News / Politics
Council considers selling off lord mayor’s Mansion House
Bristol City Council is considering selling off the Mansion House, sparking anger that is showing “contempt” for the city’s history and “brazen glorying in property theft”.
The council has confirmed that a review of the current and potential future use of the historic Victorian building is being carried out.
No decision has yet been made but council services will be asked if they could make use of the property before recommendations are brought forward whether to keep or dispose of it on the market.
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Tory councillor Richard Eddy has slammed the Green-led administration for proposing the move, claiming it “knows the price of everything and the value of nothing”.
In response, council deputy leader Heather Mack said the former Conservative government had left local authorities with a funding shortfall legacy that meant they had to “choose between heritage and homelessness”.
Mack said vital services required big investment, some of which came from selling properties, and that the council owned many buildings which, if faced with the decision to buy today, would not be prioritised above delivering what residents needed and relied on.
The Mansion House on Clifton Down, close to the top of Bridge Valley Road and two doors down from the Society of Merchant Venturers’ headquarters, has been the official residence of Bristol’s lord mayor for 150 years, although they no longer actually live there.
It was built in 1867 as a private home for alderman Thomas Proctor, a successful Bristol fertiliser company owner, and donated to the local authority following his death seven years later, as were his wishes.
The Mansion House, has been the official residence of Bristol’s lord mayor for 150 years, although they no longer actually live there – photo: Martin Booth
Eddy said: “For months, there have been rumours that the city council wanted to sell the Mansion House and its beautiful grounds in Clifton.
“It has played host to members of the royal family, politicians and dignitaries – including Sir Winston Churchill – the military, captains of industry, city investors and charity organisers.
“It also features in the lives of many Bristolians, including recipients of the Lord Mayor’s Medal, those who gladly receive British citizenship, and many ordinary citizens.
“Over the years, the Guild of Guardians has raised huge sums for the efficient running of the Mansion House.
In addition, it is fully licensed for wedding, anniversary parties and for hiring for all manner of events.
“Now it seems Green leader, councillor Tony Dyer is determined to show contempt for Bristol and its history. I challenge councillor Dyer to confirm or deny this outrageous decision.
“More to the point, alderman Proctor very wisely decreed that, if the city of Bristol ever chose not to use this impressive property as the official residence of the lord mayor then the property should go back to his family estate and not be absorbed by the council coffers.
“Accordingly, if the council seeks to claim the proceeds of the asset, surely this amounts to brazen glorying in an act of property theft by a dishonest bureaucracy which is no better than the rogue landlords we rightly prosecute.”
Eddy said the Mansion House had refused to take wedding and function bookings beyond September and had started to return donated treasures to the families of their donors, even though Bristol Museum claimed to have no room to house any which could not be given back.
Bristol24/7 understands that bookings have been stopped because notice has been served on the current caterers and a new contract will be awarded to another provider.
The Mansion House is used as a venue for weddings, corporate functions and private celebrations – photo: Bristol City Council
Mack said: “Many of the council’s core services such as children’s services, adult social care and housing are struggling as a result of the pandemic, the cost of living crisis and a local funding legacy from a Tory government that has left councils having to choose between heritage and homelessness.
“We’re investing to improve these services whilst also trying to bring budgets under control.
“After being left with uncontrollable overspends from the previous administration we’ve agreed sustainable transformation plans for these vital services.
“These transformation plans rely on capital investment, some of which comes from selling properties.
“The council owns many buildings, which if faced with the decision to buy now, would not be prioritised above delivering the vital services people rely on.
“We fully recognise the heritage value of buildings such as the lord mayor’s Mansion House and their position in our city’s story, which is why the only responsible course of action is to consider all of our properties, the cost to the council of maintaining them, and the benefit that them being owned by the council brings to the authority and the city.
“Many cultural assets can be improved and invested in better by other organisations.
“The amazing work taking place at Jacob’s Wells Baths is a prime example of where local heritage is maintained for modern use.
“We must also consider whether some of these buildings could be repurposed to benefit those services we’re investing in, could some become children’s homes, or provide temporary accommodation for families desperately needing a roof over their heads.
“These are the questions we must ask ourselves instead of stoically holding onto buildings that for the most part remain underused and costly to maintain.”
Bristol City Council said its property transformation programme was established to review the estate of buildings it owned, assess options for use and recommend approaches to their future, including considering if any other council services could feasibly use them.
The council said the Mansion House was currently subject to a review and that service departments would shortly be asked to consider the building for use before further discussions were held on its future, but that no decision had been made.
Main photo: Martin Booth
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