York Historic Environment Record

The properties fronting onto Blake Street are of timber framed construction dating back to the C16th, sections of which remain. The front elevations were re-fronted in the C18th and these were rebuilt substantially in the early 1980’s. Alterations throughout the buildings were made in the C18th. Sections of the original roof structures remain to the Blake Street frontage buildings. However there has been considerable structural intervention to these buildings throughout by way of steelwork and concrete foundations in the late C20th. A Victorian extension was added to No 3 at ground and first floor levels to provide deed storage. To the rear of the site is a 1950’s building over ground and first floors. The property was acquired by the Blake Street Venture in 2005 from long term owner / occupiers House & Son. The Blake Street Venture proposals are to provide 2No retail units to the ground floors of Nos 3 and 5 Blake Street with 2No apartments above and town houses to the rear of the site. Therefore as part of the planning process and opening up of areas of the building during in preliminary works, it has been necessary to investigate the building. The findings of which are referenced / included here along with a photographic record of the building as found over the period from Autumn 2005 to Summer 2006. Experts in wall coverings; Mr Antony Wells-Cole of Temple Newsham and Christine Woods of the Whitworth Art Gallery visited site to assess the wall coverings to Office 4 and Store 6 (as shown on the existing plans). A copy of the letter received from Christine Woods is included in this report in Section 7. Samples of the wallpaper are held at the York City Archive. Ascension Number 861 Report Includes: -Existing Drawings -Historical Report -Photographic Record Index -Photographic Identification Plan -Photographic Record -Wallpaper Assessment Total No. Photographs (369, overlaps with photographs from report) Files on CD2: -11/08/2005 (3) -20/10/2005 (55) -20/09/2005 (36) -21/06/06 (133) -28/09/2005 (46) -Additional Photos (42) -NH July Set (50, includes photo list) -Timber Pannelling Opening Up (4)