Thursday, 7 August 2008
As we enter the Mansion House, we stand in the vestibule and face the staircase. It is in imperial style, with the first flight of stairs reaching a landing and then dividing into two flights before reaching the first floor. The staircase is flanked by Ionic columns. The columns on the first, or principal floor, have the more elaborate Corinthian rather than the simpler Ionic capitals. To the left, out of view, is one of the three clocks in the Mansion House made by George Hallifax, a member of the corporation, and twice mayor.
On the landing, displayed in a case, is the grant of arms dated 1 September 1975 made by the Garter Principal King of Arms to the new Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster after its creation on 1 April 1974. The two Italian metal statues of pageboys holding lamps first appear in the inventory for 1865 but, unfortunately, their origin is unknown at present.
The wall on which the grant of arms hangs was originally the external wall of the Mansion House. It was not until 1864 that the window, where the Italian pages now stand, was removed and the gallery was built behind to improve access to the rooms on the first floor.
