Description

YORK

SE6052SW ST LEONARD'S PLACE
1112-1/27/946 (East side)
14/06/54 Theatre Royal and Undercroft

GV II*

Formerly known as: Remains of St Peter's Hospital ST LEONARD'S
PLACE.
Theatre, incorporating part of an undercroft of former St
Leonard's Hospital in basement. Undercroft C12; original
theatre on site 1744; theatre rebuilt 1879-80, interior
remodelled 1901-2, extended 1967; refurbished in late C20.
Rebuild of 1879 by G Styan, City Engineer; 1902 interior by FA
Tugwell of Scarborough; extension by Patrick Gwynne and RA
Sefton.
MATERIALS: rock-faced sandstone with slate roofs; extension of
reinforced concrete and glass.
STYLE: Gothic Revival.
EXTERIOR: 3 storeys and attic; 3-bay gabled front projects
over 5-bay buttressed arcade between set back 3-storey bay to
left, two similar 2-storey bays to right: further left is
2-storied extension. Entrance in extension which has full
height curtain walls of glass carried on hexagonal concrete
columns rising into vaulted canopies. Arcade is of 2-centred
arches of 2 orders, inner order chamfered, on responds and
shafts with stiff-leaf capitals; arches beneath hoodmoulds on
head or foliate stops, with spandrels containing roundels,
some carved in low relief with female heads. Above is corbel
cornice and parapet incorporating band of heraldic shields set
in sunk panels, blank except for one at each end carved with
cross of St George. In centre of first floor is a canted oriel
window with four 2-centred arched lights between clustered
shafts: steep roof is half hexagonal with gargoyles and blind
trefoiled band at the base. On first and second floors,
windows flanking oriel are narrow paired 1-pane sashes; on
first floor, in 2-centred arches of 2 orders with sunk
quatrefoils in the tympana, on second floor, beneath lintels
carved in relief with stiff leaf foliage. Foliate capitals on
first floor are extended to form full-width carved impost band
returned at both ends: second floor windows have sillstring.
Attic window is of 2 square-headed louvred lights in blind
2-centred arches on coupled shafts within single 2-centred
arch with blind sunk quatrefoil in tympanum. Gable has
bartizan at each side and is edged with blind trefoiled band
over corbelled eaves string. Each side has steeply gabled
dormer with plain bargeboards and windows of paired
trefoil-headed lights, 1-pane sashes to left, louvred to
right. Gable is crowned with a standing figure in cross-gabled
niche with crockets and finials. End left bay has two blind
window arches on first floor, blank second floor, and pierced
parapet. Right end bays have two square-headed sash windows in

2-centred arches of 2 orders with waterleaf capitals, blind
tympanum containing sunk quatrefoil and hoodmoulds on head or
grotesque stops on ground floor. On first floor, windows
repeat those of gabled front. Coved impost band on ground
floor returns at right end carved with stiff leaf.
INTERIOR: Rear of stage is formed by length of medieval wall
incorporating towards left end springing of 4-centred gate
arch of voussoirs; above is flat cornice and high wall pierced
by two cruciform arrow slits. At right end of building
semi-basement is located in two visible bays of vaulted
undercroft with groined semicircular arches springing from
squat cylindrical columns and square piers or responds with
scalloped capitals. 1901-2 auditorium with stalls, dress
circle, upper circle and gallery. Proscenium arch with shield
motof flanked by three tiers of bowed boxes set beneath
segmental arches. Columns on dress circle box fronts, the
others with scallop and shell decoration. 1967 foyer formed of
two storeys of mushroom columns, those to upper floor
oversailing to permit full-height glazing. Concrete with
exposed aggregate finish. Serpentine cantilevered staircase
with marble edging to sides and metal handrail. Slate rear
wall. Mosaic walling to upper floors. Workshop added behind
foyer.
HISTORICAL NOTE: the first theatre on the site was opened in
1744. This was rebuilt, reorientated and enlarged at various
dates before the present building was constructed. It was
granted the Royal patent in 1769 when Tate Wilkinson was
manager and lessee.
The theatre was first listed 24/06/83.
(Bartholomew City Guides: Hutchinson J and Palliser DM: York:
Edinburgh: 1980-: 163; Murray H: Nathaniel Whittock's
Bird's-eye View of the City of York in 1850: York: 1988-: 11;
The Buildings of England: Pevsner N: Yorkshire: York and the
East Riding: Harmondsworth: 1972-: 139; City of York: RCHME:
The Central Area: HMSO: 1981-: 94; 103).

Listing NGR: SE6013452120

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• York Theatre Royal at Wikipedia
• York Theatre Royal official website
• Wikidata Q3572609

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings
• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)