3 days ago
Recognise this York building? It's now York's most expensive house
Do you recognise this York building - it used to be a hospital
OUR archive photo shows Purey Cust House – in the shadow of York Minster – in 1957 when it was a hospital.
The building, now a luxury private home, has been in the news because it has gone on sale as York's most expensive private house, with an asking price just shy of £6 million.
The house was once known as Purey Cust Chambers and was originally designed in 1825 by the York architect Richard Hey Sharp. It was later part of Purey Cust Hospital.
Purey Cust House today - on sale for £6m. Photo supplied (Image: Photo supplied)It was built on the former York Minster Stoneyard site and was commissioned by York Minster's Dean and Chapter with the aim of providing accommodation for the cathedral's canons. Unsigned designs for the building - similar to what was actually built - are preserved in the York Minster library.
The building was originally commissioned with a budget not to exceed £3,600.
The image, from York Explore archive ( also features a late Norman arcade which was part of the former Archbishop's Palace in York Minster grounds.
If you love delving into York's past and seeing photos and reading stories from yesteryear then make sure you check The Press every day for its regular nostalgia stories. And don't miss our eight-page nostalgia supplement every Wednesday in the paper.
We also have more than 3,000 members in our online nostalgia group on Facebook, Why We Love York - Memories. It is free to join and you will find us at
It would be great to see your old photos of York - and they don't have to be from centuries ago. We all love seeing old photos from our recent past, and some of our more popular stories with readers date from the 70s, 80s and 90s.
If you have a nostalgia story for us, please email
