York Historic Environment Record

Based on current documentary and structural evidence, it is suggested that 39 Tanner Row may have been built shortly prior to 1843, as a purpose-built inn or public house. It replaced an earlier building, and formed part of a wholesale redevelopment of this side of Tanner Row stimulated by the opening of the nearby railway station in 1841. By 1852 it was known as ‘The Refreshment Public House’, and continued as such (with slight variations) until at least 1875 after which it was known as ‘The Grapes’.

Originally constructed as a four storey brick-built structure with separate beer barrel and bottle storage cellars. The principal entrance was through a doorway in the north elevation (Tanner Row), and rear access was provided by a separate passage running the full depth of the building along its west side. The main body of the building was two rooms deep, which on the ground floor may have formed the public bar and servery, and a tap room. There are few surviving original or early decorative finishes, and those that do survive (such as tongue and grooved panelling in the staircase hall) are typical of the basic decorative treatment seen in a later 19th century public house. No. 39 has retained many of its original sash windows, but these are generally in poor condition.

From the main body of the building, the passage continued as an external feature along the west side of the rear range, although it was covered by 1891. The north end of the rear range was of a single storey only and may have formed a smoke room; it also appears to have had a cellar beneath it. The remainder of the rear range may once have been two storeys in height, providing additional accommodation for staff and servants, and perhaps also housing kitchens.
The range was extended between 1852 and 1891, and may have been reduced to a single storey during the early 20th century. There was no associated stabling, but there were possibly outside W.C.’s in the rear yard.
Internally, the original staircase survives within the building, rising to a stair hall on each of the first, second and third floors. Each of the upper floors comprised a larger front (north) bedroom and a smaller rear (south) bedroom, all heated and probably originally provided with fitted cupboards. Most retain their original fireplaces, as well as a few pieces of fitted furniture, although only the first floor front room preserves a full range of decorative finishes. During the 20th century there was some sub-division to the front bedrooms, as well as the improvement of facilities with the installation of modern bathrooms in some of the rear bedrooms. It is believed that the property closed as a public house in 1978 and was subsequently converted into a restaurant. (Dennison 2024)




Public house, now restaurant. 1845-50. Painted brick in English garden-wall bond, with timber ground floor screen on painted stone plinth; timber eaves band beneath slate roof; brick stack at left end. EXTERIOR: 4-storey 2-window front. Ground floor screen of flat mullions and heavy moulded cornice between shaped brackets; 4-panel door and blocked overlight to right of three plate glass windows over panelled risers, all with cambered heads. On first and second floors, windows are 12-pane sashes with painted stone sills, on third floor, squat 6-pane sashes over raised sill band. Rainwater head and round fallpipe on fleur-de-lys clamps at left end. INTERIOR: not inspected. (City of York: RCHME: South-west of the Ouse: HMSO: 1972-: 130).
Listing NGR: SE5991151691

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

Ed Dennison, 2024, 39 Tanner Row (Unpublished document). SYO3115.