Former Rowntree home will open to public for first time

The doors of Penn House will be open to visitors for just one day on Saturday, June 12, for a special display of art inspired by the history of the property.

Situated on the corner of St Mary's and Bootham, Penn House is owned by Bootham School and was used as a boarding house up until last year.

But following the opening of new boarding accommodation on the main school site, the house is now awaiting a new role. Inspired by the story of the house, Bootham's artist in residence, Suzi Tibbetts, has set about a celebration of its history.

Known as Top House during Joseph Rowntree's time, Penn House was the great man's address off and on for nearly 40 years, from the time of his first marriage in 1862.

His first wife Julia died only a year after they moved in together, and Rowntree married Emma Antoinette Seebohm (known as Antoinette) in 1867.

Penn House had belonged to his parents. When the couple first moved in, it was cleverly divided by his mother so that the two households could live side by side but separately within the same building.

In 1905 Rowntree and Antoinette moved out to Clifton Lodge but Ms Tibbetts is determined that the Rowntree connection will not be forgotten.

She said: "This is a fascinating house, full of nooks and crannies, cellars and architectural grandeur. We have brought together a series of site specific and interactive artwork designed to mark the end of an era in the life of the house."

As well as making Penn House his home, Rowntree also attended Bootham School, before going on to make his chocolate fortune and set up a number of charities.

The school offered what was then considered a very progressive education with no flogging of pupils. Competitive games were frowned on by the masters who were also careful to keep pupils away from corrupting newspapers and keep their minds on science and natural history.

The exhibition will be open to the public, free of charge, on June 12 from 10.30am until 4.30pm. For more information go to www.openhouse.blogspot.com