What’s on in York: Fairfax House has a new exhibition

Reunited: Lifting Lockdown with the Georgians

Each room in the house explores a different longed for post-lockdown activity, whether that is being reunited with friends and family, having the opportunity to travel, to rekindle a romance placed on pause, to celebrate and dance, or simply to ditch the pyjamas and get all dressed up.

Told from the perspective of the eighteenth century, the exhibition draws on the house’s rich and varied history, as well as utilising its magnificent collections. During your visit you will learn more about life in the Georgian period, from the peculiar rituals of the marriage bed, to their outlandish sense of fashion and their surprisingly similar experiences of travelling. Along the way you will get the chance to try out some classic eighteenth century chat-up lines, learn the steps to popular country dances of the day and how the Georgian’s would have shifted their lockdown love handles.

Throughout your journey you will encounter the one time residents of the Fairfax House, the Hon. Miss Anne and Viscount Fairfax, and learn more about their experiences of living through an epidemic – the often very dubious medical treatments available to them and the parallels their experiences share with our own.

Book tickets online.

What’s on in York: Fairfax House reopening tomorrow (Saturday)

   
We are delighted to announce that Fairfax House is reopening its doors again from Saturday 5th September after eight long months of hibernation. Opening times will be 11-3, Tuesday to Sunday.

Using our time away productively, we have conducted some exciting archival research that has unearthed new information about our collection, the Fairfax family and the history of eighteenth century Castlegate. The layout and content of the house reflects these new discoveries, and we can’t wait to share them with you!
Opening safety is our paramount concern, so we will be admitting visitors at 15 minute intervals in households/bubbles of up to 6 people. Face masks are required and regular sanitising points will be available throughout the visit.You can read a full list of the safety measures in place on our website.

Click HERE to pre-book your slot.

We can also now officially introduce you to our latest project, A Character of Home – an intimate promenade performance staged in Fairfax House featuring Anne and Viscount Fairfax – the characters of course!

The Character of Home

6th – 31st October 2020

Step back in time to the sumptuous world of 18th century York for an intimate performance staged in the finest Georgian townhouse in England. 

Charles Gregory Fairfax bestows a magnificent gift upon his only surviving daughter, Anne. He builds her a resplendent house filled with beautiful things so that she might have a bright future in a glorious society…but, this place is wrestling with darker concerns and the household is haunted by the ghosts of its past.

Your task is simple. Enter a room and choose an object. Each object triggers an alternative version of the past and from a different historical perspective. Your choices not only change the drama but will even change your route through the house and the order of events. 

Written by Paul Birch. Directed by Thomas Frere        

What’s on in York: The Georgian Edit

Cutting Edge Fashion of the Eighteenth Century @ Fairfax House

Opening on the 23rd August and running until the 31st December it includes a fabulous array of men’s and women’s fashion from an era when daring and flamboyant designs brought theatre into everyday life.

The exhibition celebrates ten years of ground breaking fashion exhibitions at Fairfax  House and draws together works which highlight the exuberance, playfulness and often extremes in fashion worn by those gorgeous Georgians.

Showcasing sumptuous dresses, suits, shoes and a wealth of exquisite accessories the exhibition runs throughout the house, offering visitors a unique opportunity to see Georgian cutting edge fashion up close. 

Empty Council owned Castlegate property – future still uncertain

29 Castlegate, which is located next to Fairfax House, and is owned by the City of York Council continues to be left empty.
29 Castlegate

Hopes that the property might be purchased by the York Conservation Trust have disappeared following a change of Chief Executive. They had been expected to purchase the iconic building for around £431,000. The discounted sale price was justified in 2017 by claims that significant repair works were needed.

At the same time, the York Civic Trust said that they were set to lease the building with an investment of £2.8 million to be made, as part of an expansion of activities at Fairfax House.

It became clear 6 months ago that the York Civic Trust had suspended their plans.

The building – which also benefits from a valuable showroom frontage onto the Coppergate Shopping Centre – was used for many years as a photographic gallery. When the gallery moved to Bradford, the Council allocated the space to be used as a youth advice centre.

In 2012 the, then Labour controlled Council, commenced negotiations to move the youth facilities elsewhere. The proposal was widely condemned.

The building has remained empty for over 3 years. Potentially this has cost the Council tens of thousands of pounds in rent and rates income.

Addressing the problems with empty Council owned properties should be a top priority for the new administration when it is elected this week. Too many expensive, high profile, properties like 29 Castlegate and the Guildhall have been left to rot. In future York Councillors must insist on receiving an “unused asset” report on a regular basis. It needs to be transparent.

If the Civic Trust deal on Castlegate has fallen through, then the property should either be leased or sold on the open market.

Because of its prestigious location there is likely to be a lot of interest.

This might include bringing part of the building back into residential use.  With apartments at the nearby fire station site selling for over £700,000 each, the opportunities at this address will be obvious to many developers.

Either way, something needs to be done quickly.

Castlegate sale – Now Council and Civic Trust have more questions to answer

Castlegate

As long ago as 2012 The Council started negotiations to move its youth facilities centre from premises in Castlegate. Various other locations were considered for the centre before the Castlegate building was declared surplus to requirements about 3 years ago.

The youth facilities were subsequently relocated to Sycamore House.

A series of email exchanges revealed the extent of the “behind closed doors” dealings that the then Labour controlled council had been involved in during 2012.

By April 2017 a Council report revealed that the empty building was worth around £575,000 on the open market.

The report then  went on to justify a sale to the York Conservation Trust for a reduced £431,000 claiming that major repairs were required.

The York Civic Trust promised a £2.8 million upgrade to the building and the adjacent Fairfax House (already owned by the Trust).

This would stimulate tourism for the general benefit of the City centre economy.

So, getting on for 2 years later, what progress has been made?

Very little it seems, with two peak shopping seasons having passed without what is a key location being exploited.

Taxpayers will want to be reassured that the deal, agreed nearly two years ago, is still on course to provide the benefits claimed by officials.

What’s on in York: Silver Screen Festival 2019

Fairfax House, February

Silver Screen 2019 takes a walk on the wild side, drawing inspiration from the animal kingdom: from Hollywood’s furry and four-legged acting legends, great and small, to the creatures who inspired cult classic titles such as Bringing Up Baby, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and National Velvet to name a few.  With 11 classic films being screened, there is sure to be something to tempt you!

Click here for brochure

Click here to secure tickets

 

What’s on in York: Christmas Twilight Tour

Nov _22Xmas

Fairfax House

Tue 20 Nov and Tue 27 Nov 

7.00pm – 8.30pm

£14.00 (Members: £12.00)

Join the Director, Hannah Phillip, for a Twilight Tour of Fairfax House and learn more about the celebrations and traditions of a Georgian Christmas. Enjoy seeing Fairfax House after dark in all its festive glory, and hear about the merrymaking, decorations, feasting and activities that surrounded this festival in the eighteenth century.

Also enjoy mulled wine and mince pies served in the Georgian Kitchen.

For more information visit our website please

Christmas Evening Extravaganza

Fairfax House :

Thu 29 Nov :

5.30pm – 8.30pm :

General museum admission applies.

Nov _29ChristmasCome in from the cold and escape the crowds as Fairfax House stays open late for an evening of festivities. What better time to soak up the atmosphere of our magical Keeping of Christmas than by candlelight.

There will be music, mulled wine and mince pies. You can also enjoy making a spiced orange pomander to take home, as well as having the opportunity to see our Townhouse Mouse artist, Nick Ellwood, at work and the launch of his brand newChristmas illustration. Not least of all there will be discounts in the shop with up 20% off.

Adult: £7.50, Concession: £6.00, Child: £3.00

Family Ticket (2 Adults and up to 3 Children): £17.50

For more information visit our website please

What’s on in York – Light Incidents: Jokes in Eighteenth-century British Portraiture

Nov _14Light

Fairfax House :

Wed 14 Nov :

7.00pm – 8.30pm :

£14.00 (Members: £12.00, Students: £8.00)

We often think of portraiture as a very serious, self-promotional business, but a number of small ‘conversation piece’ portraits from the eighteenth century engaged with the lighter side of life. Sitters often liked to express their good humour, and required artists to engage with the ‘in jokes’ they shared with family and friends. Kate Retford, author of The Conversation Piece, recently published by Yale University Press (2017) will explore the humour to be found in these paintings, from puns through to pratfalls.

For more information please visit our website.