Mansion House in 1900

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GEORG JENSEN PAIR BEAKER STERLING SILVER LONDON 1958-
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4 Heavy London England Antique 1840s Crested Sterling Silver Dinner Plates NR
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Arthur H. Beavan continued his survey of the City of London at the turn of the twentieth century in Imperial London, published in 1901, with a look at Mansion House:

During his term of office the Lord Mayor of London dwells at the Mansion House, a substantial Portland-stone building, with a rather handsome portico of Corinthian pillars.

It is completely isolated and oblong in shape, and at the end farthest from Cheapside is the celebrated Egyptian Hall, intended to resemble an Egyptian chamber.

In the stately banqueting-room four hundred guests can be entertained, and there are other smaller dining-rooms, state saloons, and a splendid ball-room.

As hospitality has always been the leading feature of a Lord Mayor's reign, the kitchen is proportionately large.

Either balls, banquets, children's fancy-dress balls, or parties, are always going on at the Mansion House.

Of the banquets, not the least interesting is that given in October to meet the Court of the Fruiterers' Company and the General Purposes Committee.

Prior to the formal reception of guests comes a presentation of fruit from the Livery to their civic host - a relic of by-gone days, when the Chief Magistrate had the right of tithing all fruits that came into the "one square mile."

Heart-burnings having arisen therefrom, the tithe was commuted in a fashion agreeable to all parties by a freewill offering from the Fruiterers' Company to the Lord Mayor of the day.

Next: How London's food need was met from Abroad in 1900: Gastronomic London