York Mansion House

01/06/2026

This Christmas gift tin still contains the Rowntree’s chocolate it was filled with in 1914, as part of a huge mission to boost the morale of York people serving in the First World War.

We’re taking a look at some favourite objects around York Mansion House for this year’s .

The chocolate tins were sent out to people around the world by the Lord Mayor of York John Bowes Morrell, who had become a Director at Rowntree’s age 24, and the Sheriff, Oscar Rowntree, from the famous chocolate manufacturing family.

Each tin was decorated with the inscription, “The Lord Mayor of York John Bowes Morrell and the Sheriff Oscar F Rowntree send best wishes for a happy Christmas and a bright New Year to all York men who are serving their King and Country Christmas 1914”.

The gifts aimed to make the recipients feel remembered by and connected to their city and we know how much the gifts were appreciated, as more than 250 letters of thanks were sent to the Lord Mayor afterwards.

This tin belonged to Private Leslie Peacock who survived the war, but who never touched the chocolate inside!

MuseumWeek Visit York

30/05/2026

York Pride 2026 🏳️‍🌈

📸 view from the top of York Mansion House this morning

30/05/2026

We’re at York Pride celebrating this summer’s York Georgian Festival (6-10 August) with our friends from Holy Trinity Church, who are raising money to repair the gateway to their beautiful churchyard! 🏳️‍🌈

1 and 2: come and say hello and collect a festival fan from Holy Trinity’s stall at the Knavesmire! 🪭
3. make a badge to take home - choose from our Georgian pictures or design your own 🙂
4. Find out fascinating facts about York’s Q***r history through the ages
5. Help Holy Trinity raise cash to repair their beautiful churchyard archway which dates back to the early 1700s
6. Book now to get an early bird ticket price for No Priest but Love on Sunday 9 August, a festival event which will tell the story of Anne Lister - go to yorkgeorgianfestival.co.uk
7. Holy Trinity’s blue plaque remembering the union of Anne Lister and Ann Walker.
8. The Pride flag flying above the Mansion House this morning

29/05/2026

Come and see us at Holy Trinity’s stall tomorrow and celebrate all things Georgian pride as we look forward to York Georgian Festival🌈🌈

28/05/2026

Book now for our Georgian Wine and Cheese Evening on Friday 7 August, a new event for York Georgian Festival!
Step back in time for an evening of indulgence in the splendid setting of our State Room. Discover the rich history behind the Georgian era’s favourite dinner table wines and experience how high society used to entertain.
Expert sommelier Emma Moore will guide you through a curated selection of six historic wines, each perfectly paired with artisan cheeses. Throughout the evening, you’ll gain a fascinating insight into the lavish dining habits of the 18th-century, exploring the history of these celebrated wines and how they became the ultimate symbols of sophistication and status.
Emma is a down-to-earth wine and beer expert from York who hosts fun, engaging, and educational tastings.
🍷 Booking details at yorkgeorgianfestival.co.uk

23/05/2026

Coming to York this half term?

We've got plenty to do for all the family at the Mansion House and offer half-price entry to York residents all year round, with 25% off for English Heritage members.

⚫️ Try dressing up in Georgian costume in the State Room

⚫️ Watch cookery demonstrations in our historic kitchen - twice daily at 11.30am and 2.30pm

⚫️ Create your own brass rubbing in our silver gallery

We're open Wednesday - Sunday, 10.30am - 5pm (last admission at 4pm)

21/05/2026

We still play a part in the civic life of City of York Council here at the Mansion House and some of our treasures were used today in the annual “Mayor Making” ceremony at the Guildhall in York.

20/05/2026

We've loved watching YouTube film maker BritMapped's latest video about the beautiful Mansion House, its history, treasures and unexpected finds!

Hear some great stories and see some of our best known objects - including our mummified cat - in the new film.

Today I am in the oldest mayoral house in the UK - The Mansion House!I highly recommend a visit to The Mansion House: https://www.mansionhouseyork.com/Or che...

14/05/2026

🗞️Dearest gentle readers, we have news of the utmost importance: York Georgian Festival programme plus more updates from the Mansion House!

If you missed our newsletter earlier this month, it’s now available to read on our website at mansionhouseyork.com/whatson

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