York Historic Environment Record

It is a fine example of an 18th century dwelling house in the heart of the village Conservation Area. Although its present appearance is from the nineteenth century, the earliest record of this property is from 1793 when it was a private dwelling owned by John Benson. At that time it would have had a blacksmith’s attached and a brew-house located in the low building at the southern end. It became a public house in 1830, later sold to the Tadcaster Tower Brewery in 1921. Some early documentary records show its name as the Oak Tree Inn, possibly derived from the emblem of Lord of the Manor. It has high aesthetic and evidential value and adds character to the Copmanthorpe village centre, being the final element of the group of buildings surrounding the twelfth-century church of St Giles. It has great community value, being the only pub in Copmanthorpe, making it an asset to the locals and central to life in the village community.

York Civic Trust