Fairfax House, York is the finest example of a Georgian townhouse in England.
Sadly much of the land was sold off and is now a shopping centre but nevertheless once passed the doors you enter into a completely different world and for those with an interest in the period you can just imagine how Viscount Fairfax and his daughter, Anne, used to live.
Originally designed by the architect John Carr the building did suffer when converted into a cinema and dance-hall but in the 1980s was purchased by the York Civic Trust who returned it to its former glory thanks to the furnishings, artwork and clocks provided by the Noel Terry Collection.
2013 marked the house's 250th anniversary and a grand party was held (unfortunately I couldn't get a ticket!). Guests turned up (but not in carriages) in Georgian costume and spent the evening doing the things our ancestors would have done ... eating, drinking, listening to music and playing cards.
The York Press carried a report of the party:
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/10369160.Fairfax_House_marks_its_250th_anniversary/
For more information about the house and events held there visit:
http://www.fairfaxhouse.co.uk/
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