Bishophill Junior, York, North Yorkshire, YO1

A rare opportunity to acquire an exceptionally renovated former church hall, situated in the heart of historic York, with the highly desirable benefits of off-street parking and garden

Description

Nestled within the city walls in a peaceful conservation area, yet just moments from all that historic York has to offer, St Mary’s Church Hall is a truly unique and exceptional property. Originally built in 1860, this former church hall has been lovingly restored, thoughtfully combining an abundance of original architectural features with impressive contemporary updates.

The property is complemented by its beautiful Grade I listed neighbouring parish church, and is surprisingly expansive, offering approximately 3,506 sq ft of versatile and beautifully presented accommodation.

The interior is centred around a striking central hallway, leading to an impressive open-plan living and dining room which provides a wonderful focal point for the home. A wealth of original features include exposed timbers, a vaulted gallery, exposed brickwork and a dramatic oversized fireplace. An abundance of natural light floods the room through a range of windows and full-height bi-fold doors, which open directly onto the courtyard.

The kitchen is discreetly positioned alongside the principal living space and features a generous range of stylish cabinetry, granite worktops and integrated appliances. Full-height windows and double doors provide an abundance of natural light and convenient access outside, while a well-appointed utility room adds practicality.

A fabulous cinema room features a bespoke media wall with recessed fire and shelving, while a cosy snug provides a more intimate space, centred around a log-burning stove set within a handsome stone fireplace. Across the hallway, a versatile office/gym provides excellent storage, with a guest cloakroom completing the ground floor.

The contemporary glazed staircase rises to a galleried landing, from which four generous bedrooms are approached. Characterful eaves rooflights and exposed beams feature throughout, adding to the individuality of the accommodation.

The principal suite is an impressive and luxurious retreat, thoughtfully designed around the property's dramatic exposed brick chimney stack. A bespoke dressing room and stylish en suite shower room further enhance this exceptional space.

Three further double bedrooms are beautifully appointed and served by a contemporary house bathroom, featuring both a walk-in shower and freestanding bath.

Externally, the property benefits from the rare advantage of off-street parking to the front for several cars, while the enclosed walled garden provides a wonderfully private outdoor space. The garden wall incorporates the only remaining section of the medieval wall of the Holy Trinity Priory; the seven acre Benedictine monastery established here in 1089. Raised beds, mature screening, elegant planting and a tiled terrace create an attractive setting for relaxing and entertaining.

Next to the house stands the remarkable Grade I listed tower of St Mary Bishophill Junior, whose earliest fabric dates from the 10th century (AD 900–999) and which was heightened in the early 11th century, before the Norman Conquest of 1066. The tower incorporates reused Roman stone, giving this extraordinary neighbour a physical connection with York stretching back even further.

Location

Bishophill is an extremely popular area lying within the city walls, perfectly positioned for all the main attractions including: York Theatre Royal, the Art Gallery, York Minster, Bettys Tea Rooms and the famous Shambles along with a range of local cafes, shops, restaurants, public houses and supermarkets ( around 0.6 mile walk)

Bishopthorpe Road (0.3 mile) is a highly popular area of York and has won the "Great British High Street of the Year" award in 2015, as well as being voted "one of the UK's coolest places to live" by The Times. The area has a well-known parade of independent shops, café-delis, bakeries, supermarkets and restaurants which host regular events and festivals. Rowntree Park (0.6 mile) has a café, playground, tennis and basketball courts. Located beside the river Ouse is York City Rowing Club and York Pilates Space.

The city boasts excellent restaurants including the award winning The Star Inn the City by Andrew Pern and the Michelin-starred restaurant, Roots, by Tommy Banks. In addition, there is Skosh by Neil Bentinck which also boasts a Michelin-star, positioned on popular Micklegate, which is 0.30 mile away and has a number of independent shops, pubs, cafes and hairdressers.

The well-known York Racecourse and Knavesmire is situated just over one mile from Bishophill Junior.

York railway station is only half a mile away and offers regular services to major cities including Manchester, Edinburgh and London with some journeys taking less than two hours to Kings Cross. The A64 ring road is about three miles from the city centre giving access to Leeds, the A1(M) and the wider motorway.

The city offers a diverse range of primary and secondary schools including Scarcroft Primary School (Academy), All Saints RC School (Ofsted Outstanding 2016) and Millthorpe School (Academy). Independent schools on offer are The Mount, St Peter's and Bootham.

Please note all distances and travel times are approximate.

Square Footage: 3,506 sq ft