• Duttons

  • Length of Project

    48 weeks

  • Location

    York

  • Client

    Duttons for Buttons

  • Architect

    Ferrey and Mennim

Pinnacle Conservation was awarded the main contract for the survey and repair of the render to the external facade of Duttons for Buttons, York.

The grade II* building, part of an earlier Hall House is believed to date back to C15th and is a widely recognised family run business in the centre of York.

The contract works saw render survey works carried out ahead of the main repair and redecoration works.

Client Testimonial:

The external repair and restoration of our medieval building in York was precipitated by a passing bus (or lorry) hitting its distinctive jettied frontage. Pinnacle’s project management of the whole process turned a potential nightmare into a smooth turn-key operation. They co-ordinated asbestos inspectors and removers, liaised with the council and traffic management team, brought together an impressive range of excellent contractors and knowledgeable consultants, and communicated  with us, our surveyor and our insurers throughout. Their enthusiasm for the project and their love of the history of the building actually made the whole process rather enjoyable and we would not hesitate in recommending them for any conservation project, whatever the scale.

About the Project

Duttons for Buttons has been a really interesting and rewarding project for us. Working alongside York Archaeological Trust, we have been
incredibly fortunate to have discovered well preserved remains of earlier 17th and 19th century facades. The aim of our works were to preserve
these original fabrics with the incision of delicate structural repair materials and then restore the later recovering of the building’s mid-20th Century
Tyrolean render, which has surprisingly helped retain the earlier elements of the building. Our works involved the careful over-boarding of the
earlier facades to match the 20th century finish. It’s highly unusual for us working on a grade II* property to replicate a 1950’s Tyrolean finish,
but it’s been a good challenge.

About Duttons for Buttons

Duttons for Buttons inhabits 32 Coppergate which was originally a larger 15th century timber framed building, which also comprised 28 and
30 Coppergate. The property is Grade II* Listed and sits within an area of archaeological and historical significance. At 32 Coppergate the
first-floor has a deep jetty the depth of the second-floor jetty which is either a later extension or original porch feature. The property also lies
within the City Centre Area of Archaeological Importance (AAI) with the internationally significant Coppergate Excavations occurring during
the 1980s to the rear of the building. As well as being part of the AAI, the property is also part of the Historic Core Conservation Area.
As such the building is under the purview of Historic England the City of York Conservation Officer.

Interesting Fact

The street of Coppergate was a new street formed during the early Anglo-Scandinavian period in York. The suffix ‘gate’ derives from the Old Norse gata, meaning street.

A little more about it’s history

The plots 28-32 Coppergate were occupied, according to surviving poll tax lists, by John and Isolde Acaster during the mid to late 14th century
before the construction of the current building. The original timber-frame building was constructed in the 15th century and, unusually, consisted
of two conjoined ranges running parallel to Coppergate and was an early example of a double timber pile structure. William Alne, a wealthy
former mayor of York and resident of Coppergate from c.1410, was noted to have constructed an unusual house opposite All Saints Church
for which he had to negotiate drainage arrangements with his neighbours as the house was situated parallel to the street.
The absence of eaves necessitated guttering on the front portion of the boundary. Though the exact location of Alne’s building is unknown,
it is likely that his ‘unusual’ structure was at 28 to 32 Coppergate (ed. Addyman, 2002).  Today, Duttons for Buttons, fronting onto Coppergate,
holds a prominent position on one of the busiest thoroughfares for pedestrian and vehicular traffic in York as well as being richly historically
significant.

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