By History columnist, Mike Quarton.
This month we explore the beautiful York Mansion House, the first purpose-built mayoral home which is almost as old as ‘Great Britain’.
Take a wander down any of York’s streets and you are sure to spot an abundance of ancient and interesting architecture; striking Tudor buildings, enclosed medieval shops – even a Roman fortified tower. Hundreds of thousands of us annually march down Coney street with our shopping bags, and as the street opens up into the bustling St Helen’s square, we are greeted by the magnificent and beautiful Mansion House.
It is instantly recognisable with its four cream columns set within red brickwork and classical early Georgian facade. This rather suave-looking building is the home of the Lord Mayor of York. The foundation stone was laid in 1725 and the house resided in since 1732. To put that into context, the Kingdoms of England and Scotland had only united 18 years early to form Great Britain; and in the North American colonies (no USA yet), the British and their native American allies were in conflict with the French and their allies for control over Nova Scotia and New England.
Who built it? Despite all its grandeur, it cannot be said for certain who the architect was. What we do know, is why it was built, and like an episode of Grand Designs, how much they under-budgeted!
The citizens of York appointed their first Lord Mayor in 1213, and for hundreds of years, this title was usually passed between major landowners and the aristocracy. One of the requirements of being the Lord Mayor was to entertain dignitaries and royals in their own homes. The ability to throw a decent ‘knees up’ and get folk drunk still resonates in the city today – but in 1724, Lord Mayor Thomas Agar, a wool trader, decided either his gaff was not up to the job, or he did not fancy cleaning wine stains from the rugs! The need for a permanent house of residency for the Mayor of York to wow incoming guests and truly showcase the city became apparent. York was the first city to realise the importance of a mayoral home, something London did not achieve for another 20 years.
Mansion House was restored in 1998 by York Civic Trust and received a further refurbishment in 2015 with money from the Heritage Lottery fund, reopening in 2017. During these renovations, a number of items were found within the house and have been placed on display in the enticing name ‘The cabinet of curiosities’. Fortunately for us non-Lord Mayor folk, you don’t actually have to be sworn into office to take a look around! Even better for you guys reading this, being a York resident gets you 50% off entry and off the children’s little Lord Mayor trail (proof of address required).
To find out more information about York Mansion House visit, www.mansionhouseyork.com.
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