King's Manor, Grade I listed manor house in Exhibition Square, York, England
King's Manor is a complex of interconnected buildings in Exhibition Square featuring multiple courtyards, mullioned windows, and brick walls with stone accents. The structures reveal different periods of construction layered together across what was originally one residential compound.
The building began as an abbot's residence in the eleventh century and was later transformed into the headquarters of the Council of the North in 1539. This shift gave the site royal and political authority during the Tudor period.
The building now serves as the home of York St John University's historic campus, where students move through corridors and courtyards that once hosted royal decisions. Daily university life has transformed how the spaces are used, from lecture halls to meeting areas where the past and present coexist.
The manor stands near Bootham Bar and now houses university facilities including a café in the former Council Chamber. Visitors can explore the courtyards and corridors during university opening hours.
The site received King Henry VIII and Queen Catherine Howard in 1541 during a royal visit on their northern journey. This brief stay connected the place forever to royal history.
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