And finally… peeling back the layers
Restoration work at York’s Mansion House has uncovered 12 layers of wallpaper dating back to the 1750s, highlighting both changing trends over the ages and dodgy decorating habits.
However, one decorator’s bad habits is now our treasure, because the finding from the first floor drawing room offers a glimpse into past colour schemes, design, pigments, and production techniques, and can now be used to guide the redecoration of the scheme.
Buttress is leading the restoration of the historic building, and more than £1.3m is being invested in essential repairs to make the building safety compliant.
Although black and white photos of the room show the designs, the colours have been unknown until now.
One post-stamp sized fragment is believed to date back to the Georgian period (1715 to 1830s) and was printed in crimson which contained a single red wool fibre, indicating the paper was red flock.
This textured wallpaper was often used in the formal rooms of country houses, such as Temple Newsam in Leeds.
A magnified view of some of the layers of wallpaper and paint discovered. Credit: City of York Council
Similar previous discoveries at Mansion House include the 47 layers of paint on the façade, which dated from 1750 and showed that after the paint become sooty from the city’s coal fires it was simply painted over – the analysis has yet to confirm when decorating techniques improved.
Cllr Claire Douglas, Leader of City of York Council said: “These fascinating insights add extra value to our understanding of the building, York’s history and to the current renovation work.
“I’m very excited by these discoveries and can’t wait to see how the experts interpret the historic schemes into the redecoration of the Mansion House.
“These works are helping keep the much-loved building in prime condition and will be completed later this year, the 300th anniversary of work first beginning on the Mansion House.”
Damien Woolliscroft, Buttress associate and the project lead, said: “Our approach to the works at York Mansion House is rooted in a deep respect for its history while ensuring its relevance for future generations.
“Our restorative works continue the long-term investment in the Mansion House’s future, enhancing its environmental performance, accessibility, and resilience to ensure this historic landmark remains a source of pride for the city.”
