Earlier Houses: There was probably an earlier house near the site of the current house.

Built / Designed For: Thomas Nicholson

House & Family History: In 1803 Roundhay Park was sold by the 17th Baron Stourton to Thomas Nicholson, a London banker. It appears that Nicholson almost immediately began to layout the Park; Mansion House was built in 1826 for Nicholson by the architect John Clark (his earliest surviving building in West Yorkshire). On the death of William Nicholson in 1868 the Estate was sold and the House and Park were purchased by John Barran for the Leeds Corporation, with the intention to keep 150 acres as a public park and to sell the remainder for housing. The Park opened to the public in 1872. For a large part of the 20th century the House was the Mansion Hotel; today it's The Mansion restaurant.

Garden & Outbuildings: Extant in the grounds are the cupolaed Stables; The Castle, a sham ruin; a summer house called The Hermitage; and two lakes.

John Bernard (J.B.) Burke, published under the title of A Visitation of the Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, among other titles: 2.S. Vol. I, p. 56, 1854.

House Listed: Grade II

Park Listed: Grade II

Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSE: Charles Stourton, 15th Baron Stourton, 18th century; Charles Philip Stourton, 17th Baron Stourton, early 19th century. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: Thomas Nicholson, 19th century; William Nicholson Nicholson, 1858-71.

Current Ownership Type: Government

Primary Current Ownership Use: Other

Ownership Details: Owned by Leeds City Council, who let the house as an event venue and restaurant.

House Open to Public: Yes

Phone: 03454-504-545

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.dine.co.uk/venues/themansion

Historic Houses Member: No