Right:

Detail of two of the newly carved angels heads on

the restored porch which was brought from the nearby

Wheausheaf!nn prior to its demolition in 1905.

lend strength to the mixture as horse or

cow hair would have done in former times.

Of particular note has been the thought-

ful restoration of the building’s plaster and

timber front facade, including the replace-

ment, by master carvers A.E. Houghton in

Dunnington, of the angels on the build-

ing’s beautifully carved front porch. This

had come to Jacob’s Well in 1905 from

another historic inn, The Wheatsheaf, and

even before that from an earlier inn some-

where in the Micklegate area of York. Per-

haps the current restoration of the porch

marks the final stage in a prolonged return

journey.

Despite the concern for authenticity, a

fully modernised kitchen and toilets have

been installed, so that Jacob’s Well can

continue to function as a working build-

ing, suitable for adult education courses,

parish meetings, and possibly even wed-

ding parties or business lunches. After all,

retaining the function of an historic house

is surely as important as restoring its form.

Above: 1 he front facade after restoration, highlighting a

The building was re-roofed with red clay

new vertical osk beam at the South end and the restored

tiles, since in Tudor times slates would not

porch.

have been locally available. Walls were

also patched and re-rendered using special

plaster containing synthetic fibres which