De Grey Rooms And Attached Gates, Railings And Lamp Standards, Grade II* listed building in York, England
De Grey Rooms is a neoclassical building from the 1840s in York with seven sections across its front, the middle five projecting slightly forward with white rendered walls. Inside, a large hall features ornate plaster ceilings, a cast-iron staircase decorated with grapevine patterns, detailed doorframes, and adjoining rooms with curved ends and panelled walls.
The building was designed by architect George Townsend Andrews and funded by public donation between 1841 and 1842 to serve as a meeting place for Yorkshire Hussars officers. During World War II, it became a popular dance venue that boosted morale in the city, and later housed the Tourist Information Centre and now accommodates the Theatre Royal.
The building takes its name from Thomas Philip de Grey, an earl and colonel of the Yorkshire Hussars cavalry regiment that used it for gatherings. The ballroom served as a social hub for dances, concerts, and community events that shaped how people in York connected and celebrated together.
The building is centrally located in York and easily reached on foot or by bus, with public car parks nearby. The main entrance is accessed via a raised flat bridge, and visitors walking around the front can observe the cast-iron gates and lamp posts that frame the historic setting.
The architect George Townsend Andrews, who designed this building, also designed York's famous railway station. This connection links the building to the city's railway development and shows how one architect shaped multiple landmarks that define York.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
