The Entrance Hall which greets you on arrival was once an open court, surrounded by 18th century buildings.  GT Andrews (the architect for the ‘old' York railway
station) was responsible for the mid 19th century addition of the glass roof over the central court. The Maw tiled floor was then added, with the Coalbrookdale iron furniture and plants which are so much a part of the Victorian character of the Entrance Hall, to create what was then referred to as the ‘Winter Garden'.

The building programme began in 1766 when Mother Ann Aspinal appointed Thomas Atkinson to build new accommodation for the school and community.  It took over twenty years to complete, beginning with the beautiful neo-classical Chapel, hidden from view at the back of the complex, and ending in 1788 with the demolition of the original house and its replacement with the present frontage.  In the Museum you can see copies of documents referring to these buildings: the
list of benefactors who supported the building of the Chapel and the licence from
the Lord Mayor and the Commonalty of the City giving Mother Aspinal

“leave to erect the new front wall to her house” (1787)

Further construction was carried out by the Atkinson firm: the school dining room, now the Bedingfield conference room (1793) and the Community wing (1834).  In 1844 GT Andrews was appointed to add kitchens and rebuild the Day School for the local children. The 19th century Day School buildings now house the Museum, and the kitchens have been converted into the Gascoigne and Aspinal conference rooms.  

These buildings remain today and recall the history of the convent and the nuns who made it memorable by their service here. They are open daily to the public, (except Sundays and Bank Holidays) for interest, education and enjoyment.

The other principal features of architectural interest are:

• The "great parlour" with its historic portraits
• The clock over the front door, which was linked by a driving rod in 1790 to the original Hindley clock (1770) which looks onto the central court. Both are still in good working order and the giant pendulum can be viewed on the first floor rear corridor of the Museum
• The Libraries, including the antique library, and the  Archives, which are open to research scholars and  students on application to the Archivist
• The hidden neo-classical Chapel built in 1769 by  Thomas Atkinson