York Mansion House 300
- yorkgeorgians
- May 29
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 1
by Alex Carr (YGS Member)
The Mansion House during external maintenance and interior modifications, April 2025
Image courtesy of Alex Carr
Sitting right in the centre of the City of York, with a distinctive painted red façade – currently
covered in scaffolding – is York Mansion House. A brick and plaster Georgian town house, it
was built for a civic purpose as the Lord Mayor’s residence. The year 2025 marks the 300th anniversary of this grand building, and the restoration taking place today mirrors the scene in 1725, when work began. However, the process of developing the Mansion House was not to be smooth sailing.
It is thought that proposals to build the Mansion House were being mooted as early as 1723.
One of the first suggestions was by the then Town Clerk Mr Darcy Preston, who asserted
that York needed somewhere to keep its records. This was coupled with other recommendations that Lord Mayors should have a suitable venue for entertaining. Issues
arose at the outset over the building’s location, and intriguingly the Mansion House is not in
the first-choice position. That preferred spot was on the corner of Duncombe Place and St
Leonard’s Place, but the Corporation failed in its purchase attempts. Instead, the St Helen’s
Square site was agreed upon, with its great advantage of being close to the medieval Guildhall. A public house stood in the way and was demolished to clear the space.
A view over St Helen’s Square towards York Minster from the Mansion House, March 2025
Image courtesy of Alex Carr
In 1724, a committee of City Aldermen was appointed to supervise the building of the
House, and to employ workmen. Members included Mr Alderman Cornwall and Mr Alderman Bayes. Curiously, however, to date no record of an architect for the structure has
been found. Several persons have been suggested as having designed the house, including
Lord Burlington (1694-1753), who was responsible for the Assembly Rooms nearby. Yet no
evidence proves his hand, and the records of the building committee have been lost. It
seems likely that if there was an architect, we would have discovered them. Surviving records do not mention an architect for the Mansion House, and it was always committee
members who were blamed for issues that arose. This suggests that even if there had been
an architect involved in the initial design, they did not remain for long. Indeed, the lack
of specialist guidance might explain some of the other difficulties that occurred
during building.
Coney Street with the Mansion House, c.1795-1805
by Thomas White
Pencil, watercolour and ink on paper
YORAG : R1556; Image courtesy of York Museums Trust
A sum of £1,000 was put aside to cover the cost of the House: with £100 contributed by the
Town Clerk, supposedly to be paid in lieu of fines. Construction started in 1725, but as soon
as March 1726 the building committee reported to the Corporation that this money had
been spent, and further funds were needed. The Mansion House project had run well over
budget. £300 was granted, allowing progress to continue. However, the timescale was also
to come adrift, and in 1727 the committee was criticised for its slow headway. Officially
ending only in 1732, work was to take seven years. Some elements – primarily in the State
Room – were not actually finished until after a Lord Mayor had moved in.
The York Mansion House, February 2025
Image courtesy of Alex Carr
York Mansion House was one of the first purpose-built mansion houses in the country. It
had no architect, took much longer than planned, and cost a great deal more than anticipated. Nothing about this project went smoothly. Even so, with a little help from subsequent restorations, the building has been standing for 300 years, and all being well will
go on for at least 300 more.
References:
Booth, K.W. & Bell, C.R. (eds.) (1984) ‘The Mansion House Mystery’ in Y.A.Y.A.S. Times: The Newsletter of The Yorkshire Architectural and York Archaeological Society, York: No: 11 April 1984.
Tillott, P. M. (ed.) (1961) 'The Guildhall, Council Chamber and Mansion House' in A History of the County of York: the City of York, London: British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/yorks/city-of-york/pp542-544 [accessed 27 April 2025].
Read the Historic England List entry 1257969 for Grade I Mansion House, railings and gas
YGS Events for Your Diary
Social Event and Celebration of York Georgian Society’s Nuttgens Award Winners (2024)
Wednesday 18 June at 6-8pm
At York Medical Society, 23 Stonegate, York, YO1 8AW
Ticket costs: £15 for members; £18 non-members; free for students*.
*Students who wish to attend will need to book tickets in advance. If you are unable to attend, please notify the event organiser, as tickets will be limited.
Organisers: Jemima Hubberstey; Charles Martindale; Moira Fulton
In case of any questions, please email: jemimahubberstey@hotmail.co.uk
The Rt. Hon. Lady Eleanor Butler & Miss Ponsonby
“The Ladies of Llangollen”
Hand-coloured lithograph by James Henry Lynch (active 1815-68)
Image courtesy of National Library of Wales (Public Domain)
This event will start with a drinks reception in the garden of York Medical Society (weather
permitting).
Then in the Lecture Room, Professor Mary Fairclough (University of York) will give an introduction, followed by our award winners who will deliver two short talks.
It will be a wonderful opportunity to network with other members of the Society and hear exciting new research in eighteenth-century studies. Current students at the University of York also have the chance to learn more about the Nuttgens Award, and how York Georgian Society supports early-career research.
Free Tickets to Two Events!
A conference is being held in King’s Manor by one of our strategic partners: the Centre for Eighteenth-Century Studies, University of York, on 27-28 June
We have negotiated free entry to two events in the programme for our Members.
Any YGS Member who wishes to attend the whole conference will be offered a special
reduced bargain price of £25.
King’s Manor, 1817-1827
by Henry Cave (1780-1836)
Watercolour on paper; YORAG : R45
Image courtesy of York Museums Trust
Barbauld (1743-1825) was a renowned Georgian poet and writer on literary and political
matters, who supported the abolition of slavery. She was also an editor of literary works by
others and influential writer for children. Notably Barbauld had connections with the
Unitarian community at York. This conference is designed to coincide with the completion of
an edition of her Collected Works in four volumes, published by Oxford University Press.
Plenary Lecture:
Professor Emma Clery (University of Uppsala), ‘Barbauld’s Poetics of Peace in an Age of War.’
Friday 27 June, 4.30pm-5.30 pm
At King’s Manor, Huntingdon Room
Reception:
A musical ‘soundscape’ performance relating to Barbauld’s nature poetry, and a live rendition of a Barbauld hymn composition.
Friday 27 June, 6.00pm-7.30 pm
At York Medical Society, Stonegate
Drinks and refreshments will be provided.
Organiser: Charles Martindale: C.A.Martindale@bristol.ac.uk
NB: Both these events are free only for Members of YGS, and you must book via our
website. Numbers are limited, so reserve now to avoid disappointment!
Catch up Online Anytime
Gresham College – YouTube Channel
Envy of Kings: The Guildhall of London and the Power of the Medieval Corporation
Lecture by Dr Simon Thurley
Comments