Plans revealed for former Haunted building on Stonegate
In August we revealed that world famous astrologer and city resident Jonathan Cainer was selling 35 Stonegate, which he had run first as the Museum Of Psychic Experience and later as Haunted since 2004.
News that the deal has been done comes, appropriately enough, on Halloween.
Yorkshire property company The Oakgate Group has bought the historic Grade II* listed building from Mr Cainer for £800,000.
Dating back to the 15th century 35 Stonegate is being comprehensively refurbished and will become a “high-quality retail outlet or restaurant”.
“When we heard that Jonathan Cainer wanted to sell 35 Stonegate, we were immediately interested,” said John Grantham, chief executive of Oakgate.
“Stonegate is arguably Yorkshire’s most prestigious retail street and this is the 11th deal we have completed on Stonegate, starting in the 1980s.”
New courtyard planned
The refurbishment will include a new glazed courtyard area. It will be available for new occupants to move in from January 2015.
The building
Three floors, with an attic
Ground floor and glazed courtyard: 1,550 sq ft.
First and second floors: 850 sq ft
The attic: 300 sq ft
“The interior of 35 Stonegate, including some priceless stained glass and wooden panelling, is utterly unique and would provide the perfect home for a premier retailer or quality restaurant operator,” John said.
“We expect strong levels of interest from across the UK.”
Daily Mail astrologer Jonathan Cainer, who lives in Fulford, bought the premises in 1999.
He said: “I have sadly had to sell the building due to my need to keep supporting various philanthropic and charitable causes, all of which require high levels of funds.”
35 Stonegate: A timeline
1682 Francis Hilyard opens The Sign Of The Bible bookshop. A wooden bible still hangs over the front door
1873 Glass painter John Ward Knowles acquires the premises “and recast the whole building to suit his tastes, with splendid disregard for authenticity”, according to the Bartholomew City Guide to York. Much of the outstanding stained glass in the building is his work
1931 The Knowles family stop running their stained glass business at 35 Stonegate, but continue living there until the 1990s
1999 Jonathan Cainer buys the property
2004 With his friend Uri Geller, Jonathan relaunches it as the Museum Of Psychic Experience
2006 TV psychic Derek Acorah films an episode of Ghost Towns Live at 35 Stonegate and is tipped over a chair by a lively spirit. Apparently
2007 The Psychic Museum closes its doors as only 100 people a week were visiting. It is later reborn as Haunted
2014 Haunted‘s closure is announced. The final event is an all-night investigation into “what is probably York’s most haunted house” by the York Paranormal ghostbusters.
Buoyant property market
John Grantham said the deal demonstrates the strength of the York commercial property investment market.
“The city remains an extremely attractive proposition for would-be investors and occupiers, with its wealth of history, its superb transport links and its quality of life.
“On a more personal level, we are very proud to have acquired one of York’s most historic buildings in the city’s premier retail street.
“We are confident of finding an occupier who will do full justice to these splendid and unique premises.”
Miles Lawrence of York property consultancy Lawrence Hannah and Tom Limbert of Central Retail is marketing 35 Stonegate.
I thought this was probably about an exorcised building!
Strangely, I’ve never even noticed what was happening inside the building, although I’ve definitely stood and looked at the old bible sign hanging outside!