York House
York House, 12, Drury Lane
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1242813
- Date first listed:
- 14-Jul-1953
- List Entry Name:
- York House
- Statutory Address:
- York House, 12, Drury Lane
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2001-03-24
- Reference:
- IOE01/03861/14
- Rights:
- © Mr John Turner. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1242813
- Date first listed:
- 14-Jul-1953
- Date of most recent amendment:
- 01-Feb-1979
- List Entry Name:
- York House
- Statutory Address 1:
- York House, 12, Drury Lane
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- York House, 12, Drury Lane
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Wakefield (Metropolitan Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- SE 32925 20789
History
Westgate, one of Wakefield’s four principal medieval streets, became a popular residential district for the mercantile classes in the C17 and C18. York House was one of the largest and finest examples built at that time, originally setback from Westgate and surrounded by gardens. It was possibly built in the late 1760s, and certainly by 1775 when it was owned by James Banks who was involved in Wakefield’s wool trade. Banks then built a theatre on the Westgate Road frontage for the actor/manager Tate Wilkinson; the theatre opened in 1776, this now being the Theatre Royal that was rebuilt in 1894. In the mid-C19 the house was owned by solicitor William Stewart, who is believed to have named it York House. After his death it became a private gentleman’s club modelled on London clubs until about 1950.
Details
This list entry was subjected to a Minor Enhancement on 2 April 2024 to amend details in the description, add Historical note and source and reformat the text to current standards
SE 3220 NE 1/24
DRURY LANE No 12 (York House)
(Formerly listed as Wakefield and County Club)
14.7.53.
II*
Large house built by about 1775 for James Banks (founder of Wakefield’s first purpose-built theatre), later used as the Wakefield and County Club (a gentleman’s club) until about 1950, now used as a hotel.
This is a substantial square house of two and a half storeys with principal facades to the north and west, both of five bays, with classical-style central entrances. Built of light-coloured red brick with finely gauged arches, triple keystones and stone cills to recessed sash windows with glazing bars, some being original, some early C19. The stone slate roof is hipped and has a moulded stone eaves cornice. The two-storey kitchen wing attached to the north-east has a ground-floor Venetian window with a lunette window to the upper floor.
The interior woodwork is complete and of good quality, particularly the doorcases. There are three handsome carved chimneypieces, one with a panel retaining an original painting of a Chinese scene. The hall and landings have arches, and the staircase is rather small. Most of the rooms have deep plaster cornices. The Adam-style decoration in one room is later reproduction.
Listing NGR: SE3292520789
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 443763
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Harman, R, Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England. Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South, (2017)
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 15-Jun-2026 at 07:56:23.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.