FOR every extrovert proclamation of York history, such as the Minster, the bar walls and Clifford's Tower, there are numerous lesser-known gems. One such treasured corner of York is now under threat from over-development, according to city conservationists.

In recent years Stamford House, off George Street, York - a stone's throw from the Evening Press building in Walmgate - was sensitively converted for modern office use. It is now home to Denison Till solicitors and the Children's Society.

The building dates from 1875 and was once the maltings of Hotham's brewery, which started trading in 1716. But it is feared that a modern office block planned for the adjacent car park and part of the old brewery yard will overshadow this vestige of York's industrial heritage.

In the 18th and 19th century, brewing was a small-scale business, and many breweries thrived in the city. According to Andrew Davison's essay on the subject for the York Historian, 18th century York breweries included Peacock's Brewery outside Monk Bar, one on Water Lane that later became known as the Friargate Brewery, and Kilby's Brewery in Tanner Row.

"Brewers themselves were respected men within the social fabric of the city," Mr Davison writes. "Thomas Kilby was Lord Mayor in 1784, his son John achieved that office in 1804, whilst Robert Hotham was Sheriff in 1802."

Brewing was a lucrative business because beer was a popular drink. Up to the middle of the 1800s, "beer was still drunk by all classes on an almost daily basis," writes Mr Davison.

At this time, breweries were beginning to lease and buy public houses for the first time, Hotham's included. By 1825, 50 of the city's 175 pubs were owned by breweries.

Trade diminished somewhat with the advent of the temperance movement and the Beer Act of 1869, which imposed stricter controls on the licensed trade. The declining market led to a series of mergers and takeovers, concentrating York's brewing industry into the hands of a small number of firms. By 1875, there were only seven brewers, where 25 years earlier there had been 13. In addition, 24 pubs still brewed their own beer.

Mr Davison writes: "Until the 1870s, York breweries were owned by local men, and worked with local capital, but from 1875 significant sums of outside money were invested in the city's brewing industry."

That same year, William Hotham and his nephew Edward Hotham Newton sold their George Street brewery and an estate of 54 licensed houses to a consortium of three businessmen for £36,000.

"Why they sold is a matter for conjecture," writes Anthony Avis in his book The Brewer's Tale, "but as Hotham was then in his 73rd year and living in some comfort at the family residence at Fulford Hall, he had probably had enough of business.

"His nephew, then aged 45 and deeply involved in the civil administration of the North Riding, no doubt felt his time could be better disposed."

So who were the trio of new owners? Russell Henry Monro, of Colton Lodge, York, Frederick William Browne of London and Thomas Newton of Skelton Hall, near York.

They were eager to expand the business, snapping up Yates's Brewery on Friargate and its 12 pubs, which included the Lighthorseman on Fulford Road and the Dunnington Cross Keys.

In the early 1880s, Hotham's had come to the attention of three very rich young men, looking for an investment opportunity. Frederick Milner of Nun Appleton Hall, York (later the city's MP), Viscount John Lambton of County Durham and Reginald Parker from Oxfordshire were all sons of baronets.

It is not clear why they formed a business partnership to buy into the brewery, but they were all educated at Eton and may have been friends from a young age. In his History Of The Tadcaster Tower Brewery, Will Swales states that the "most obvious links which emerge as this story unfolds, are their family connections, and a common and passionate interest in horse racing.

"All three families were noted for their involvement in the sport, and associations with York Races, in particular, form a continuous thread running through the whole development of Hotham & Co, and subsequently the Tadcaster Tower Brewery Co."

Hotham's was renamed the Tadcaster Tower Brewery in 1882, for obvious reasons: a new, much larger brewery had been built in Tadcaster boasting a brewhouse tower several storeys high. This was demolished in the 1970s by current owners Bass.

For nearly a century, however, the company retained George Street as its headquarters, and the bosses rarely left York to visit the Tadcaster brewery.

In his 1991 book, Will Swales recalls that this aloof behaviour earned the Tower Brewery a nickname among Tadcaster residents - Snobs' Brewery.

The George Street offices were still in brewery hands until 1974, although most of the brewing and bottling buildings were demolished by 1970. What remains of a brewing history stretching back nearly 300 years is Grade II listed Stamford House, the 19th century stone sets, the perimeter wall - once part of the main brewery building - and the iron gates.

Houses on the Stamford House side of George Street were also built by the brewery. The impressive terrace opposite, dating from 1840, may have housed brewery workers too.

Evans of Leeds is the developer behind an application to build a four-storey office block next to Stamford House. It would encroach on to the stone sets and cause a section of the perimeter wall to be demolished. Conservationists believe it would intrude on York's history.

"We are absolutely, perfectly happy to see the city centre being regenerated," said Alison Sinclair, who chairs York's conservation areas advisory panel. "But it needs to be done in such a way that characterful corners such as this are preserved."

She said the site, part of the central historic core conservation area, was "a small, but unique part of the history of York. This is almost the last surviving brewery building left in York".

All that remains elsewhere are fragments of the industry, such as Yates's Wine Lodge, once part of Brett's Brewery, and some storage buildings at the back of the Golden Slipper on Goodramgate.

The advisory panel was concerned at the scale of the development, its "ultra-modern" style and the way it encroaches on the existing buildings.

"When you come up George Street, you will be slapped in the eye by this building, because it's so large and intrudes so far into the street," Miss Sinclair said.

Denison Till solicitors are also objecting to the scheme. Partner Lionel Lennox said the new office block would impose itself on Stamford House, obliterating the view of the former brewery from George Street.

"George Street has a long, long history as a brewery. This is the old maltings and the houses on this side are also associated with the brewery," he said.

Councillors are discussing the office block proposal at Thursday's planning meeting. Officers have recommended its approval.