A Beautiful Autumn Heritage Walk at The Retreat

by | Nov 4, 2025 | YORK SEPARATE

Autumn Heritage Walk
at The Retreat, York

We welcomed members of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society for a heritage walk

04

November, 2025

There are few places in York where history, nature, and community meet as gracefully as they do at The Retreat York. On Sunday 2nd November, the gardens came alive in the soft glow of autumn as we welcomed members of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society for a heritage walk celebrating the site’s remarkable past.

Hosted by Chris Webb, Chair and Trustee of the Yorkshire Gardens Trust, and Dr Laura Potts, one of The Retreat’s dedicated orchard volunteers, the event offered an enlightening journey through the landscape and legacy of The Retreat. The morning sunlight caught every shade of copper and gold – a vivid reminder of why autumn remains the most atmospheric of seasons.

Stories Beneath the Leaves

Beyond the natural beauty, it was the stories shared that truly brought the day to life. One guest brought along a small but powerful piece of The Retreat’s history – a letter sent to her grandmother in 1951 by The Retreat itself.

The letter expressed gratitude for the donation of a Bible once owned by George Jepson, who oversaw the daily life of The Retreat in the 1820s, during the height of William Tuke’s “Moral Treatment”.

She also shared a reproduction of Jepson’s obituary from the Leeds Mercury in 1836 – alongside the original newspaper itself – offering a tangible link to the people and practices that shaped the institution nearly two centuries ago.

To complete this unexpected archive moment, she revealed one final treasure: an item depicting Lindley Murray, the celebrated Quaker grammarian who was among the first to support William Tuke’s founding vision for The Retreat in 1796.

Where Past and Present Meet

Standing amid the autumn light, it felt as though all the layers of history had gathered in one place – the landscape, the people, and their stories interwoven. The gardens of The Retreat are more than beautiful grounds; they are a living archive, continuing to connect York’s past with its present.

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Honouring The Past, Shaping The Future

by | Oct 13, 2025 | YORK SEPARATE

Stories of Mental Health:
Voices from the Past

Giving new life to the voices of three 19th-century psychiatric patients in York

10

October, 2025

To mark World Mental Health Day, The Retreat York hosted two inspiring creative workshops that gave new life to the voices of three 19th-century psychiatric patients whose words have echoed across time.

Led by local artists in collaboration with the Borthwick Institute for Archives, the sessions invited participants to explore original poems and unsent letters written by patients at The Retreat. Funded by Mentally Fit York, these powerful documents became the catalyst for an afternoon of art-making, kite-building, and open conversation – connecting York’s past approaches to mental health care with the stories and experiences of today.

A Powerful Setting for Reflection

Heritage Events and Engagement Manager Lucy South described the workshops as “a fantastic event in the perfect setting to mark World Mental Health Day.

Seeing archive items in the Recreation Hall where their stories began felt incredibly special – and watching the artworks take shape, alongside the conversations they sparked, was genuinely moving.”

From Archives to Art Collection

The creative outcomes from the workshops – including artworks and kites inspired by the historic writings – will now become part of the University of York Art Collection, ensuring these rediscovered voices continue to inspire reflection, empathy and understanding for generations to come.

By bringing together heritage, creativity, and community, The Retreat York continues to celebrate its remarkable history while fostering meaningful dialogue about mental health – past, present, and future.

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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Yorkshire Philosophical Society Lecture

by | Oct 6, 2025 | YORK SEPARATE

Building The Retreat:
The first 60 years

Yorkshire Philosophical Society (YPS) joined us for a lecture

06

October, 2025

 

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.

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 | YORK SEPARATE

Opening the Doors to The Retreat, York

In August we welcomed more than 850 visitors as part of the city-wide York Unlocked heritage event

01

September, 2025

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 37 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.

Be Part of the Next Chapter

Our next event will be the October Exclusive VIP Property Preview, offering a first look at this exciting new chapter for The Retreat, York.

👉 Register here to secure your place

You can also 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 | YORK SEPARATE

Welcoming Historic England to The Retreat

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

28

July, 2025

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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Quiet contemplation: colleagues visit Joseph Rowntree’s grave

by | Jul 7, 2025 | YORK SEPARATE

Quiet Contemplation

Colleagues visit Joseph Rowntree’s grave

07

July, 2025

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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