George Soudon Bridgman | |
---|---|
Born | 1839 |
Died | 3 April 1925 (aged 85–86) |
Nationality | English |
Occupation | Architect |
Children | Norman George Bridgman. [1] |
Buildings | Oldway Mansion, Paignton Pier |
George Soudon Bridgman was a British architect and civil engineer, active in the late 19th century in Torquay, Devon. [2] He is best known for his work in the seaside resort of Paignton, designing Oldway Mansion and Paignton Pier, as well as designing the sea wall and promenade at Paignton Beach. He became known among locals as 'the Father of Paignton'. [3] [4]
Bridgman was born in 1839. [5] His brothers were Albert Bridgman and Henry Hewitt Bridgman. For his studies, George Bridgman moved from Torquay to London, until he returned in 1864 to work at Harvey Brothers (Builders) in Torquay. Once qualified he set up his own practice in Paignton and became a master mason. [6]
Bridgman apprenticed Frank Matcham when the latter was aged 14. Matcham worked with Bridgeman until the 1870s before moving to London to join the practice of Jethro Thomas Robinson. [7]
Bridgeman was a freemason who gave a site for new lodge premises in Paignton and laid the foundation stone along with the secretary of the lodge on 15 April 1891. [8]
George Soudon Bridgman died age 86 on 3 April 1925. [5] [6] He was buried in Paignton Municipal Cemetery. [9]
Around 1871 Bridgman was commissioned by Isaac Merrit Singer, the founder of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, to construct Oldway Mansion. As well as the mansion, Bridgeman designed a circular riding pavilion, later to be termed 'The Wigwam', by Singer. [10] Singer wanted a theatre in the house and in 1873 Frank Matcham was named in the request for tender section as being the accepted party to work alongside Bridgeman on this aspect of the Oldway Mansion project. [11]
Bridgman was commissioned by a local Paignton barrister, Arthur Hyde Dendy, to design a pier for the town. The construction was begun in 1878 [4] to his design, and the pier opened in 1879. [12] It remains standing to this day, and continues to be popular with both locals and visitors to the resort.
In 1866, Bridgman received a prize of £25 for his design for St Marychurch Town Hall. The hall cost £2,718 to build and opened in November 1883. It was sold to a developer in 2005 and subsequently converted into flats. [13]
Bridgman married Miss E Norman (d. 28 March 1900) in 1863,setting up home at Courtland Road in Paignton. They had eight children, including Norman George Bridgman (b. 1869) who also became an architect. [6] [14]
Following his first wife's death, Bridgman married Eliza (Lizzie) Black, and they moved back to Torquay in January 1902 where they lived until his death. [6]
Bridgman's name appears on three blue plaques in Paignton. [6]
Torquay is a seaside town in Devon, England, part of the unitary authority area of Torbay. It lies 18 miles (29 km) south of the county town of Exeter and 28 miles (45 km) east-north-east of Plymouth, on the north of Tor Bay, adjoining the neighbouring town of Paignton on the west of the bay and across from the fishing port of Brixham.
Torbay is a unitary authority with a borough status in the ceremonial county of Devon, England. It is governed by Torbay Council, based in the town of Torquay, and also includes the towns of Paignton and Brixham. The borough consists of 24.27 sq mi (62.9 km2) of land around the east-facing Tor Bay, part of Lyme Bay on the English Channel. A popular tourist destination, Torbay's sandy beaches, mild climate and recreational and leisure attractions have given rise to its nickname of the English Riviera. The neighbouring districts are South Hams and Teignbridge.
Paignton is a seaside town on the coast of Tor Bay in Devon, England. Together with Torquay and Brixham it forms the borough of Torbay which was created in 1968. The Torbay area is a holiday destination known as the English Riviera. Paignton has origins as a Celtic settlement and was first mentioned in 1086. It grew as a small fishing village and a new harbour was built in 1847. A railway line was opened to passengers in 1859 creating links to Torquay and London. As its population increased, it merged with the villages of Goodrington and Preston. Paignton is around 25 miles (40 km) north east of Plymouth and 20 miles (32 km) south of Exeter.
Oldway Mansion is a large house and gardens in Paignton, Devon, England. It was built as a private residence for Isaac Singer (1811–1875), and rebuilt by his son Paris Singer, in the style of the Palace of Versailles.
Torbay is a constituency in Devon represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Steve Darling, a Liberal Democrat. He defeated Kevin Foster of the Conservative Party, who had held the seat since 2015.
Francis Matcham was an English architect who specialised in the design of theatres and music halls. He worked extensively in London, predominantly under Moss Empires for whom he designed the Hippodrome in 1900, Hackney Empire (1901), Shepherd's Bush Empire (1903), Coliseum (1904), and Palladium (1910). His last major commission before retirement was the Victoria Palace Theatre in 1911 for the variety magnate Alfred Butt. During his 40-year career, Matcham was responsible for the design and construction of over 90 theatres and the redesign and refurbishment of a further 80 throughout the United Kingdom.
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Paignton Zoo is a zoo in Paignton, Devon, England. The zoo was started as a private collection by avid animal collector and breeder, Herbert Whitley, in the grounds of his home Primley House. It was opened to the public on a number of occasions, originally as Primley Zoological Gardens, and closed twice due to disputes with the tax authorities. The commercialisation of the zoo came when animals and attractions were relocated from Chessington Zoo during World War II, and the site was named as Devon's Zoo and Circus
Preston is a suburb located in the northern part of Paignton in Devon. Preston is a popular destination for family holidays and has two main beaches; Hollicombe, a red sandy beach with cliffs and rock pools, and Preston Sands with rock pools, beach huts and facilities. At low tide it is possible to walk between Preston Sands and the adjoining beaches at Paignton. The ward population at the 2011 census was 10,924.
Washington Merritt Grant Singer (1866–1934) was an American-born British heir, philanthropist and prominent racehorse owner.
Paignton Pier is a pleasure pier in the large English seaside resort of Paignton, Devon. It was financed by Arthur Hyde Dendy, a local Paignton barrister and designed by George Soudon Bridgman.
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Torbay Council is the local authority for Torbay, a local government district in the ceremonial county of Devon, England. Since 1998 the council has been a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council; it is independent from Devon County Council.
The Coroner is a BBC Birmingham drama series starring Claire Goose as Jane Kennedy, a coroner based in a fictional South Devon coastal town. Matt Bardock stars as Detective Sergeant Davey Higgins.
Paris Eugene Singer was an early resident of Palm Beach, Florida. He was 22nd of the 24 children of inventor and industrialist Isaac Singer of Singer Sewing Machine Company fame, from whom he inherited money; he has been described as a "man of luxury".
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