Harkers, York
Harkers is a pub in the city centre of York, in England.
The building was designed by George Townsend Andrews as the headquarters of the Yorkshire Insurance Company.[1] It was completed in 1847, and lies on St Helen's Square, at its corner with Lendal. It was Grade II listed in 1968.[2] In the 1990s, it was converted into a pub.[3] The pub is owned by the Mitchells & Butlers group. It was renovated in 2022.[4]
The design of the building is inspired by the Palazzo Farnese in Rome. It is a sandstone building of two storeys, plus a basement and attic. Its front to St Helen's Square is five bays wide, with an additional bay being an entrance arch to Breary's Court. The main entrance has a Doric order porch, up five stone steps, with double doors. There is a prominent frieze under the cornice, reading "YORKSHIRE INSURANCE COMPANY ESTABLISHED MDCCXXIIII". The Lendal front is also of five bays and of similar design, but all the windows are blocked.[1][2]
Inside, the original interior survives, including a staircase with a cast iron balustrade, a mahogany counter, doors and panelling, and plasterwork including a cornice. The boardroom on the first floor has a fireplace in the 18th century style. The railings in front of the building are also original and form part of the listing.[1][2]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in City of York, Volume 5, Central. London: HMSO. 1981. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ a b c Historic England. "YORKSHIRE INSURANCE COMPANY AND RAILINGS ATTACHED TO FRONT (1256794)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
- ^ "Work needed at historic York bar to prevent masonry falling to the ground". York Mix. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
- ^ Connell, Dylan (26 September 2022). "Harkers York closes for three-week revamp". The Press. Retrieved 8 December 2022.