Retaining Wall and Steps on North East Side of South Esplanade

RETAINING WALL AND STEPS ON NORTH EAST SIDE OF SOUTH ESPLANADE, SOUTH ESPLANADE

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1256612
Date first listed:
04-Feb-1994
List Entry Name:
Retaining Wall and Steps on North East Side of South Esplanade
Statutory Address:
RETAINING WALL AND STEPS ON NORTH EAST SIDE OF SOUTH ESPLANADE, SOUTH ESPLANADE
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Location

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Date:
2001-07-22
Reference:
IOE01/04208/29
Rights:
© Mr Martin Roberts. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1256612
Date first listed:
04-Feb-1994
List Entry Name:
Retaining Wall and Steps on North East Side of South Esplanade
Statutory Address 1:
RETAINING WALL AND STEPS ON NORTH EAST SIDE OF SOUTH ESPLANADE, SOUTH ESPLANADE

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
RETAINING WALL AND STEPS ON NORTH EAST SIDE OF SOUTH ESPLANADE, SOUTH ESPLANADE

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:
York (Unitary Authority)
Parish:
Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:
SE 60319 51477

Details

YORK

SE6051SW SOUTH ESPLANADE 1112-1/21/920 (North East side) 04/02/94 Retaining wall and steps on north-east side of South Esplanade

GV II

Part of south-west boundary wall to precinct of former Franciscan Friary; now retaining wall on north-east side of South Esplanade incorporating steps and railings at rear of Magistrates' Court, No.16 Clifford Street (qv) and to Peckitt Street; in part forming boundary walls to No.8 Peckitt Street and Nos 1-3 Friar's Terrace (qv), Nos 1-5 South Esplanade (qv), and No.8 Tower Place (qv). Wall extends approximately 150 metres from south-east corner of Lower Friargate to No.9 Tower Place (qv), formerly Davy Tower. Late C13 and later. Magnesian limestone, raised in brick of various dates, with stone copings, sloped, milled or cambered in places. Painted cast-iron railings. Wall is approximately 3 metres high, on chamfered plinth, stepped over blocked opening at Friargate end; base of wall is battered between Friargate and Peckitt Street, and strengthened by 7 battered buttresses. At south-east corner of Lower Friargate is square section stone pier with moulded cornice beneath cross-pedimented cap; at foot of Peckitt Street a brick pier with pyramidal cap. Further south-east, wall is broken by various openings, including round-arched chamfered doorway beneath No.4 South Esplanade, iron gate to No.1 South Esplanade, and a chamfered 2-centred door arch to No.8 Tower Place. At rear of Magistrates' Court, flight of steps and gate have diagonally set square section railings with crocket finials and octagonal gate posts. Railings to steps at foot of Peckitt Street are square section with flat handrail, scrolled at bottom on turned standard. (An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in the City of York: RCHME: The Defences: HMSO: 1972-: 159; City of York: RCHME: The Central Area: HMSO: 1981-: 51).

Listing NGR: SE6031951477

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
464733
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
An Inventory of the City of York II Defences, (1972), 159
An Inventory of the City of York V Central, (1981), 51

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Retaining Wall and Steps on North East Side of South Esplanade

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 05-Jul-2026 at 06:45:20.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

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.

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