The Yorkshire-based Oakgate Group is converting a 500-year-old building in the centre of York — reputedly the city’s most haunted property — into a high-end restaurant or retail premises.
The timber framed medieval Grade II listed 35 Stonegate was acquired by international astrologer Jonathan Cainer in 1999. This summer he sold the building to Oakgate for £800,000.
The purchase is the eleventh deal the group, which has its offices in Wetherby, has completed since the early 1980s on Stonegate described by its chief executive, John Grantham, as “arguably Yorkshire’s most prestigious retail street”. A tenant for 35 Stonegate has yet to be found but the conversion work will be completed by January.
The building covers three floors and an attic. The ground floor, which incorporates a glazed courtyard, offers a total of 1,550 sq ft, with 850 sq ft on both the first floor and second floors and 300 sq ft of space in the attic.
“The interior of 35 Stonegate, including some priceless stained glass and wooden panelling, is utterly unique and would provide the perfect home for a premier retailer or quality restaurant operator,” said Graham.
“It is very distinctive, containing, as it does, centuries of history and we expect strong levels of interest from across the UK.
“This building is an absolute gem, with a rich and varied history,” he added. “Once we have completed our sensitive interior and exterior refurbishment programme, which includes a new glazed courtyard area, there will be prime retail and leisure space to let in the very heart of York.”
Number 35 Stonegate dates from the 15th century and was added to in both the 17th and 19th centuries. Francis Hilyard opened his famous bookshop The Sign of the Bible there in 1682. It remained a bookshop under various owners until 1873.
More recently 35 Stonegate was open to the public as York’s “Haunted House” with regular sightings of all 14 of its ghosts. It has featured in several television investigations including the Yvette Fielding-hosted Most Haunted. The day after its 25 August closure spiritualists performed a ceremony designed to “place the ghosts at peace”.
“I consider it a matter of great personal responsibility to ensure that all spirits, memories, ghosts and other residual ethereal entities connected to this property are fully and properly laid to rest,” said Jonathan Cainer in a statement.
“Future inhabitants and visitors to Stonegate can rest assured they will have no trouble with or suffer disturbances from anything related to the past of 35 Stonegate.”
