New chapter for York store
Topping & Company has been given the go-ahead by York City Council to refurbish the grade two-listed No1 Museum Street, from which it will operate the UK’s largest independent bookstore.
Following a sale by its previous owners, York Conservation Trust, Topping & Company purchased the property at the end of last year.
Mark Wray Architects worked on the scheme, placing a huge focus on the historical aspects of the Victorian building, which was designed by York-based architect Rawlins Gould and constructed in 1860-61 for the York Poor Law Union.
Its final use was as a tourist information centre with offices above, before that closed in 2021.
Proposals include removing modern fabrics that have been added to the building, and altering the layout to make a fully accessible space.
A mezzanine level will also be added to create more floorspace, with the sales area having a GIA of around 6,000 sq ft.
Externally, the only changes proposed are the reintroduction of plain glass sashes to the windows, and adding solar panels to the roof.
Topping & Company hopes to open the bookshop in autumn.
