Judges Lodgings, York
Encyclopedia
The Judges Lodgings is an historic building in York, England. It was used by judges when they attended the sessions of the Assize Courts which were held four times each year in York.
, North Yorkshire
.
The building was erected between 1711 and 1726 on land that formerly belonged to St. Wilfred's Church (York) (which was demolished between 1550 and 1587). It is rumoured that the kitchen floor and the oven shelves of the original house were made up from ancient tombstones - it is said that freshly baked bread would often come out of the oven with inscriptions such as ‘Rest in Peace’!
John Cossins
included an image of the house on his New and Exact Plan of the City of York (1727), as one of the smart new town houses recently built in the city. The house is a very early example of the classical style which was to become popular throughout the eighteenth century. Festoons of fruit emphasise the unusual stone door surround, which is framed by a Venetian style arch. The keystone of the arch is carved with a bearded mask representing Aesculapius, the Greek demi-god of medicine.
The house is now called the Judge’s Lodging House, since from 1806 it used to provide accommodation for judges visiting to sit in the Assize Courts near the Castle Museum. The lower floors are now dedicated to The Judges’ Chambers, a popular bar and restaurant.
The architect
is unknown, but may have been Lord Burlington
, who designed and built the Assembly Rooms
in 1730 and possibly the Mansion House
between 1725 and 1730, both close to the Judges' Lodgings.
The wing to the South-East of the building was built in three stages. In the 18th century, the first two storeys were constructed, in 1806 a further extension was erected and in the mid 19th century, a third storey was added. The outside front stairs are 19th century, originally there was only a single flight to the front door. The fireplace
s in the dining room, breakfast room and office are all 19th century. The main internal staircase is Georgian
and is made from oak, as are the doors and treads. In the dining room, hidden behind a secret panel, concealed by a window shutter, is a chamber pot
, which was for the use of the Judges and other gentlemen diners.
During excavations in the early 1980s, a 3 metre by 2 metre area of floor in a mid 18th century cellar beneath the house was removed. Measurements had shown that the area lay within the rear chamber of the late Roman
interval tower
, one of six along the south-west façade of the Roman fortress. Excavations revealed that the cellar builders had dug out any remaining late Roman levels, although part of an early Roman building was found represented entirely by its foundations of cobbles and clay, lying on a similar alignment to the fortress itself.
Winteringham was a governor of the York County Hospital
and attended the Earl of Carlisle
at nearby Castle Howard
.
He authored several books and his son, Sir Clifton Winteringham was a military physician who rose to be the king’s surgeon.
(1689-1747/8), a medical practitioner who was appointed Physician at York County Hospital
in March 1745/6 and educated at Jesus College, Cambridge
. He practised in York for over 35 years, was the author of a number of books and attended the Earl of Carlisle
at nearby Castle Howard
. He was married twice: by his first wife Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Nettleton of Earls Heath, Yorkshire, he had a son, Clifton Wintringham
(1720–1794) who himself had a distinguished medical career, becoming joint military physician to the forces in 1756, Physician general to the forces in 1786 and Physician to George III in 1792. It was in February of that year that he was knighted. There is now a monument in his memory at Westminster Abbey
in London. On the main door of the building is the Greek god of healing, Aesculapius, representing the Wintringham family’s dedication to human health. Dr Wintringham is buried in St. Michael-le-Belfrey Church, opposite York Minster
. After his death, the building was bought by a Dr. Dealtry to whom an elegant monument was erected in York Minster.
. These were criminal courts held for the most serious crimes in the country. The judges were of the Kings Bench Division of the High Court of Justice. It was given five commissioners, picked from Justices of the Peace for the Three Ridings. A Mr and Mrs Kilvington were appointed to keep house, for which they received a salary from the county. The rooms on the top floor of this building were allocated to the Judge's own staff and the rooms in the wing were kept for resident housekeepers.
The Judges' Lodgings now serve as a hotel and bar.
History
The Judges Lodgings is a Grade I listed townhouse at at 9 Lendal, in YorkYork
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
.
Construction
In 1736, local surgeon and historian Francis Drake (surgeon and historian) recorded the recent building of a house for Doctor Clifton Winteringham in Lendal, which he described as one of the ‘best built houses in the city’. Drake recalled that when the foundations were dug ‘several cart loads of human bones were thrown up’.The building was erected between 1711 and 1726 on land that formerly belonged to St. Wilfred's Church (York) (which was demolished between 1550 and 1587). It is rumoured that the kitchen floor and the oven shelves of the original house were made up from ancient tombstones - it is said that freshly baked bread would often come out of the oven with inscriptions such as ‘Rest in Peace’!
John Cossins
John Cossins
John Cossins was an early map maker, renowned for the following city maps:* plan of Leeds titled "A New and Exact Plan of the Town of Leedes"...
included an image of the house on his New and Exact Plan of the City of York (1727), as one of the smart new town houses recently built in the city. The house is a very early example of the classical style which was to become popular throughout the eighteenth century. Festoons of fruit emphasise the unusual stone door surround, which is framed by a Venetian style arch. The keystone of the arch is carved with a bearded mask representing Aesculapius, the Greek demi-god of medicine.
The house is now called the Judge’s Lodging House, since from 1806 it used to provide accommodation for judges visiting to sit in the Assize Courts near the Castle Museum. The lower floors are now dedicated to The Judges’ Chambers, a popular bar and restaurant.
The architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
is unknown, but may have been Lord Burlington
Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington
Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington and 4th Earl of Cork PC , born in Yorkshire, England, was the son of Charles Boyle, 2nd Earl of Burlington and 3rd Earl of Cork...
, who designed and built the Assembly Rooms
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....
in 1730 and possibly the Mansion House
Mansion House, York
The Mansion House in York, England is the home of the Lord Mayors of York during their term in office. It is situated on St Helen's Square, where York's Coney Street and Lendal intersect in the city centre. It is built in an early Georgian style. The foundation stone for the Mansion House was laid...
between 1725 and 1730, both close to the Judges' Lodgings.
The wing to the South-East of the building was built in three stages. In the 18th century, the first two storeys were constructed, in 1806 a further extension was erected and in the mid 19th century, a third storey was added. The outside front stairs are 19th century, originally there was only a single flight to the front door. The fireplace
Fireplace
A fireplace is an architectural structure to contain a fire for heating and, especially historically, for cooking. A fire is contained in a firebox or firepit; a chimney or other flue allows gas and particulate exhaust to escape...
s in the dining room, breakfast room and office are all 19th century. The main internal staircase is Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
and is made from oak, as are the doors and treads. In the dining room, hidden behind a secret panel, concealed by a window shutter, is a chamber pot
Chamber pot
A chamber pot is a bowl-shaped container with a handle, and often a lid, kept in the bedroom under a bed or in the cabinet of a nightstand and...
, which was for the use of the Judges and other gentlemen diners.
During excavations in the early 1980s, a 3 metre by 2 metre area of floor in a mid 18th century cellar beneath the house was removed. Measurements had shown that the area lay within the rear chamber of the late Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
interval tower
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
, one of six along the south-west façade of the Roman fortress. Excavations revealed that the cellar builders had dug out any remaining late Roman levels, although part of an early Roman building was found represented entirely by its foundations of cobbles and clay, lying on a similar alignment to the fortress itself.
Winteringham was a governor of the York County Hospital
York County Hospital
York County Hospital was a hospital in York, England.It was founded in April 1740 and movedin 1745 to a new larger building with 50 beds fronting onto Monkgate...
and attended the Earl of Carlisle
Earl of Carlisle
Earl of Carlisle is a title that has been created three times in the Peerage of England. The first creation came in 1322 when the soldier Andrew Harclay, 1st Baron Harclay was made Earl of Carlisle. He had already been summoned to Parliament as Lord Harclay in 1321...
at nearby Castle Howard
Castle Howard
Castle Howard is a stately home in North Yorkshire, England, north of York. One of the grandest private residences in Britain, most of it was built between 1699 and 1712 for the 3rd Earl of Carlisle, to a design by Sir John Vanbrugh...
.
He authored several books and his son, Sir Clifton Winteringham was a military physician who rose to be the king’s surgeon.
Early use
It was built as the private residence for one Dr. Clifton WintringhamClifton Wintringham
Clifton Wintringham was the name of two doctors who lived in York.Clifton Wintringham senior was a medical practitioner who was appointed Physician at York County Hospital in March 1745/6 and educated at Jesus College, Cambridge. He practised in York for over 35 years, andJudges Lodgings, York was...
(1689-1747/8), a medical practitioner who was appointed Physician at York County Hospital
York County Hospital
York County Hospital was a hospital in York, England.It was founded in April 1740 and movedin 1745 to a new larger building with 50 beds fronting onto Monkgate...
in March 1745/6 and educated at Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
. He practised in York for over 35 years, was the author of a number of books and attended the Earl of Carlisle
Henry Howard, 4th Earl of Carlisle
Henry Howard, 4th Earl of Carlisle KG , styled Viscount Morpeth until 1738 was a British peer and Whig politician....
at nearby Castle Howard
Castle Howard
Castle Howard is a stately home in North Yorkshire, England, north of York. One of the grandest private residences in Britain, most of it was built between 1699 and 1712 for the 3rd Earl of Carlisle, to a design by Sir John Vanbrugh...
. He was married twice: by his first wife Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Nettleton of Earls Heath, Yorkshire, he had a son, Clifton Wintringham
Clifton Wintringham
Clifton Wintringham was the name of two doctors who lived in York.Clifton Wintringham senior was a medical practitioner who was appointed Physician at York County Hospital in March 1745/6 and educated at Jesus College, Cambridge. He practised in York for over 35 years, andJudges Lodgings, York was...
(1720–1794) who himself had a distinguished medical career, becoming joint military physician to the forces in 1756, Physician general to the forces in 1786 and Physician to George III in 1792. It was in February of that year that he was knighted. There is now a monument in his memory at Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
in London. On the main door of the building is the Greek god of healing, Aesculapius, representing the Wintringham family’s dedication to human health. Dr Wintringham is buried in St. Michael-le-Belfrey Church, opposite York Minster
York Minster
York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...
. After his death, the building was bought by a Dr. Dealtry to whom an elegant monument was erected in York Minster.
Later uses
In 1806 the building was bought out of county rates for use as the Judges' residence, when they attended the quarterly sessions at the Assize Courts at York CastleYork Castle
York Castle in the city of York, England, is a fortified complex comprising, over the last nine centuries, a sequence of castles, prisons, law courts and other buildings on the south side of the River Foss. The now-ruinous keep of the medieval Norman castle is sometimes referred to as Clifford's...
. These were criminal courts held for the most serious crimes in the country. The judges were of the Kings Bench Division of the High Court of Justice. It was given five commissioners, picked from Justices of the Peace for the Three Ridings. A Mr and Mrs Kilvington were appointed to keep house, for which they received a salary from the county. The rooms on the top floor of this building were allocated to the Judge's own staff and the rooms in the wing were kept for resident housekeepers.
The Judges' Lodgings now serve as a hotel and bar.