A FASHION and furniture shop is moving into an historic York premises.

The Grade II Listed building at 35 Stonegate has been empty since it was sold to the Harrogate-based Oakgate group in November last year, but it is set to open in September when high street retailer Oliver Bonas moves in.

The 15th Century shop is known locally for having a wooden bible hanging above the door, but will now sell women's clothing, accessories, homeware and furniture designed by in-house teams.

A spokesman for the company said: "We feel privileged to have such a connection to York's history and will ensure we will respect the building and its heritage as it becomes one of our OB stores.

"Oliver Bonas York will boast our full range of products, from women’s clothing, accessories and jewellery, to homeware, furniture and gifts. Inspired by the cool, the quirky and the creative, many of our products are designed in-house by our dedicated design team."

The building has an interesting history, Daily Mail astrologer Jonathan Cainer, who lives in nearby Fulford, bought the premises in 1999. Although the timber frontage dates back to the 15th century, it only began to capture the imagination when Francis Hilyard opened his famous bookshop The Sign Of The Bible there in 1682.

It remained a bookshop until 1873, when glass painter John Ward Knowles acquired the shop.

The family-run business remained there until 1931 and they lived there until the 1990s.

Oliver Bonas was established in 1993 by entrepreneur Oliver Trees, who turned his love for bringing back gifts from abroad into a business.