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We are celebrating with a week-long look at the changing urban environment around Number 1 Poultry, the subject of our current exhibition ‘Circling the Square’. Every day this week, members of our Young People’s Forum will choose an image from our architectural collections and tell us the story of one building.

's grandiose stands by Bank underground station, with thousands of people passing it on a daily basis. Its interior architecture whispers tales of London's history which would hardly be fathomable today (unless you're personally invited by the Lord Mayor). Judging by the awe-inspiring interiors and exteriors, it is hardly a surprise that Mansion House is a rather secretive and elusive place, housing incredible European historical paintings and the occasional fleeting tourist group. With such a rich and intriguing history (and no doubt future), Mansion House is a wonderful part of London's landscape.

Image: Print of the Egyptian Hall, Mansion House, City of London, England, 1809; image from °ÄÃÅÍõÖÐÍõpix (number °ÄÃÅÍõÖÐÍõ15470)
Architect: George Dance the Elder (1695-1768)
Artists: Augustus Charles Pugin (c. 1769-1832) and Thomas Rowlandson (1756-1827)
Credit: °ÄÃÅÍõÖÐÍõ Collections

Article by Issey Scott, 22 years old
2 June 2017

Discover more

This is just one of over four million items in our world-class architectural collections at the °ÄÃÅÍõÖÐÍõ Library – it's open to everyone and access is free. Visit the library to explore our collections of books, periodicals, drawings, photographs and models:

1. Architectural fragment
   Fragment of carved timber cornice from Mansion House, City of London, London, ca. 1752Call/Ref. no. ODS/DANC/1 [located at the V&A]
2. Journal article
   Worsley, G., 1993.
   Mansion House, London
   'Country Life'. Vol. 187, no. 44, 4 November 1993, pp.78-81.
3. Photographs
   Views of notable buildings in London, photographed by Edwin Smith, including of Mansion House, City of London.
   Record control no. P010270 (Call/Ref. no. ESP/LON/213-ESP/LON/257)