The Country House Podcast

Geoffrey Heath-Taylor co-hosts the wonderful podcast series The Country House Podcast, alongside his co-host Rory Fraser. Here they discuss all things country houses, shining a light on the profiles of these estates, not only as aesthetic assets to the British countryside, but also as important historical monuments and essential parts of our national heritage and identity.

Over the summer, Geoffrey visited Fairfax House to learn more about their collection and the important conservation work that they do.

Fairfax House

Nestled in the heart of York, Fairfax House is a beautifully preserved Georgian townhouse museum with a fascinating history. Built between 1759 and 1763 for the Hon. Ann Fairfax by renowned architect John Carr, the house is celebrated for its exquisite decorative features, including magnificent allegorical stuccowork ceilings.

Over the centuries, the house has seen many transformations. After its time as a private residence for the Fairfax family, it was successively used as a Gentleman’s club, a Pentecostal church, and, during the early 20th century, even a cinema and dancehall. After years of neglect, York Civic Trust took on the monumental task of restoration, returning the house to its former glory and opening it to the public in 1984.

Today, Fairfax House is home to the nationally significant Noel Terry Collection. This remarkable collection includes 18th-century furniture, clocks, paintings, and porcelain, alongside pieces acquired by York Civic Trust to authentically recreate the mid-18th-century interiors once inhabited by the Fairfax family. Among its treasures are the intricately carved King David Panel by Grinling Gibbons and the stunning John Butler Collection of Glass.

The museum is open seven days a week, welcoming visitors to step back in time and experience the elegance and craftsmanship of Georgian life.

Caring for the Collection

In 2020, a new curatorial team took over the care and interpretation of Fairfax House and its collections. At that time, while the museum had an established programme of small exhibitions, its interpretation had remained largely unchanged for four decades. Visitor numbers were static, with 80% of attendees over the age of 45, and 40% of that group over 65. This data revealed that the museum was failing to attract younger audiences, particularly families, students, and young adults, despite its central location in York.

The challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic provided an unexpected opportunity to reimagine how the museum could engage with visitors. The team encouraged creative thinking and bold experimentation, reshaping how stories about the house and its collections were told. From 2020 to 2024, a series of ambitious, whole-house exhibitions were launched, focused on immersive storytelling and dynamic visitor experiences. Over 450 collection items, many never before displayed, were brought out of storage and showcased in innovative ways.

The exhibitions blended seamlessly with the historic interiors, using sensory and audio-visual elements, as well as incidental, unexpected interpretive materials. This approach aimed to make visitors feel like welcomed guests rather than passive spectators, fostering a deeper and more personal connection with the museum’s history and collections.

These transformations were achieved on a modest budget but delivered dramatic results. By 2024, visitor demographics had shifted significantly: 42% of visitors were under 35, 15% were between 35-45, and 43% were over 55.

One of their most successful initiatives has been A Townmouse Christmas, now in its third year. This family-friendly event celebrates a Georgian Christmas with a whimsical twist: hundreds of dressed-up mice, each in historically inspired Georgian attire, are placed throughout the house. These playful figures, representing characters connected to the house’s history, highlight collection items and encourage dialogue among visitors. Volunteers lovingly create each mouse costume, adding a unique personal touch.

The impact of this initiative has been extraordinary. In December 2019, just 22 children visited Fairfax House during the Christmas period. By December 2024, that number had grown to 748, out of a total of 5,809 visitors. Repeat visits increased by 37%, Historic Houses Association (HHA) visits rose by 31%, and shop sales surged by 77%.

The winner of this year's award will be announced this November. Stay tuned as we announce other shortlist contenders over the next few weeks.