Gotham House is a Grade II* listed early 18th century Georgian merchant's townhouse on Phoenix Lane in the town of Tiverton in Devon, England. An ancient estate named "Gotham" also exists in the parish of Cadeleigh, near Tiverton, now represented by Gotham Farm.[1] It was one of a number of buildings constructed in Tiverton following the disastrous Tiverton fire of 1731. The building was restored in 1966 and currently serves as the base for a firm of solicitors. The house and its forecourt walls and entrance gates became listed on 12 February 1952.[2]
History
editGotham House was built in the early 18th century by clothing merchant and Mayor of Tiverton George Davey (1690–1746).[3][4][5]
It was one of a number of buildings rebuilt in Tiverton following a fire of 1731, making it a rare example of an elaborate Georgian townhouse.[6] The house remained in the Davey family for a few generations, passing to George Davey's son Roger after his death, and then to his brother George. It then became the property of George's daughter and son-in-law, Captain John and Bridget Hamilton.[3] George In the 1880s, Major Poyntz, Chief Constable of Essex, resided at Gotham House.[7] Since 1960, the building has served as offices of law firm Ashford's Solicitors.[8][9] The house was restored in 1966 by architects Clement Toy and Raymond Erith.[2] It has occasionally been opened to the public since then.[5][10][11]
Architecture
editExterior
editGotham House is a 3-storey Flemish bond red brick building, with a basement. It has a symmetrical 5-bay front with four brick columns reaching to the top of the first floor, two surrounding the entranceway and one at each end. These are topped with moulded caps and a projecting white cornice. Four columns extend from this cornice to the roof. The windows have slate stonework below and are topped with arches of rubbed brick in a lighter colour; there are fourteen windows at the front and fifteen at the back. The house has pilastered doorcases at both the front and rear. At the front, there is also a round-headed outer doorway. The house has a slate roof with an 'M' profile, with chimney stacks at either end constructed of brick with yellow chimney pots. There is cast-iron guttering.[2]
Interior
editThe house has a double depth plan, being two rooms wide.[2] The interior retains many 18th-century features, including a library containing books and manuscripts from the period and a mahogany staircase dating back to its original constructions.[5] There is a marble mantelpiece, with Corinthian columns and a frieze with depictions of sphinxes and cherubs. Surviving additions from the 19th century include a pantry and a dumb waiter.[2] Several historical items have been found in the basement, including documents signed by Oliver Cromwell.[5]
References
edit- ^ "Gotham Farm self catering accommodation in Tiverton, Devon". Archived from the original on 6 January 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Historic England. "Gotham House Including Forecourt Walls and Entrance Gates, Tiverton (1384877)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
- ^ a b Evans, Jane (May 2008). "Merchants' Trail Medley – A Personal Note" (PDF). Tiverton Civic Society Newsletter. 68: 7–8.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Evans, Jane (2008). "Around & About St George's Churchyard - Reading the Stones" (PDF). Tiverton Civic Society Newsletter: 19.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c d "Doors open on wealth of heritage". Western Morning News. 14 September 1999.
- ^ Cherry, Bridget; Pevsner, Nikolaus (1991). Devon. Yale University Press. p. 84. ISBN 978-0-300-09596-8.
- ^ Haileybury and Imperial Service College (1900). Haileybury register. p. 429. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
- ^ The Solicitors' journal. The Journal. January 1987. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
- ^ "History". Ashford's Solicitors. Archived from the original on 23 March 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
- ^ "Mid-devon". Western Morning News. 31 August 2004.
- ^ "Get a free slice of local history". Mid Devon Gazette. 2 September 2008.