Petergate House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Petergate House |
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|---|---|
| Oratory House | |
Petergate House, in 2021
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| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Tradition | Oratory of Saint Philip Neri |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | The Rectory |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
Petergate House (also known as Oratory House) is a very old and special building in the city of York, England. It has a special status called "Grade II* listed". This means it's a really important historic building that needs to be protected. Today, it serves as the home for the priests of the York Oratory.
Contents
Discovering Petergate House's History
Petergate House has a long and interesting past. The first building on this spot was built around the year 1500. Over the years, many different people owned it. Some famous owners included Thomas Herbert and Henry Swinburne.
How the House Changed Over Time
In 1723, a man named William Turner bought the old house. He decided to tear down most of it. Only one small passageway from the original building remained. A brand new house was then built in its place. This new house had three floors and seven sections across its front. The front of the house was covered in stucco, which was made to look like stone. The back of the house was built with bricks.
Modern Updates and Unique Features
Later, in the 1800s, Petergate House got some updates. A new type of roof, called a mansard roof, was added. A rounded, two-story section was also built at the back of the house. The inside of the house was changed a lot too. The main staircase was moved and updated.
Even with all these changes, some original parts of the house still exist. You can still see several old fireplaces. Much of the decoration in the front room on the ground floor, on the left side, is also original. Some parts of the staircase, like the balusters (the small posts that support the handrail), are even older, dating back to about 1700.
Petergate House Today
Today, Petergate House is known as the rectory for the York Oratory. This means it is the official home for the priests, called Fathers, who serve the Oratory. The house also has a lovely garden. Sometimes, this garden is opened to the public, so people can visit and enjoy its beauty.
