for tours.



York's city walls also remain in place, having been rebuilt over the years, and can be seen from the top floor of this home. The city is also home to the Shambles, a street with exceptionally well-preserved medieval architecture. In addition to York's magical Christmas market is the Shambles Market, which runs year-round.



Victor Street is in a residential pocket which is well-served by ‘Bishy Road’, a quintessential high street with independent places to dine like The Pig and Pastry, Flori Bakery, and Melton’s. Marygate is home to the Michelin-starred Roots, while Partisan and the Bib Gourmand-awarded Skosh are in Micklegate. Spark – an outdoor community space – hosts a range of exciting food, retail, arts, and social enterprise start-ups.



Nearby state primary and secondary schools have a brilliant reputation, including Huntington School. Private schools include the popular St Peter’s School and Bootham School. There is also a Steiner School locally.



York Station is around a 12-minute walk from the house, with direct trains to London King’s Cross St Pancras in under two hours. The house is well positioned to access sites further afield, including The Moors and West Dales, as well as the Howardian Hills. It takes only 45 minutes to reach Robin Hood’s Bay, but more locally, the bucolic walking routes of the Yorkshire Wolds Way are a rambler’s paradise.



Council Tax Band: D