BATHED in early morning sun, the Palladian façade of the Mansion House is York’s finest. The height of fashion in 1732 and built to showcase the city’s role as a stylish and lavish host to society, it’s surely the work of a genius, someone such as John Carr or Robert Adam?

Surprisingly, there was no architect. Instead a group of aldermen, brewers, haberdashers and the like oversaw the project, and a fine job they did too. So next time someone tells you design by committee is rarely inspired, invite them to York.

Building a residence in which to entertain guests came about because many Lord Mayors were not keen on opening their own houses “for the entertainment of the citizens”, as was the custom.

Guildhall was considered too old-fashioned for such a fashionable city, so the council tried to buy Sir William Robinson’s house in Duncombe Place, but its bid failed.

There was nothing for it but to build from scratch.

York’s Mansion House was England’s first civic residence and predates its London cousin by two decades. It took seven years to complete and, unsurprisingly, came in well over the allocated budget of £1,000.

The building was restored in 1998 by the York Civic Trust, and exhibits a wide collection of silver, antique furniture and paintings, including York’s great sword of state, which once belonged to the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund.

The present incumbent is Coun Sue Galloway who recalls living at the Mansion House 25 years ago when her husband, Steve, was in office. Back then they had the place to themselves.

“Our lounge was the Yellow Room, but now it’s used to receive guests,” she says. “It’s quite different now, just having a flat upstairs and really I only use the house as a base or an office.

“I prefer to live on the outskirts and it can be a bit lonely here, a bit isolating. I think there is a tendency for people not to come and visit you when you live in such grand surroundings.”

So the building is being used to promote York. While in office, one of Coun Galloway’s missions is to encourage young entrepreneurs to become more involved in civic life. And where better to start than by inviting them to supper at The Mansion House?

“We can sit in the council chamber and pontificate, argue sometimes and make decisions, but it’s actually about how those decisions affect the people on the street and in my view the two are often divorced.

“People can quietly go about their business without any reference to what goes on in the Guildhall, but I do wish they would engage more and that’s one of the reasons for starting the civic suppers.”

Once a month, the Lord Mayor hosts eight to ten guests in the hope they might participate more in the civic traditions of the city. Members of York’s Guilds are also invited to share their experience of civic life.

Using the power of her office, the Lord Mayor is able to bring the right people together, so conversations flow, cards are exchanged and important contacts are made.

“I’m trying to go back to what the Mansion House was, a place where people met and exchanged ideas. If in future years, during my retirement, I can sit back and say ‘Oh yes, that business is now very successful and I remember having them round for supper’ – that would be brilliant.”

The Lord Mayor also wants her legacy to be a vibrant, inclusive city, which is why she believes the Mansion House should be used more.

During her tenure, charities will be invited to present their work in a series of open days which will bring people into the house and offer a high-profile platform for good causes.

The Mansion House is also available for conferences and dinners, and where better to dine than in the magnificent state room and banqueting hall which spans the front of the first floor and offers amazing views across St Helen’s Square to Stonegate and the Minster beyond?

You can sample the delights of York’s finest house during the food festival next month, when the Lord Mayor will host black-tie dinners cooked by some of Yorkshire’s finest chefs, including Steph Moon, from Rudding Park, and Rob Green, of Greens in Whitby.

The Mansion House may be where the Lord Mayor works, but in the evening she prefers her own home, where she can cook her own, and presumably less calorific, food.

“I’d sort of put off becoming Lord Mayor for a long time. I had the opportunity before, but now after 31 years as a councillor I thought perhaps I could bring something to the role and try to do something for the city I’ve lived in for 40 years.

“There’s nowhere else like York. I love it here; it’s very friendly and still small enough to get to know people. I mean, you can sit in St Helen’s Square for half an hour and five people you know will come and have a word with you. To me that’s brilliant, I can’t think of anywhere else where that would happen.”

Coun Galloway says she would like to be seen as an approachable mayor. The robes and finery may be part of the day job, but she says airs and graces aren’t for her.

“York does pomp and circumstance very well and that’s what the tourists love, but going to smaller things such as school plays is just as important to people, and for me just as enjoyable.

“For me, becoming Lord Mayor is the pinnacle of my career. It’s a privilege and a great honour, but it’s quite daunting as well with many responsibilities. It’s often a very humbling experience, because you meet many people during the year who have done an awful lot for this city but without any fanfare whatsoever. People who quietly just get on with things.”

Charity work features prominently in the Lord Mayor’s year and Coun Galloway has chosen to support the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and York’s Our Celebration, which helps people with mental health issues. She picked the BHF because her father suffered a heart attack, and Our Celebration because she feels it deserves to be better known.

“I think people genuinely appreciate the Lord Mayor visiting and getting involved. There is always a welcome, and this for me is a fantastic opportunity.

“The dignity of the office must be kept, but I think it’s important not to take yourself too seriously and of course I recognise that I’m also a tourist attraction. So when they ask if it would be all right to take a picture of me standing next to their little girl, of course I say yes.”


‘At home’ to callers today

Lord Mayor Sue Galloway will be ‘at home’ to visitors to the Mansion House today between 11am and 3pm. Visitors will be able to look around the impressive public rooms, and take refreshments in the state room. Volunteers Guide Dogs for the Blind will be raising money for their work in the community – and will also bring some of their demonstration team dogs.

The Mansion House is also open for guided tours every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm from the first weekend in March to the last weekend before Christmas. Silver tours give the opportunity for pre-booked groups to see one of the country’s finest collections of civic silver. The house can be hired for private functions for up to 60 guests. The Mansion House is fully wheelchair accessible.

For tours and private hires, phone 01904 551010 or email mansionhouse@york.gov.uk

All the way back to Hugh...

THE first attested Mayor of York was Hugh de Selby in 1217. Prominent figures to have held the office include George Hudson, the railway king, and the “chocolate Lord Mayors” of the Terry and Rowntree families.

Duties these days are less administrative and more social, but include being chairman of the city council. The Lord Mayor of York is ranked second in the country to the Lord Mayor of London.

• The Lord Mayor’s charities

ESTABLISHED in 1986, Our Celebration provides local services for people with mental health problems. The charity also helps people gain the skills and confidence to aid their recovery.

SINCE 1961, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) has carried out pioneering research into all aspects of heart disease. It also supports and cares for heart patients, and funds research at the University of York and the training of BHF nurses in the York area.