The King's Manor, York

The King's Manor, located in the heart of York, on Exhibition Square, is a historically rich Grade I listed building that currently forms part of the University of York's campus. The history of this site stretches back to the eleventh century, though the oldest extant parts of the building date from the fifteenth century. Originally, King's Manor served as the residence for the abbots of Saint Mary's Abbey, York.

After the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539 by Henry VIII, King's Manor was repurposed to house the Council of the North, a body established to govern the northern regions of England. It fulfilled this role until the Council was disbanded in 1641. Subsequently, from 1667 to 1688, it became the official residence of the Governor of York. During the Glorious Revolution in 1688, the building played a dramatic role in English history. It was seized from Sir John Reresby, the then-Governor who remained loyal to James II, by forces loyal to William of Orange led by Thomas Osborne, Earl of Danby.

Following the upheaval of the Glorious Revolution, King's Manor was leased to private tenants for over a century. In the nineteenth century, it found a new purpose as the premises expanded to accommodate the Yorkshire School for the Blind, which occupied the building until 1958. The departure of the Blind School marked another chapter for the Manor, as it was then acquired by the York City Council.

In 1963, the council leased King's Manor to the University of York. Since then, it has been an integral part of the university, housing various academic departments and providing a picturesque and historically evocative setting for education and research. This storied building not only serves as a link to the rich medieval and early modern history of York but also continues to be a vibrant part of its educational landscape.