Fairfax House on Castlegate in York was the city home of Anne Fairfax, given to her in 1759 by her father, Charles, 9th Viscount Fairfax of Emley. From 1762 to 1772, they lived there during the winter season, using it as a base for social events and summer race meetings. To turn the existing property into a modern townhouse, the Viscount hired architect John Carr, who led a full rebuild. Over two years, Carr and a team of local craftsmen reworked the house with clear proportions, classical features and a focus on natural light.
After a vibrant and varied life, first as a private residence, then as a gentleman’s club and later as a cinema and dance hall, by 1980 Fairfax House stood empty. It was restored and opened to the public as a museum in 1984. Fairfax House holds a collection of 18th-century furniture, clocks, silver and paintings. At its core is the Noel Terry collection, which, though not originally owned by the Fairfax family, reflects the style, quality and taste of the period. Displayed throughout the house, these objects bring John Carr’s interiors to life and help recreate the atmosphere of a refined Georgian townhouse.
The plastic pineapple was probably not part of the Noel Terry collection.
a portrait of Anne Fairfax
