Fairfax House in York has been named the winner of the 2025 Historic Houses Collections Award, sponsored by Dreweatts. The Georgian townhouse museum triumphed over four strong finalists, including Burton Constable Hall & Parkland in Yorkshire, Browsholme Hall in Lancashire, Chawton House in Hampshire, and Scone Palace in Perthshire, to take the top spot.
The annual award, introduced in 2022, celebrates the curators, conservators and owners who care for and interpret the objects inside historic houses, helping visitors connect with their stories and significance.
Built between 1759 and 1763 for the Hon. Ann Fairfax by architect John Carr, Fairfax House has had a colourful history. It has served as a private residence, a Gentleman’s club, a Pentecostal church, and even a cinema and dancehall. After years of decline, York Civic Trust restored the building, reopening it to the public in 1984.
A new curatorial team took over in 2020, bringing fresh ideas to the museum’s exhibitions and interpretation. Between 2020 and 2024, more than 450 previously unseen items were displayed as part of a series of creative, story-led exhibitions that explored new ways to engage visitors.
Fairfax House is home to the Noel Terry Collection, one of Britain’s most significant collections of eighteenth-century furniture, clocks, paintings and porcelain. The museum also houses the King David Panel by Grinling Gibbons and the John Butler Collection of glass.
Curator Dr Sarah Burnage said: “We are deeply honoured to receive this award and thrilled that the creativity and dedication of the Fairfax team has been recognised. This award will make a meaningful contribution to the development of our ongoing work, and we are immensely grateful to the judges, Historic Houses and Dreweatts for this generous acknowledgement.”
Will Richards, Chairman of Dreweatts, commented: “We are delighted to be giving this year’s award to Fairfax House. The preservation of this wonderful Georgian building housing the highly important Noel Terry Collection has enabled access, enjoyment and education for generations thanks to the work of the York Conservation Trust.”
The win marks an important milestone for Fairfax House, recognising its renewed energy, creative storytelling and commitment to sharing the history of Georgian York with new audiences.
