Treasurer's House, York

The Treasurer’s House stands in Minster Yard, directly north of York Minster in the City of York. It is a Grade I listed building owned by the National Trust, who also care for its garden. The house was first built for the Treasurer of York Minster in the 11th century. Over the centuries it was rebuilt and extended, most notably in the early 17th century by the Young family. In 1617 it hosted James I when Sir George Young entertained the king. The house was restored between 1897 and 1898 by Frank Green, who later gave it to the National Trust in 1930. The house is worth visiting for its layered history and surviving Roman remains. Beneath the cellars lie traces of a Roman road that once led north from York. During Frank Green’s restoration, four Roman column bases were uncovered, one still in place in the cellar. The house also witnessed royal visits and changes through the Reformation and beyond. Its furnishings and layout reflect the work of architect Temple Moore, who removed earlier additions. The National Trust took ownership with the house and its contents intact, a rare gift at the time. Visitors find rooms arranged around a symmetrical front built by the Young family. The cellar tour reveals the exposed Roman column base and the site of the reported Roman soldier sighting. Above, furnished chambers show how Frank Green organised the house for entertaining. The Below Stairs Café opens onto the garden, which the National Trust maintains. The house’s ghosts add another layer of interest, especially the story of Harry Martindale’s encounter with Roman soldiers in the cellar.