Accessibility statement

Resources for CECS students

York

York has been an important political, cultural, religious and trading centre since Roman times, and is particularly rich in Georgian architecture. With a population of approximately 150,000, York is a university town that’s big enough to feel cosmopolitan but small enough not to be overwhelming.

York is centrally located in the UK, midway between the major capitals of London and Edinburgh, with excellent transport links. We’re just two hours from London by train, and well served by international airports at nearby Leeds and Manchester.

The Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies at the King’s Manor combines a dynamic research culture with a beautiful historic setting. The Centre’s postgraduate study room and computer facilities at the King’s Manor mean students can enjoy exploring the latest online resources from a medieval building in York city centre. You can re-enact eighteenth-century polite sociability in one of York’s many coffee-houses, visit the York Art Gallery across the square, or have lunch in the eighteenth-century York Assembly Rooms round the corner from the Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies.

Eighteenth-century York

new-walk

The New Walk by the river used to be a fashionable place to promenade in the eighteenth century, as you can see from this picture.

York Conservation Trust provides a timeline and walking-guide to historic York.

From the Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies, you can easily walk to:

  • The Assembly Rooms, visited by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
  • The Yorkshire Museum and Museum Gardens.  The Yorkshire Philosophical Society opened the Museum and Gardens in the 1830s, and you can visit them today.
  • York Theatre Royal If you’re interested in the theatre during this period, you might enjoy Mrs Jordan’s Profession by Claire Tomalin (Penguin, 1995; new ed., 2003), which is a fascinating story of Dora Jordan, an actress who actually performed in York Theatre Royal during her career. Perdita by Paula Byrne tells the story of Mary Robinson, an actress and author. You might also want to visit the Georgian Theatre Royal in nearby Richmond. In 2017 the theatre commissioned Declan McCormack to produce an introductory film for visitors to 'The Georgian Theatre Experience’.
  • Nearby Fairfax House often has good exhibitions about eighteenth-century life and culture.
  • The Treasuers's House, birthplace of Elizabeth Montagu (and likely Sarah Scott) 

 

Country Houses

Yorkshire is particularly rich in country houses. Easily accessible from York by bike or bus, Beningborough Hall has a history spanning 300 years, changing art exhibitions and some beautiful gardens.

Lady Mary Wortley Montagu lived in Middlethorpe Hall for a while. It's now an exclusive restaurant/spa - but they also do traditional teas. It is a beautiful house, well worth a visit if you can afford it.

Castle Howard will be especially worth visiting in the summer, as the gardens are extensive, rolling and green, and there is a large walled rose-garden.

There are many other wonderful country houses in Yorkshire. The University has established a partnership with some to form the  Yorkshire Country Houses Project.