Property law specialist looks to the future in building steeped in the past
Commercial and residential property specialist, Ancora Law, has become the newest occupier of Minster House in Beverley.
The building has been refurbished by commercial property developer Wykeland Group. Ancora’s move means Minster House is now fully occupied for the first time.
Minster House was built in 1816 as a warehouse used for the former Hodgson Tannery, which remained one of Beverley’s largest employers until its closure in 1978.
The building was used as offices in the following years, but was vacant for more than a year before Wykeland began a restoration in 2019.
Wykeland invested more than £550,000 in bringing Minster House back to life, equipping it with a new entrance lobby, atrium and glass lift, making the building fully accessible for the first time, as well as adding new toilets and showers, and cycle storage.
Minster House now offers over 9,000 sq ft of offices over three floors and forms part of Wykeland’s Flemingate centre, which combines retail, leisure and commercial space.
Having started almost five years ago as a one-man firm, Ancora Law has grown to a six-strong team and has now gone from a 700 sq ft office to a 3,000 sq ft suite in the revamped 19th century building.
Ancora Law started out in a Wykeland-managed co-working space and has moved through three Wykeland offices, each slightly bigger to accommodate its growth.
The other occupiers of Minster House include East Riding College, which runs tutoring and adult education courses from the building, and international supplier of raw materials and ingredients, BHJ Foods. There is also a dedicated co-working space, The Hive.
Matt Hudson, founder and managing director of Ancora Law, said: “We have grown year-on-year since our inception at the beginning of 2020 and, until now, our office moves have always been fairly reactionary – with each new hire, we have moved to a slightly bigger unit.
“We felt that now was the time to recognise our growth and invest in an office space that is fit for the future.
“I want to provide a space where our clients feel they can approach us and we can connect with them in person. I also want to encourage our staff to be approachable too.
“Providing a high-quality office space for our staff, where they can develop and grow and meet clients, is something that’s really important to us.”
John Gouldthorp, asset manager of Hull-based Wykeland, said: “It’s been great to support Matt as his business has grown.
“We have worked closely with Matt and his team over the years, ensuring their office spaces help to foster growth and attract and retain talented people.
“Restoring and renovating old buildings, unlocking their potential, and turning them into attractive spaces that are fit for purpose for growing businesses like Ancora Law, is a key part of what we do at Wykeland.
“Minster House is an excellent example of this and we’re pleased that Ancora Law see it as the perfect fit for their business now and into the future.”
