FAIRFAX House has won a top award from the Historic Houses Association - for its mice.

But don’t worry, the magnificent Georgian Mansion isn’t infested.

The HHA’s Frances Garnham Award for innovation in education was given for the house’s storyline featuring Gregory the Townhouse Mouse and his chums.

Gregory first appeared in a booklet for four to eight-year-olds at Fairfax House. Brought to life by York illustrator Nick Ellwood, he’s the head of a Georgian household of wealthy city mice who live, quite literally, under the feet of the house’s human inhabitants.

This year, with the help of funding from Museums Development Yorkshire, the house expanded Gregory’s story - complete with a gallery of new mouse characters courtesy of Nick and writer Jenna Drury - into a mystery quiz for children aged eight to -13.

A diamond necklace belonging to Gregory’s daughter Anne has gone missing. The search is on - and there’s a list of suspects. Was it the ‘mousemaid’, Molly Pickering? The ‘gentlemouse’ caller who visited the afternoon the necklace disappeared? The dressmaker? Or the swarthy sailor mouse spotted lurking nearby?

Children get to turn detective, reading ‘witness statements’ and authentic bills and letters from the Fairfax archive, then hunting through the house for a series of clues.

Along the way, they get to learn a lot about life in

Fairfax House in Georgian times - and about York in the 18th century too, since many of the mouse characters live elsewhere in the city.

The ‘Mystery of the Missing Jewel’ quest proved a hit with children.

But the award is the icing on the cake, says Fairfax House director Hannah Phillip.

“We’re really chuffed!” she said. “The whole team is thrilled.”

Children can take part in the quest for the missing jewels whenever they visit Fairfax House.

Meanwhile, the house is submitting a bid for funding to develop an interactive Townhouse Mouse website.

Watch this space...