King's Manor

Project overview

In June 2024, we confirmed plans to move out of our much-loved King’s Manor in the centre of York. We will bring Archaeology, Centre for Medieval Studies and Centre for Eighteenth-Century Studies to our main University campus.

Where

We are exploring different options on Campus West - in particular, Berrick Saul and Heslington Hall - to understand how we best manage space for all the different requirements for Arts and Humanities. 

This includes how we support teaching space, labs, academic workspace, community events, a strong research environment, professional services and provide a welcoming and inspiring place for staff, students and visitors.

A new home 

We understand how sad it is to move from King’s Manor and we recognise there are concerns about how we best share space on campus. 

We will be taking time to listen and talk to staff, PGRs and students about how we can draw out the benefits of co-location and evolve our exceptionally strong interdisciplinary home for Arts and Humanities on campus. 

The Library at King's Manor will also be affected by this change, details of which will be shared over the coming months.

When

We are working towards Archaeology and the Centres to complete the move to campus by September 2025, but we need to understand whether this is feasible given the complexity of the inter-connected changes. 

Why

It has become increasingly clear that substantial running costs, conservation costs and accessibility concerns makes it very difficult for us to continue using King’s Manor in the way that we have in the past. It is a space that does not meet the future needs of our entire community and we must address these challenges responsibly.

This is also part of a wider plan for our campus, as we look to share our quality buildings more with each other, whilst also repurposing unsuitable ones. It is not possible to reconfigure the Grade 1 Listed King’s Manor building so that it is fit for modern academic use.

Costs associated with King’s Manor

We know staff and students have asked for more information about the costs to run King’s Manor, which have underpinned the University’s decisions to move teaching and activity out of the building.

The costs below are from 2022/23, with updated figures available soon.

• c.£500,000 annual running costs for King’s Manor (excluding provision of library services) 
• More than £1 million backlog of the most urgent maintenance, based on a Purcell Condition Survey Report from 2022.
  This cost does not include upgrades to take account of legislation re: energy efficiency, improvements to accessibility and modernisation, e.g. WCs.
• At least £15 million longer term costs. This is bare minimum to keep the building watertight, so fuller conservation costs will be much more. 

Estates also notes that the net usable space of King’s Manor is 36%, compared to over 80% for our on-campus spaces of Church Lane Building and Berrick Saul.

What next for King’s Manor

We understand that King’s Manor is really significant to our local and national heritage. It will remain an important part of the University and as a scholarly resource. 

The University currently retains the lease and we are talking to our landlord (City of York Council) and heritage organisations to conserve and protect this beautiful, historic space. 

This will form another chapter in the history of King’s Manor - firstly, as the residence of the Abbots of St. Mary’s Abbey, then as the meeting place of the King’s Council in the North, as the original Manor school, the Wilberforce School for the Blind and most recently, as a home for Archaeology, Medieval Studies and Eighteenth Century Studies at the University. We will share updates about King’s Manor future as soon as we can.