Top (Penn) House

38 St Mary’s and 68 Bootham, situated at the top of the road at the junction of St Mary’s and Bootham, was known as ‘Top House’ by the Rowntree family and was owned by them for 70 years. Joseph lived there as a teenager and the house was later divided to enable family members to live there with separate quarters. Joseph took over ownership when his mother died and it continued to be used by the family when he moved to Clifton Lodge in 1905. In 1920 it was given to Bootham School and became known as Penn House after the Quaker, William Penn. The house is now privately owned.