The Mansion Hotel

LEEDS

SE33NW MANSION LANE, Roundhay 714-1/7/1058 (South side) 19/10/51 The Mansion Hotel (Formerly Listed as: ROUNDHAY PARK, Roundhay The Mansion Hotel (Roundhay Mansion))

II

Formerly known as: Roundhay Park Mansion Roundhay. Large mansion, now hotel. Built by 1826, altered late C19 and C20. By John Clark. For Thomas Nicholson. Neoclassical style. Ashlar, slate roof. 2 storeys, 7 bays. Centre 3 bays have impressive portico with 4 giant fluted Ionic columns supporting a pediment. Corner pilasters to full height. Entablature with cornice and parapet. Sash windows with glazing bars, ground-floor French casements. Rear: 2-storey, 5-bay service wing. Left return: 6 bays, bay 5 entrance with Ionic columns supporting flat-roofed porch with moulded cornice and blocking course, flanking pilasters; segmental bay with margin lights to windows right, bays 1 and 2 break forward, the left end a 2-window wing with a mid C19 conservatory built into the angle. The conservatory of 5 bays with a canted 3-bay west end, round-arched bays, 2 ventilators to ridge. Right return: 5 windows, entrance with Ionic porch and flanking pilasters, segmental bay left. INTERIOR: the E side entrance opens into a lobby with arched niche on right, wide segmental-arched doorway with fluted Ionic pilasters, fan motif in tympanum. Staircase hall beyond has a fine stone cantilevered divided staircase with ornate wrought-iron lattice balustrade and wooden moulded handrail, elliptical dormer over oval glazed well with Adam-style cornice and ceiling rose, massive brass chandelier. On the landing, left and right segmental-arched doorways with fluted pilasters, Ionic capitals. Ground-floor front rooms now restaurant with original fireplace (not seen in detail); conservatory has 5 elaborate roof trusses with iron tension bars and pendants. 1st-floor rooms include: left, fireplace with reeded surround, moulded dado rail, lit by the bowed bay window at end; right, fluted architraves, Ionic capitals, segmental arches, no fireplace surviving; west-facing rooms retain 2 marble fireplaces with fluted decoration. HISTORICAL NOTE: in 1803 Roundhay Park was sold by the 17th Baron Stourton to Thomas Nicholson of Chapel Allerton, a

London banker; he laid out the park and probably began the building of the house, the architect John Clark's earliest surviving building in West Yorkshire. On the death of William Nicholson in 1868 the estate was sold and the mansion and park bought by John Barran for Leeds Corporation. The intention was to retain 150 acres as park and sell the remainder for housing. The architect George Corson won the competition for the development of the Leeds suburb in 1873. The park was opened in 1872. (Linstrum, D: West Yorkshire Architects and Architecture: London: 1978-: 123).

Listing NGR: SE3302838261