A 250-year-old letter written by Charles Gregory Fairfax has officially returned to York from the United States and is back on display inside the very room where it was likely written.
The rare, two-page document, dated November 1763 and signed by the 9th Viscount of Emley, offers a deeply personal look into the life of the original owner of Fairfax House and his relationship with his daughter, Ann Fairfax. The historic building is now an award-winning museum run by the York Civic Trust.
Addressed to an unnamed friend, the letter captures the social conventions of York’s Georgian elite, opening with an apology for a delay in writing before asking about his friend’s travels and referencing Gilling Castle, the family’s North Yorkshire seat.
A particularly touching moment in the letter includes a passing mention of “Miss”, a reference to his daughter Ann, for whom the house was originally built, hinting at a warm father-daughter bond. The text is written in the Viscount’s distinctively affectionate, rambling, and grammatically loose style, which historians associate with the fashionable 18th-century culture of sensibility.
The acquisition marks a major milestone as the first original manuscript written by Lord Fairfax to ever enter the York Civic Trust’s collections. Visitors can now view the historic letter on display in the library at Fairfax House. Tickets cost £8.50, or £7.50 for concessions, are valid for a full year of entry, and children aged 16 and under can get in for free.
Dr Sarah Burnage, Fairfax House Curator, said:
“The acquisition of this letter marks a significant moment for Fairfax House. For the first time, we are able to present visitors with an original document written by Lord Fairfax himself, composed within these very walls. It is a tangible piece of the house’s own history, and one that will greatly enhance our ability to bring the story of the Fairfax family to life.”
