York Historic Environment Record

YORK SE6051NE FOSSGATE 1112-1/17/346 (South West side) 14/06/54 Nos.52, 53 AND 54 The Blue Bell (No.53) GV II* Two shops and public house. No.54 incorporated into same ownership as Nos 55 and 56 (qv). Nos 53 and 54 mid C17; No.52 probably added when jettied fronts to Nos 53 and 54 cut back and refronted in late C18. No.52 remodelled in C20; No.53 refitted in late C19; ground floor of No.54 refitted c1932. MATERIALS: Nos 53 and 54 timber-framed. All three properties fronted in pink-grey mottled brick in Flemish bond, with timber dentil and console cornice; timber shopfronts, ground floor of No.53 infilled with glazed brick. Rear of No.52 in orange mottled brick in English garden-wall variant. Ground and first floors of Nos 53 and 54 underbuilt in brick beneath jettied second floors and attics; second floors rendered, probably over original infilling; attic infilling of red brick in random bond. Roofs of Nos 52 and 54 of pantile, No.53 of slate; Nos 53 and 54 are parallel and gabled at front and back, front gables set back behind later hipped roof; two brick stacks in valley. Original plan of Nos 53 and 54 5 bays of timber-framing, with central staircase and stack. EXTERIOR: 3-storey 5-window front. Shopfronts framed in panelled and fluted pilasters beneath moulded dentilled cornice between grooved consoles capped with segmental gablets. No.52 has plate glass windows on each side of recessed glazed panelled door: ground floor of No.53 has 6-panel door and overlight to left of fixed light window of embossed glass incorporating the name BLUE BELL together with a bell: shopfront to No.54 continuous with Nos 55 and 56, and has plate glass window framed in chrome over marble veneer riser and bevelled glass door with overlight. On first floor, No.52 has two 2-light casement windows, No.53 one 4-pane sash, No.54 two 16-pane sashes; on second floor Nos 52 and 54 have unequal 12-pane sashes, No.53 one 4-pane sash: all have painted wedge lintels or flat arches, and all except those on first floor of No.54 painted stone sills. Rear: 3 storeys and attic: No.52 set back from jettied fronts of Nos 53 and 54. Ground floors obscured by outbuildings. Upper floors to No.52 have sash windows with cambered brick arches: Nos 53 and 54 have 4-pane sashes on first floor and, on second floor, tripled 1-pane sashes to No.53, paired 12-pane sashes to No.54. Posts with jowled heads, bressumers and wall plates exposed on first and second floors of Nos 53 and 54: vestigial framing survives in gabled attics, with blocked window to No.53. In return wall of No.54 with No.55, a length of plastered walling with studs and curved brace is visible. INTERIOR: No.52 not inspected. No.53: ground floor only inspected. Pub is Bar and Smoke Room plan with passage lobby. Panelled doors are part glazed with embossed glass incorporating bar names. Lobby, Bar and Smoke Room are board panelled throughout, including ceilings of both bars. Passage serving hatch alcove fitted with folding seats. Bar has original panelled counter with gate and glazed back fittings, serving hatch to lobby passage, and curtained service door to Smoke Room: also fitted benches, fireplace with moulded surround, carved frieze and moulded cornice shelf, and ceiling cornice. Smoke Room has fitted benches, and fireplace with Art Nouveau decoration. No.54: shop fittings c1932 survive on ground floor. Elements of timber-framing exposed on upper floors, including wall posts with tapered heads, wall plates and beams. Original infilling probably survives in rear and end walls on second floor. Quarter turn staircase with largely original treads rises from first floor to attic with close string, column on vase balusters and flat moulded handrail, ramped-up steeply to square newels. On first floor, door to front room is of 4 raised and fielded panels on L-hinges. On second floor, fireplace said to remain behind fitted shelving in front room: original floor boards to landing and front room. Attic has gypsum plaster floors in both rooms and original boards to landing. Renewed roof of principal rafter trusses, with truncated brick stack in back room. 'The Blue Bell' has the last C19 pub interior in York to survive intact, and until 1993 was in continuous occupancy by the same family from the end of C19. (City of York: RCHME: The Central Area: HMSO: 1981-: 134). Listing NGR: SE6051751793