Welcome to the Website of the Friends of Doncaster Mansion House
We are so pleased you have visited our site and we hope that you will be inspired to visit this wonderful building and perhaps become a ‘Friend’ and even a volunteer. We don’t own the building – it belongs to Doncaster Council and is still used for civic functions and some Council business, but as an organisation, we are dedicated to ensuring it can be enjoyed by everyone – as a place to visit and enjoy and learn about or hire for your event or celebration.
Latest News
Open Days 2026
At each Open Day you can either have a guided tour with one of our knowledgeable guides, or you are very welcome to wander around on your own.
In August we are having two Open Days, both Family Days with games and quizzes for accompanied children – a fun day out during the school holidays.
In September our Open Day will be on a Saturday, and it will coincide with the national Heritage Open Days week. The national theme for this year is based around ”the everyday histories of working lives. From factory floors to kitchen counters, school desks to sailors’ docks, and all the corners of a grand estate: house and gardens!” and we hope to have a relevant talk and exhibition that week as well.
We look forward to seeing you.
Interesting Articles:
The Carmelite Priory in Doncaster An interesting new article by Richard Cuell. Click here to view the article as a pdf
The Architects of Doncaster Mansion House
Doncaster Civic Trust has produced a series of articles on the Architects of the Mansion House. James Paine was the original architect of the Mansion House but in subsequent years additions and changes were made by others — William Lindley, John Butterfield, and William Hurst, possibly with John Woodhead. The series gives information about the careers of these architects with an emphasis on buildings in Doncaster and the area. We hope you enjoy reading them. Thank you to Doncaster Civic Trust who gave permission to reproduce the articles on the Friends’ website. The Civic Trust website is doncastercivictrust.org.uk. Click here to view the articles
Proclamation of a new monarch. An article by Richard Cuell Click here to view
New Mansion House Brochure A new brochure has been prepared by the Friends. Click here to view
The Mansion House Peace Window – a description of the design and construction of Peace Window with a covering note written by Councillor Robert Grainger on 1st December 1986. Click here to view
James Paine Exhibition – The James Paine Exhibition was created during the James Paine Festival in 2017. The permanent exhibition is on display in the Mansion House and the travelling exhibition is now on display at Cusworth Hall. Click here to view.
James Paine’s Books – In order to promote his achievements and express his own views on architecture, Paine published three books during his lifetime. These books contain magnificent architectural engravings of all his most important projects with accompanying explanations. Click here to view.
The Falklands War April 2nd to June 14th 1982 – HMS Andromeda was Doncaster’s adopted ship and the ship’s white ensign was raised over Port Stanley on June 14th 1982 to mark the recapture of the Falkland Islands. The ship’s white ensign and ship bell are now on display in Doncaster Mansion House. Click here for further information
Mansion House Clocks – View David Varley’s powerpoint presentation on Clocks, Clockmakers and the Mansion House Clocks – Click here to view.
Mansion House Paintings
Portrait of the Fourth Earl Fitzwilliam
Portrait of Sir William Bryan Cooke
Click here to view
A Visit to Doncaster Mansion House in 1784
Click here to view
The Schools Design Challenge 2019 at the Mansion House. Organised by the Civic Trust. Click here to view
Mansion House Open Days
The Mansion House will be open to the Public from 10:30am to 2:00pm on the following Fridays:
July 24th
August 7th – Family Day
August 21st – Family Day
September 19th – National Heritage Open Days event (Saturday)
October 30th
November 27th
December 11th
More News
New Chair of Trustees
We have recently appointed a new of Chair of Trustees, Major Adrian Hunt KVRM DL
Recently retired after serving 46 years with the Royal Tank Regiment (2 RTR) and Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers (REME). Majority of the first 23 years spent in Germany. Tours included Northern Ireland, Belize, Canada, Poland, Cyprus, and Kenya.
2024 received recognition in the New Years Honours receiving “The Kings Volunteer Reserve Medal (KVRM).
2019 appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant of South Yorkshire.
Involved with several military charities (national & local) also involved with education sitting on a Local Governance Committee.
Became interested in the “Friends of Doncaster Mansion House” after a visit. Joined the Friends, appointed as a Trustee and most recently appointed Chair of Trustees. It is important the heritage of our Mansion House is known and circulated everywhere.
Volunteers Wanted
The Friends of the Mansion House are looking for new volunteers to show the public around the Mansion House. If you are interested in becoming a guide, a volunteer, or a researcher, look through our website and see what we do, and contact Marion Johns on twinn.johns@yahoo.co.uk
On display at the Danum Gallery
James Paine’s 2nd book of architectural engravings is now on display in the new Danum Gallery at Waterdale. The book was purchased by the Friends of Doncaster Mansion House in 2018. The Friends paid for the book to be conserved and then donated the book to Doncaster Council.
Future Events
Now that the Mansion House is open to the public again, the Friends and the City of Doncaster Council are putting together a programme of events.
We will update this website with information about the Friends and our activities but if you have any questions please go to our contact page for details of how to get in touch.
We are hugely grateful to our friends at Doncaster Civic Trust who with their good advice and start-up funding have made it possible for the Friends to become established. We work closely with Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council who have been very supportive of our efforts and given us a lot of their time for which we are very grateful.