York Historic Environment Record

Between the 5th July 2017 and the 12th July 2017 York Archaeological Trust conducted a building recording exercise at 79 Fulford Road. The work was undertaken as a condition to the planning application. A level 2 recording, as set out by Historic England was required prior to the renovation work on the Arches and the two coach houses. The site was designed as a coach house complex serving the house opposite it, now named the Priory. The Priory was built as a wedding gift for one of local seed merchant Isaac Poad’s daughters. Originally, the site consisted of the two coach houses and the arches lining Fulford Road. The occupants of the Priory could exit the front door and walk through the arches and down through a little park area to reach the coaches which would then exit via Howard Street. The arches were also bought by Isaac Poad and placed at the front of the site presumably as a decorative flourish that matched some of the decoration of the Priory. The arches were originally constructed in 1834 by prominent architect John Harper in an attempt to enliven the Theatre Royal. Another bit of redecoration to the Theatre Royal in 1879 made the eight bay arcade redundant and it was then purchased by Isaac Poad. Eventually the arcade was reduced to its present three-bay configuration following the construction of Ellwood Court next door. The survey and research revealed that despite extensive changes to the property and many different uses for the buildings a number of original features survived. These included the timber barge boards and finials, some of the stable features and a number of windows.