The York Conservation Trust is a trust that buys and restores significant historical buildings in

York York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

, and then makes them available to rent. It was originally an initiative of former Lord Mayor

John Bowes Morrell John Bowes ('J.B.') Morrell (1873–1963) was an English author and historian. He was twice Lord Mayor of York, a leading figure in the local movement to establish a university in York, and founder of the York Conservation Trust. The J.B. Morre ...

, who started acquiring old buildings when he bought Sir Thomas Herbert's House on Pavement in 1943. Together with his brother, Cuthbert, Morrell set up the Ings Property Company, a not-for-profit exercise in practical conservation. In 1976 this company was given charitable status and evolved into York Conservation Trust. The Trust owns properties throughout York in streets such as

Walmgate Walmgate is a street in the city centre of York, in England. During the Middle Ages, Medieval period, the street was the site of a seafissh and cattle market. Walmgate Bar, was involved in the Siege of York in 1644, during the First English Civ ...

Micklegate Micklegate is a street in the City of York, England. The name means "Great Street", "gate" coming from the Old Norse ''gata'', or street. Micklegate is described by York City Council as "one of the most handsome streets in Yorkshire", and was d ...

, Low Ousegate,

Goodramgate Goodramgate is a street in the city centre of York, in England. History The area now covered by Goodramgate lay within the walls of Roman Eboracum. The street runs diagonally across the line of former Roman buildings, from the Porta Decumana ( ...

Gillygate Gillygate is a street in York, in England, immediately north of the city centre. History The area occupied by the street lay outside the walls of Roman Eboracum, but evidence of occupation in this period has been found, and it is possible that ...

and Stonegate. Among its portfolio are The Red House in

Duncombe Place Duncombe Place is a street in the city centre of York, in England. History The street was first mentioned in 1346 as Lop Lane, and it later became known as Little Blake Street. Initially a very narrow street, the eastern entrance to St Leonard ...

, the

York Assembly Rooms The York Assembly Rooms is an 18th-century assembly rooms building in York, England, originally used as a place for high class social gatherings in the city. The building is situated on Blake Street and is a Grade I listed building. Designed ...

in Blake Street and the De Grey Rooms next to York Theatre Royal and leased to them. The Trust also bought

Fairfax House Fairfax House is a Georgian townhouse located at No. 27, Castlegate, York, England, near Clifford's Tower and York Castle Museum. It was probably built in the early 1740s for a local merchant and in 1759 it was purchased by Charles Gregory Fai ...

from York Civic Trust and rents it back to them. Recent acquisitions include

Bowes Morrell House The Bowes Morrell House is a historic building on Walmgate in the city centre of York, in England. The house was one of four for which a licence was granted in 1396 to construct in the churchyard of St Peter-le-Willows. It may have been used as ...

, Walmgate, and 56

Bootham Bootham is a street in the city of York, in England, leading north out of the city centre. It is also the name of the small district surrounding the street. History The street runs along a ridge of slightly higher ground east of the River Ous ...

, better known as York Register Office. The Trust was unable to acquire Morrell's Victorian mansion, Burton Croft, before its demolition by developers.Illustrated article on Burton Croft and its demise
/ref> York Conservation Trust has published for sale a book ''York Conservation Trust - Historical Properties Walking Guide''. This lists the properties it owns, gives historical and descriptive information and encourages walking around York to view them. All of the trustees are related to John Bowes Morrell; three of them are his grandsons, and six his great grandchildren.

References

External links

York Conservation Trust website
{{UK-company-stub Organisations based in York