Three hundred years after the original construction began, York Mansion House will undergo a £1.2m project of maintenance, accessibility and safety improvements to help protect and maintain the building as an important cultural asset for the city.
One of the earliest civic buildings to be built in the classical style in England, the Mansion House is the official seat of The Rt Hon The Lord Mayor of York, and holds an important collection of items connected to the history of the city over the past 800 years. Work to build the house began in 1725 and was completed in 1732 with the last major restoration completed in 2015-2017.
Buttress will be overseeing the conservation works and providing specialist heritage consultancy and conservation architecture.
The refurbishment aims to address essential maintenance tasks which include repairing wear and tear to the building and to prevent any further deterioration in the historic roof, walls and windows. It will also include important upgrades to the lift to improve the accessibility and environmental performance of the historic building, and decoration works will refresh the interior where structural work is required.
The project team, from left to right: Edward Kepczyk, Damien Woolliscroft and Hannah Bellerby.
The Mansion House will close temporarily on 10 November, when the contents will be safely stored. This will be done with the help of students who will gain valuable practical experience of working in a historical building. Staff will oversee the work, continue with vital outreach education work and carry out research on the House and its contents.
The project is due to be completed part way through next year, when it will reopen in time for Yorkshire Day on 1 August and a season of events including the popular Georgian Festival.
Hannah Bellerby, Buttress project architect said:
“As we approach the Mansion House’s 300th anniversary, it is a privilege for Buttress to lead the efforts in safeguarding this vital piece of York’s civic heritage. Our work focuses on not only preserving the building’s historical integrity but also working to ensure it remains accessible, sustainable, and fit for future generations. Through these planned restorations, we are ensuring that this significant landmark continues to enrich York’s cultural landscape for years to come."
The Rt Hon, The Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Margaret Wells, said:
“Investing in this beautiful historic building ensures it will continue to serve the city and its residents. It’s temporary closure will allow other historic venues to take part in the civic life of the city, such as holding citizenship ceremonies in the elegant Register Office on Bootham, and using Medieval Barley Hall to host the Sheriff’s Ridings.”
Pauline Stuchfield, Director of Housing and Communities, said:
"The Mansion House has been an essential part of the York landscape for almost 300 years, and it's important it continues to be available for future generations of residents and visitors. We're able to carry out these essential works to weather another 300 years of being key to the civic life of the city, a base for our civic party and ready to welcome royalty as it has for centuries. For hundreds of years the Mansion House has hosted some of the most important and significant events in the city and, once these improvements are made, the House will continue to play that role for decades to come."
The project will be managed by Buttress' Leeds studio in Yorkshire.
Edward Kepczyk
Edward specialises in the conservation, informed repair, and creative reuse of secular and ecclesiastical buildings, including some of the country’s most significant historic sites.
Damien Woolliscroft
Damien is an associate with 12 years' experience of working in the architecture industry, including 10 years of work on national designated and historic buildings, structures and landscaping. He has an in-depth knowledge of traditional repair methods to historic buildings including adaptive re-use.
Hannah Bellerby
Hannah is an architect with extensive experience in the historic environment sector.
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