Judges' Lodgings, York facts for kids
The Judges' Lodgings is a very old and important building in York, England. For many years, it was a special home for judges. These judges visited York to work in the Assize Courts, which were big courts held four times a year.
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History of the Judges' Lodgings
The Judges' Lodgings is a special kind of old house called a Grade I listed townhouse. It is located at 9 Lendal in York, North Yorkshire. It got its name because from 1806, it was where judges stayed when they came to York for court cases.
Building the Lodgings
This building was constructed between 1711 and 1726. It was built on land that used to belong to an old church called St Wilfred's, which was taken down a long time ago. In 1736, a historian named Francis Drake wrote about this new house. He said it was one of the "best built houses in the city." Drake also mentioned that when workers dug the foundations, they found many old human bones.
We don't know for sure who designed the building. Some people think it might have been Lord Burlington. He designed other famous buildings nearby, like the York Assembly Rooms and possibly the Mansion House, York. The Judges' Lodgings is an early example of the 18th-century classical style of building. It has fancy stone decorations around the door, including a special arch. The stone above the arch has a carved face of Aesculapius, who was a Greek god of medicine. An old map from 1727, made by John Cossins, even showed a picture of the house.
The part of the building on the South-East side was built in three steps. The first two floors were added in the 1700s. Then, more was built in 1806, and a third floor was added in the mid-1800s. The stairs outside the front door were added in the 1800s; before that, there was only one set of steps. Inside, the main staircase is from the Georgian period and is made of oak wood.
During some digging in the 1980s, workers found something interesting in the cellar. They discovered that the cellar was built on top of an even older structure. This was part of a late Roman interval tower, which was one of six towers along the side of the Roman fortress in York.
First Residents of the House
The Judges' Lodgings was first built as a private home for Clifton Winteringham senior. He was a doctor who lived from 1689 to 1748. He became a doctor at York County Hospital in 1746.
Dr. Winteringham was an important person at the hospital. He also treated important people, like the Earl of Carlisle. Dr. Winteringham wrote books and worked in York for over 35 years. The carving of the Greek god of healing, Aesculapius, on the main door might be a nod to his profession. Dr. Winteringham is buried in St. Michael-le-Belfrey Church, which is near York Minster. After he passed away, another doctor named John Dealtry bought the building.
Later Uses of the Building
In 1806, the county bought the building to use as a home for judges. These judges came to York for the quarterly sessions of the Assize Courts at York Castle. These courts handled very serious crimes from all over the country. The judges were from a high court called the Kings Bench Division. Five special people, chosen from local officials, were put in charge of the house. A couple named Mr and Mrs Kilvington were hired to look after the house and were paid by the county. The top floor rooms were for the judge's own helpers, and the rooms in the wing were for the housekeepers who lived there.
Today, the Judges' Lodgings is no longer a home for judges. It is now a hotel and a bar, where people can stay and visit.
