Nearest Online Tour Guide page: Duncombe Place

The Red House is an 18th century townhouse which nearly became the permanent residency for the Lord Mayor of York.

In 1724 the Corporation of York tried to buy the house from Sir William Robinson, himself a former mayor. They failed and instead built the Mansion House in front of the medieval Guildhall.

Robinson, a baronet, had the house built while he was Lord Mayor of York in 1700. The architect was unknown, although William Etty has been named by some sources. This is unlikely.

There were two William Ettys from York: the more famous painter wasn’t born until 1787, but his fame is such that he is often attributed with work done by the other William Etty.

The earlier William Etty was an architect who built the Holy Trinity Church on Boar Lane in Leeds, among other churches. However, he was only 25 in 1700 and unlikely to have been given such an important commission as the Red House.

It’s far more likely that the Red House was built by John Etty, William the architect’s father, who by 1700 had already built Strensall Hall for William Robinson.

Don’t call the house Georgian, by the way: George I didn’t ascend the throne of Great Britain until 1724: architecturally, therefore, it’s from the Queen Anne period.

The Red House survives today as an antiques shop.