York Historic Environment Record

Lamel Beeches is an Arts and Crafts house built in 1908-1909 to designs by Walter Brierley. It forms an integral component of The Retreat mental asylum established and run by The Society of Friends (Quakers) since the late C18 and highly influential both here and abroad for its
pioneering humane treatment of the mentally ill. Lamel Beeches was built as the medical superintendent’s house, a key member of staff. It replaced an earlier medical superintendent’s house, which was being replaced by a new recreation hall (part of the Grade II* The Retreat), also by Brierley, and both paid for by subscription.

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION DECISION
Lamel Beeches, the row of outbuildings and the forecourt, 1908 to 1909 by Walter Brierley for The Retreat mental asylum is recommended for listing for the following principal reasons:

Historic interest:
* Lamel Beeches was built as the house of the medical superintendent, a key member of staff at The Retreat mental asylum, established and run by The Society of Friends (Quakers) since the late C18 and highly influential both here and abroad for its pioneering humane treatment of the mentally ill;

Architectural interest:
* it was designed by the noted architect Walter Henry Brierley (1862-1926), known for the quality of his designs and craftmanship with many listed buildings to his name;
* the house was designed three years after Brierley’s own home of Bishopsbarns (Grade II*) in York and shares similarities of design in the use of materials and layout, being homely and private, convenient to run and logically laid out, with attention paid to providing good conditions for the servants still required in the running of early-C20 houses;
* for its attractive irregular massing and elevations predicated by Brierley’s preferred layout, with a mix of window types, steeply-pitched, hipped and catslide roofs with distinctive sprocketed eaves and tall brick chimneystacks, elegant main doorcase, and large balcony and verandah overlooking the garden and Lamel Hill;
* the interior retains many of Brierley’s original good-quality fixtures and fittings, including horizontal-panelled doors, an inner lobby door with octagonal light of deep green glass, generous main staircase and simpler back staircase, decorative iron window catches and curved, sliding window stays, several fireplaces, built-in cupboards, panelled window seat to the drawing room bay, moulded architraves and cornices;
* the setting of the house was treated holistically, with Brierley designing a formal walled forecourt with brick herringbone paths, shaped and stone-coped steps, retaining walls and terrace rising to the front door;

Group value:
* Lamel Beeches has a strong functional and historical group value with The Retreat (Grade II*) and the numerous listed buildings on that site, as well as the Grade II* landscape.

Historic England, 2024, Advice Report (Report). SYO3142.