National Trust - Treasurer's House, York

Behind York Minster, Treasurer’s House combines an early 17th-century townhouse with older building remains and rooms filled with Frank Green’s eclectic collection. You can see furniture, paintings and textiles from different periods on a guided tour, which also brings the house’s history and ghost story to life. Leave time for the garden, where paths and statues frame views of the Minster. A basement cafe serves lunch and tea, with a second-hand bookshop nearby.

A townhouse beside York Minster

Treasurer’s House stands in Minster Yard, just behind York Minster. Its name recalls the Minster treasurer, who received important guests at the residence. Building remains from the 11th and 12th centuries survive alongside the later house. Much of the building’s present appearance comes from a redesign in the early 17th century, with curved gables, window pediments and a Classical entrance.

The house later passed through several hands, including those of three Archbishops of York after the Reformation. Frank Green bought it in 1897 and filled its rooms with furnishings and objects collected from different periods and places.

Rooms shaped by Frank Green’s collection

A guided tour takes you through rooms with distinct decoration and furnishings. The collection includes furniture, textiles, paintings and ceramics, with pieces spanning several centuries. Medieval tables sit alongside elaborate beds and furnishings in varied styles. The mix is part of the house’s character: rooms bring together objects from different traditions rather than following one period throughout.

Guides also tell the stories of the house and its former residents. One portrait on the William and Mary staircase is noted for an unusual detail: its painted foot seems to follow you as you move. A ghost story is associated with the property and its cellar, adding another thread to the tour’s history.