[3][4] A second mansion house was established on Great George Street shortly thereafter but this was closed following the cut-backs associated with Municipal Corporations Act 1835.

[5] The current building was commissioned as a private house by Alderman Thomas Proctor, who was the proprietor of a fertiliser business.

[7] The new house, which was originally known as "Elmdale", was designed by George and Henry Godwin in the Renaissance style, built in red brick with stone finishings and was completed in 1867.

[9][10] The building subsequently served as lodgings for visiting judges and as the official residence of the Lord Mayor of Bristol.

[5] Works of art in the mansion house include a portrait by Thomas Lawrence of the former member of parliament, Richard Hart Davis,[11] a portrait by Walter William Ouless of the former mayor, Christopher James Thomas,[12] and a landscape painting by John Syer depicting St Mary Redcliffe.