Yorkshire Philosophical Society Lecture

by | Oct 6, 2025 | Blog, Current Developments, News & Events, Uncategorised

06

October 2026

The First 60 Years

The building of The Retreat, York

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.

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From York Unlocked to 120 Heritage Homes

by | Sep 1, 2025 | Blog, Community, Current Developments, Featured, New Properties, News & Events, P J Livesey News

01

September 2025

Opening the Doors

850 visitors arrived as part of the city wide York Unlocked event

For the first time in its long history, the public were able to explore this extraordinary site – a place that has overlooked the city for more than two centuries. With 30 acres of landscaped grounds, a peaceful atmosphere, and views stretching to York Minster, it was a rare opportunity to step behind the walls and discover one of York’s hidden landmarks.

A Day of Discovery

The event, organised and promoted by York Unlocked, proved so popular that additional ticket allocations had to be released to meet demand. Visitors followed self-guided routes around the extensive grounds, with information points highlighting the site’s unique heritage and significance.

Many also stepped inside the former Recreation Hall to glimpse its remarkable interiors – a space rarely seen by the public before.

Heritage and Personal Stories

What made the day so special were the personal stories shared by former staff and families connected to The Retreat. Their memories added warmth and depth to the experience, reminding us of the human history woven into every part of this remarkable place.

Looking Ahead

We were delighted to host York Unlocked at The Retreat and are grateful to the volunteers who made the day possible. While this event was part of the city’s wider programme, we are planning our own series of heritage and engagement events, curated by our Events & Engagement Officer, Lucy South, to continue opening up the site to the community.

As development progresses, more areas of The Retreat will be revealed, offering new opportunities to explore and connect with its story.

The Future of The Retreat

The Retreat is now undergoing a transformation. The estate is being sensitively reshaped into a community of 120 characterful heritage homes, steeped in history and retaining many original features. Alongside these, a number of sustainably designed new homes will be created to sit perfectly within their historic surroundings – ensuring this unique site continues to play a role in York’s story for generations to come.

Sign up to hear about future heritage and community events, so you don’t miss the chance to explore more of this remarkable site.

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Welcoming Historic England to The Retreat

by | Jul 28, 2025 | Blog, Current Developments, News & Events, Recently Acquired, Uncategorised

28

jULY 2025

Welcoming Historic England

To The Retreat development in York

Last week, we welcomed representatives from Historic England (HE) to The Retreat in York – a special occasion that allowed us to reflect on our rich history, the legacy of compassionate care, and the importance of preserving that heritage for future generations.

The visit was part of Historic England’s ongoing commitment to recognising and protecting places that have shaped the nation’s social and cultural landscape.

We were proud to open our doors to the HE team, who joined us to explore the grounds and original buildings.

Hannah Saxton, Stakeholder Engagement Adviser at Historic England. Said: “From the Georgian architecture in the Recreation Hall to the quiet gardens designed to foster calm and recovery, the spirit of the founding Quakers is still very much alive here. The Retreat’s pioneering approach to mental health care changed the way people were treated – not just medically, but as human beings. It was a privilege to see how PJ Livesey Group is planning to protect its legacy as part of their development”

Georgina Livesey, Managing Director for PJ Livesey said: “As proud custodians, we’re developing the site into a unique residential community, comprising of approximately 120 homes, delivered through a combination of conversions and carefully designed newly built homes. Throughout this journey we’re making every effort to balance heritage conservation with progress. Our vision is to preserve the character of The Retreat while bringing new life and purpose to the space. Working in partnership with Historic England ensures that we honour its remarkable legacy while shaping a sustainable future.”

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Demand soars as 40% of homes are snapped up

by | Jul 24, 2025 | Blog, Current Developments, Sales Information, Uncategorised

24

July 2025

Demand Soars

With 40% of its unique homes already sold in Parbold
The main heritage building, Lancaster House, is currently being sensitively refurbished and repurposed into five grand character properties.

The Ainscough is an exquisite four bedroom centrepiece heritage home entered via the grand facade and final property available situated within the iconic conversion of Lancaster House.

Due to it’s exceptional ornate staircase, stain glass window and stunning architecture it is being dressed as a show home, due to open it’s doors to the public at the end of September, 2025.

Phase 2 of our heritage homes will include the conversion of The Coach House into five unique homes.

Alongside these beautiful pieces of history will sit a limited collection of distinctive energy efficient newly built houses, starting from £499,950.

These homes are built to the highest energy-efficiency ratings designed for lower running costs and year-round comfort. Features like solar panels and triple glazing keep your bills down, while underfloor heating and mechanical ventilation systems ensure a consistently pleasant environment.

The extensive walled gardens are a major selling point. Mature trees, hedged walkways, quiet seating spots and tranquil formal gardens surround the properties, with re-opened pathways creating a new trail for people to soak up the surrounding nature – hence the name, The Retreat

Heads of sales, Sue and Gavin, have been guiding buyers through the vision for The Retreat and are encouraging anyone interested in the remaining properties to get in touch. A trip to the marketing suite allows guests to view detailed floor plans, images of what the homes will look like, and examples of the kitchen and bathroom finishes.

Sue, head of sales at The Retreat, said:

“The response has been fantastic. Buyers are captivated by the unique blend of local history and modern, sustainable living. With 40% of homes now sold, a wonderful community is already taking shape. We encourage anyone curious to come and see for themselves why these homes are selling so quickly.”

The Marketing Suite on Lancaster Lane, Parbold (WN8 7HT) is open Thursday to Monday, 10am – 5pm.

With high demand for the remaining homes, we highly recommend booking a private viewing to avoid disappointment. To secure your appointment, call our team on 0800 151 0960 or email sales@theretreat-parbold.co.uk.

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Transformation of former World War 1 assembly hall

by | Jul 16, 2025 | Blog, Current Developments, Recently Acquired, Sales Information, St. James Hospital, Portsmouth, Uncategorised

16

July 2026

First Glimpse

Our vision for our latest transformation

Specialist heritage property developer PJ Livesey Group has unveiled stunning new images showcasing the transformation of an historic military assembly hall into an elegant resident’s lounge at its St James Park community in Southsea.

The striking images reveal how the Grade II listed building’s distinctive striped arches, which once echoed with the voices of American servicemen during the First World War, will be reimagined as a sophisticated communal space. The new shots demonstrate a contemporary sage green colour palette with natural timber elements and carefully preserved architectural details.

The remarkable space, originally built in the 1870s by renowned Victorian architect George Rake, served as an entertainment hall when St James operated as US Army Base hospital 33. Historic photographs from 1918 show the grand hall packed with soldiers sitting beneath the Byzantine arches.

The residents lounge forms the centrepiece of St James Park’s extensive communal facilities and compliments the 209 heritage and newly built homes set within mature parkland.

The main building also features dedicated workspaces and other communal facilities creating an inviting environment that balances both relaxation and productivity. Residents also gain access to ample-off street parking and scenic open areas.

Georgina Lynch Managing Director at PJ Livesey Group said:
“We’re incredibly proud to unveil these new images of the resident’s lounge, which epitomises our vision for St James Park – honouring the building’s remarkable history while creating exceptional spaces for modern living.

“The transformation of this former military assembly hall showcases our commitment to preserving architectural heritage with sensitivity and imagination. We’ve worked meticulously to maintain the building’s distinctive character whilst creating a meeting space our residents can enjoy for generations to come.”

Work continues on the Grade II listed main building with the new resident’s lounge expected to be completed alongside the remaining heritage homes, which have nearly all been snapped up already after strong demand. The collection of newly built homes have also seen a strong uptake, with only a handful remaining.

PJ Livesey will soon be offering a new wave of heritage homes at St James Park, offering buyers another chance to secure a piece of Portsmouth history reimagined for contemporary living.

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Quiet contemplation

by | Jul 7, 2025 | Blog, Current Developments, News & Events, Recently Acquired, Uncategorised

07

July 2025

Quiet Contemplation

Colleagues visit Joseph Rowntree’s grave

Nestled in the peaceful setting of the Quaker burial ground at The Retreat in York lies the simple headstone of Joseph Rowntree.

This year marks 100 years since his death and recently, a group of colleagues from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation visited his grave.

It was an opportunity to reflect on the man who set up their organisation, his clarity of purpose and the enduring relevance of his values in today’s World.

The burial ground is unassuming: just a few words etched on weathered stone. In true Quaker spirit, it was quiet and contemplative, colleagues taking in the simplicity and peacefulness of the setting.

The visit offered everyone present a rare moment to connect personally with the origins of their work.

Julie Hulme, who is leading on the Centenary at JRF said: “it is the simplicity of the burial ground that is so special. Joseph Rowntree was a man with big ideas ahead of his time, who achieved so much in his lifetime, yet his grave is the same as all the other quakers buried there. It is humbling to see it. I think we all felt a great sense of responsibility to continue his mission – although he would be so disappointed to see that we are still at it 100 years on. “

Lucy South, Heritage Events and Engagement Manager for PJ Livesey Holdings Limited said: “As the new owners of The Retreat, the onus is on us to ensure we’re being thoughtful custodians of the burial ground that forms part of the site, it’s a very special place. Welcoming colleagues to Joseph Rowntree’s graveside and seeing them appreciate its deep historical significance was a true privilege.”

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