York- health club Flourish set to open in Clifton building

The White House, in Clifton, is set to be home to the Flourish health, fitness and wellness centre.

It is set to open on Monday, September 7, according to a post on the company’s social media pages teasing its arrival.

It comes after the Grade II-listed Georgian building went on the market in December.

The building previously housed the offices of the Places For People housing social enterprise.

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Estate agents Savills and Carter Towler marketed the building on the organisation’s behalf, seeking offers in excess of £1.2 million.

The building had previously been refurbished throughout with offices across three floors, along with an attic and basement.

It featured a mixture of open plan work spaces, private offices, meeting rooms and boardrooms as well as an onsite gym, exercise studio and breakout area.

The building also features onsite parking and lies on one of the main roads linking the centre of York with its outer ring road.

Savills surveyor Hannah Coleman said the building was in a prime location when it was put on the market.

The surveyor said: “The White House offers a rare opportunity to purchase a truly distinctive building in York.

“Its combination of historic character and modern specification makes it stand out in the market, and we expect strong interest from purchasers looking for a unique, high-quality workspace.”

The White House was built in the early 18th Century and was owned by textile merchant William Roberts, according to the British History Online website.

The White House, in Clifton (Image: Harry Archer/Carter Towler)

The merchant added a third storey to the house and it went on to be owned by Edmund Beckett.

Beckett, the first Baron Grimethorpe, was an influential 19th Century politician known for his regulation of Big Ben, according Places For People.

Local cleric and magistrate Reverend DR Currer later bought it and added wings to both sides and an extension to the back.

During the Second World War, surrounding homes were destroyed by Luftwaffe bombing but The White House survived.

It went on to serve as a Post Office Telephone Management centre and late an officer for the Inland Revenue, a precursor to the current HM Revenues and Customs (HMRC) tax body.

The White House was listed in 1970 for its Georgian and Victorian features.

It was acquired by Places For People in 2003.