28–32 Coppergate

28–32 Coppergate is a historic building in the city centre of York, in England.

The terrace, in 2021

The rear part of the timber framed building originated as a five-bay hall house, built in the 15th century.[1][2] It may be the building recorded as having been built by William Alne, Member of Parliament for York, in about 1420. However, the City of York Council note that, due to its size and unusual layout, it may have been constructed as an inn.[3]

The ground floor of the house was open, probably for use as a shop, while on the first floor, the two south-eastern bays formed a single hall, open to the roof, while the third bay had a third storey. The fourth and fifth bays were later demolished, and their form is not known. In front of the hall house, facing on to Coppergate, is a row of three three-storey tenements These also date from the 15th century, and have shops on the ground floor and accommodation above. Each floor was jettied.[2] The first floor of 32 Coppergate extends out to the line of its second floor; this may be a later change,[1] but the City of York Council argues that it acted as a porch, and would have been in the centre of the facade of the original building.[3][4]

In the 17th century, a floor was inserted into the hall, to make this part of the building three-storeyed, and fireplaces were also added. The building was further altered in about 1800.[2] Originally, each shop had its own entrance, and there were pointed shop windows,[3] but the current shopfronts date from the 19th century. 28 Coppergate was restored in 1988, and then 30 Coppergate was restored in 1994.[2]

On the first floor are a couple of fragments of 17th century painted wall plaster. Some decorative plasterwork and fireplaces of this date also survive.[2][3]

The building was grade II* listed in 1954, with a note that it was an "apparently rare building type of which few other examples were known nationally", although 41–45 Goodramgate represents a more complete example in the same city.[2] It is currently divided into two shops, one of which is the haberdashery Duttons for Buttons.[5]