Oasis in the city (From Living Northeast)

Oasis in the city

12:46pm Monday 19th July 2010 in

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Matt Clark meets a couple whose city centre home is like a living history book.

GRAYS Court, in York, is probably the oldest continuously occupied house in Britain. Built in the 11th Century, it has had a variety of owners, from the city’s treasurers and Lord Mayor to an archbishop and a Cromwellian general. Kings have dined there, duels have been fought there and ghosts regularly spotted.

It lies within the once walled Liberty of St Peter, which was the Minster’s version of the Vatican City, and after the Second World War was leased to the College of Ripon and York St John. Now Grays Court belongs to Helen Heraty and John Edwards.

It’s a bit of a hidden surprise. Most people know of the Treasurer’s House, but how many continue along Minster Yard and happen on its Grade I-listed gem of a neighbour?

Well, certainly more people than used to, because when Helen and John moved in five years ago they began a major restoration project which is finally coming to fruition. The Jacobean long gallery with its original oak panelling and stained-glass panes is now one of the finest tearooms imaginable and an informal bistro overlooks the gardens which Helen has painstakingly redesigned and replanted.

She points out some of the remodelling work by architect Temple Moor in 1900 including the arched window in the long gallery and the splendid entrance hall, which used to be a vault.

The Sterne Room – built by the uncle of Tristram Shandy author Laurence Sterne – is a favourite for functions, with an ornate Georgian fireplace dominating the room and lovely views across the courtyard.

And talking of views, the last stage of the project is in full swing. This year four of the bedrooms will be ready to let, some with stunning views of The Minster.

“We found Grays Court by chance when an acquaintance of mine told me it was for sale” says John.

“When we came across the courtyard we wondered which bit it could be, little realising that it was the whole lot.”

The house is a potential goldmine and the couple became excited at its potential. But equally it would mean buying a liability where everything would cost a fortune to repair and Helen and John would have to fund it from their own resources. The house would need to earn its keep.

“We went to the estate agents and got the brochure and we thought gosh when we saw how big it was,” adds Helen. “But we have eight children between us and I have doneB&Bfor many, many years, so we were looking for somewhere to renovate where I would make the house pay through bed and breakfast accommodation and John could continue to work.

“I’ve always liked York and the house is in such a perfect location within the city. We thought it would be wonderful if there was some way we could actually get to live in it.”

“We had tried to buy a large house in Alnwick, but that fell through,” adds John. “So we bought Grays Court on the rebound. We were granted permission for a hotel in 2005 and that’s what we are working towards.

“But we had a problem with the electricity supply.

After the university moved out, the house stood empty and the electricity capacity was reallocated to a new development nearby. When we approached the electricity board with our loading requirements, it turned out not to be available to us.”

That stopped them in their tracks and Helen and John have yet to fulfil their dream; the tearooms and functions rooms pay well, but not well enough, and the bedrooms are urgently needed to help with the costly upkeep.

Fortunately, John thinks he has found a solution. The couple have decided to use gas as much as possible and then work around the limited electricity capacity. It means the first of the rooms was due to be ready in the summer and guests will at last wend their way to bed up the glorious Arts and Crafts staircase.

“It will be expensive and we’ll have to change a lot of the kitchen equipment,” says Helen. “But we’ve got to do it, otherwise we’re just standing still. This has been a long, drawn-out process because Grays Court is Grade Ilisted and you have to go through all the procedures which can take months. It’s restricting in some ways, but it is such a privilege to be here. We’re right in the city centre but it’s like an oasis, really quiet, and you wake up in the morning with the birds, there’s no traffic noise at all.”

The building has always been a public property, so the couple think what they are doing is appropriate because it means members of the public can see it and appreciate it.

“We get a lot of former students from the1950s and we’ve met a lot of family members of the Grays, because the Gray family was here for 200 years,” says Helen. “Distant relatives and offshoots come in and it’s so nice because they are all uniformly pleased with what we’ve done. There is a real buzz when people say we’ve done something right.”

Grays Court, Chapter House Street, York YO1 7JH. Tel: 01904-612613 Email: enquiries@grayscourtyork.com