Brian’s blast from the past – the Old Mansion House

WHEN General Booth - the Salvation Army’s first generalslept at the Old Mansion House in Cardiff as a guest of the mayor, a painting of a nude woman hanging in his bedroom was covered up to avoid offending him.

But he couldn’t resist a peek behind the painting’s covers, and when he got up in the morning he told the mayor’s caretaker, Mr Hartland, to “Take it away and smash it up!’’

Whether the painting was smashed up or not remains a mystery!

Many famous people visited the Mansion House both at its old site at 21 The Walk, and at its later site at the junction of Richmond Road, Richmond Crescent and West Grove.

The 1st Earl of Oxford, Herbert Henry Asquith - the chancellor who introduced old age pensions, Lloyd George, Lord Baden-Powell, The Prince of Wales - later King George V, the King and Queen of Portugal and others equally famous all stayed there.

The Prince of Wales visited the Old Mansion twice, and on the first occasion enjoyed the singing of the Welsh choir so much that he agreed to let them call themselves The Royal Welsh Choir.

In 1904, the legendary American folk hero, William Frederick Cody - better known as Buffalo Bill - was given a dinner in his honour at the old Mansion House by the Mayor John Jenkins.

The American was on a farewell visit to Cardiff with his Wild West Show.

But the mayor was criticised by one Welsh Congregational newspaper: ‘Many would like to know on what grounds the showman was honoured in this way as he merely travels the country for his own pocket’s sake.’’

Please send your memories and pictures to Brian Lee, Cardiff Remembered, South Wales Echo, Six Park Street, Cardiff, CF10 1XR or email brianlee4@virginmedia.com. Please include home telephone number as I cannot reply by letter.