The History of Middletons Hotel

Built towards the end of the 19th century, the unique Victorian style building was still in use by the master organ builder Walter Hopkins until 1921 when he retired. Walter built some of the finest organs for the churches of York and beyond. It was extended and converted in the early 1990s into a first floor conference room seating up to forty delegates.

The “Terry Memorial Houses” that are located in the garden of Middletons were designed by architect Walter G Pentry, 1899, funded by public subscriptions to the memory of the late Sir Joseph Terry. Of architectural note are the heraldic display and buttresses. Renovated and now divided into two rooms, they offer spacious accommodation.

A large town house built in the second half of the 18th Century, probably to designs by John Carr. Before 1760 the site belonged to George Pawson, a York Merchant who moved to London and leased the “house, garden and cellars” to tenants until 1769, when he sold the freehold to Ralph Dodsworth, merchant, Lord Mayor of York in 1792. Dodsworth was Sheriff in 1777-9, and since it was customary for the sheriffs to entertain in their own houses, it is likely that the present building dates from this time. The house changed hands several times after this. In 1925 a carriageway was driven through the building to give access to a rear yard, demolishing a service wing and destroying important rooms.

The driveway was removed, and rooms reinstated, plus extending the rear of the building in 1998/99, creating a conference suite. In early 2012, the whole building was refurbished and the existent standard bedrooms and conference rooms were turned into two executive, cosy and comfy rooms keeping the Palladian lounge with a beautiful Venetian window overlooking the garden of Skeldergate House.

This elegant town house was built in the late 17th Century, in the originally extensive gardens of the Skeldergate House. It has been greatly reduced in size since 1850, by the removal of a block of buildings, possibly service quarters, from the back. Rebuilding and alterations were necessary following war damage in 1942.

Inside, the feature of note is the staircase, with turned balusters with square knops, a closed string, turned newels and a swept handrail.

Latterly the house was the residence of Hans Hess, a renowned art expert and former director of York City Art Gallery. It is here that he would entertain participants of the triennial York Festival of which he was artistic director from 1954 to 1966. Guests included Benjamin Britten, Peter Pears, Cleo Laine, Johnny Dankworth and Charlie Chaplin; one of the greatest laughter makers of all time. The period staircase leads to a further nine en-suite bedrooms on three floors.