York Historic Environment Record

Terrace of three houses, now flats. Nos 12 and 14 early C18; No.16 early C19; later alteration. MATERIALS: pink-orange brick, in Flemish bond at front, stretcher bond on right return, on chamfered brick plinth; timber doorcases and moulded eaves cornice on consoles, returned at right end. Double span pantile roof with brick copings and kneelers to Nos 12 and 14; slate roof at lower level to No.16: brick stacks. Roof right return twin gabled with ramped-up parapet and coping masking valley. EXTERIOR: 3-storey front on semi-basement; 7 windows. 3 windows behind grilles in basement. 3 doorcases, of plain pilasters on tall pedestals, with plain friezes and cornice hoods, those to Nos 14 and 16 paired. 6-panel door beneath overlight to No.12: doors to Nos 14 and 16 are 4-panelled and recessed beneath margin-glazed overlights at head of short flights of steps. All ground and first floor windows are 12-pane sashes, except that on ground floor of No.16, which is 16-pane sash between sunk-panel shutters. Second floor windows are squat 6-pane sashes. All windows have painted stone sills and flat arches of gauged brick. Brick bands to first and second floors, returned at right end. Right return: 3 storeys and attics; 2 gabled bays. Central doorcase as on main front, approached by flight of steps, with 6-panel door beneath radial fanlight in panelled reveal. Windows on first and second floors are 2-light sliding sashes; attics have squat 6-pane sashes. All windows have elliptical arches of brick. Elongated S-shape and circular tie rod ends and plates. INTERIOR: not inspected. No.16 formerly listed separately on 19.08.71. (City of York: RCHME: The Central Area: HMSO: 1981-: 113-114).
Listing NGR: SE6039851619

Derived from English Heritage LB download dated: 22/08/2005

The Grade 2 listed properties at nos. 12 and 14 Castlegate are some of the oldest 18th century house on the street possibly built in 1730.

In 1979 after a lengthy planning process the buildings were converted to be flats. The most significant external alteration was the creation of a new doorway on Friargate. An existing internal lobby door was repositioned onto the gable wall, with a new door surround and steps formed to become the main access for the block of flats.
Fortunately CoYC Conservation officers at the time insisted that fire separation and other building control requirements be done from above to retain the ceilings and cornices. Partitions were also upgraded and new dividing walls inserted to retain the skirtings and existing doors were upgraded and retained wherever possible. Internally joinery, staircases, doors and fireplaces were retained or boarded over such that today there is great scope for restoration of the properties to their original plan form and detail. (Design and Access Statement 2017)

A notable resident of no. 16 was William Henry Wells (27. 08.1874 -07 02. 1953). In addition to personal engravings and engravings in miniature for customers in his shop on Castlegate he was also the Master Heraldic Engraver to York Minster. His work for the Minster included designing and engraving The Goodmanham Plate celebrating the 1300th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone by Edwin Duke of Northumberland, presented in the Minster to Archbishop Lang. He was also the engraver of the silver clasps of The Kings’s Book of Heroes (held within the Minster Crypt) which commemorated the fallen 1914-1918.
Wells' engravings in miniature includes work on the Queen Mary's Dolls' House (Windsor Castle), on the dinner service and candelabra for the British Empire Exhibition 1924 and producing the Lord’s Prayer on a silver threepenny bit.
William Wells received the 1891 Prize for Outline Ornament “York Institute of Art , Science and Literature”. See the attached documents for examples of his work, photographs and articles written at the time of his death (Sheila Barrett pers. comm. Granddaughter of William Wells 2024).

NMR related object - BF060414 12-14 CASTLEGATE
NMR related event Architectural Survey 1995 RCHME event no 613515

*Higgs, 2017, 12 and 16 Castlegate (Unpublished document). SYO2099.