06
October, 2025
Building The Retreat: the first 60 years
Yorkshire Philosophical Society (YPS) joined us for a lecture
Celebrating History and Community at The Retreat York
Last week, The Retreat York had the pleasure of welcoming 50 members of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society (YPS) for a captivating afternoon exploring the origins of one of York’s most significant historic sites.
The event featured an insightful lecture, Building The Retreat: the first 60 years (1794–1854), delivered by Dr Victoria Hopgood, architectural historian. Her talk delved into the remarkable early years of The Retreat’s creation, revealing the enduring Quaker values and visionary leadership of its founder, William Tuke, whose pioneering approach transformed mental health care across the world.
A Living Connection to York’s Past
Among the audience was Emma Darbyshire, a history student from York St John University, who is currently writing her dissertation on The Retreat’s history. We’re delighted to be supporting her research as it develops – a testament to our ongoing commitment to education, heritage, and community engagement.
It was wonderful to see such genuine enthusiasm for the story of this extraordinary place. The event also sparked great interest in The Retreat’s evolving heritage programme – with ten guests joining our Heritage mailing list and several more taking away information about our current restoration and development work.
Looking Ahead: A Hub for Knowledge and Culture.
This inaugural lecture was run as a pilot in partnership with the YPS, and the response could not have been more positive. Plans are already underway to host a series of future lectures and events exploring themes across natural and social sciences – bringing fresh opportunities for conversation, learning, and discovery within the walls of this historic landmark.
We’re thrilled to see The Retreat once again becoming a vibrant part of York’s cultural and intellectual life, connecting its rich past with a dynamic future.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us – we look forward to welcoming you back soon for more inspiring events.
If you’d like to hear about upcoming events or about the first release of upcoming homes, register your interest and you’ll be added onto our mailing list.