79 Low Petergate
The building in 2024
Location within York City Centre
Former names	49 Low Petergate
General information
Location	Low Petergate, York, England
Coordinates	53°57′39″N 1°04′53″W / 53.9607°N 1.0814°W / 53.9607; -1.0814
Year built	Early 15th century
Renovated	16th century (extended) 19th century (altered)
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name	79, Low Petergate
Designated	14 June 1954
Reference no.	1257424

79 Low Petergate is a Grade II* listed building on Low Petergate in the city of York, England. Dating from the early 15th century, it was originally built as a house and has been altered extensively over time, including the addition of a later front and an extension into a 16th‑century rear range shared with Nos. 73, 75 and 77. The building is now occupied by a gift and souvenir shop.

Originally built as a house in the early 15th century, the building has since undergone major alterations and was given a new front at a later date.^[1] It was extended into a 16th‑century rear range shared with 73, 75 and 77 Low Petergate, and the shopfront was altered in the 19th century.^[2] It was formerly known as 49 Low Petergate.^[1]

On 14 June 1954, 79 Low Petergate was designated a Grade II* listed building,^[1] and in 1968 the site was included within the newly designated Central Historic Core conservation area.^[3] It stands next to No. 81, which is also listed at Grade II*.^[4] No. 79 is now occupied by a gift and souvenir shop.

The front section of the building is two bays deep and linked by a short passage to a one‑bay extension.^[1] Both parts are timber‑framed; the main block has stucco on its front and rear walls, while the extension is finished in rendered brick.^[5] The roof is covered with pantiles and has a brick chimney, and the ground floor contains a timber shopfront.^[1]

The building has three storeys and an attic, with a single gabled front and jettied upper floors.^[5] The shopfront is set between decorative pilasters and has angled plate‑glass windows flanking a glazed, panelled door.^[1] The first floor has a canted oriel window with a 16‑pane sash, the second floor a 20‑pane sash, and the attic two fixed four‑pane lights.^[5] A rainwater head shaped as a winged cherub and dated 1763 is fixed to the left side.^[5]

At the rear, the main block has a gabled end with its timber truss visible.^[5] The extension behind it is also gabled and has two storeys and an attic, with a modern door and a four‑pane sash at ground level, a 16‑pane sash above, and a nine‑pane fixed light in the attic.^[1]

The building shows exposed structural timber in various places across all floors.^[1] On the ground floor, the shop contains a hearth with a timber beam above it, and the rear room has a fireplace with a timber lintel.^[5]

On the first floor, the landing has a staircase balustrade with thick turned balusters, a column‑shaped newel and a curved moulded handrail.^[5] The rear room contains a fireplace with a decorated basket grate set in a plain surround with a moulded shelf.^[1]

The second floor has a similar fireplace, fitted with a later round‑headed grate.^[5] In the attic, part of the crown‑post truss remains visible in the front wall, the next truss has been altered, and a large brick firehood survives.^[1]

• Grade II* listed buildings in the City of York
• Listed buildings in York (within the city walls, northern part)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 79 Low Petergate, York.