Oldway Mansion
Oldway Mansion is a mansion in the town of Paignton in Devon , United Kingdom . It was built by the American sewing machine manufacturer and millionaire Isaac Merritt Singer in the 1870s; he called it his " wigwam ". His son Paris Singer had it converted into a "little Versailles" at the beginning of the 20th century. Oldway Mansion has been owned by the city since 1946. It houses offices and is used for official events. The house and park are open to visitors, as is the small museum with old sewing machine models from Singer.
Building history
Singer had acquired the Fernham estate in Paignton in 1871. He had the old buildings on the site demolished and hired local architect George Soudon Bridgman to construct a new one. However, Singer died in 1875 just before work on the original mansion was completed. Between 1904 and 1907, Paris Eugene Singer, Isaac Singer's third son, had the building rebuilt based on the model of the Palace of Versailles , with the raised area on the east side being inspired by the Place de la Concorde in Paris .
Opposite the main entrance is a large round building known as the Rotunda . It was built in 1873 and originally used as a riding pavilion and other physical exercises.
interior
The interior of the building is known for its large marble staircase and its balustrade with bronze balusters based on a design by the painter and architect Charles Lebrun . The ceiling of the stairwell is adorned with a painting similar to the original by Lebrun, the replica was created by Carl Rossner . Above the staircase there is a replica of the painting The Coronation of Josephine and Napoleon by Jacques-Louis David . The original is in the Louvre .
The gallery on the first floor is a reproduction of the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles and has a parquet floor . It leads into the ballroom , the walls of which are adorned with gilded panels and silver mirrors. An oil painting from 1717 depicting Louis I of Spain as the Prince of Asturias hangs above the fireplace .
Garden area
Oldway Mansion is surrounded by 17 acres of gardens, which were designed by the French garden architect Achille Duchêne based on the Italian model. On the lower level on the east side of the building there is a labyrinth of box tree ornaments and flower beds. To the south of the building there is a part with a grotto and a waterfall that pours over a rock cave into a basin. Otherwise, many subtropical plants thrive on the site .
literature
- Robert Andrews: The Rough Guide to Devon & Cornwall . 3. Edition. Rough Guides, New York, London, Delhi 2007, ISBN 978-1-84353-807-3 , p. 109.
Web links
References and comments
- ↑ Archived copy ( Memento of the original from July 14, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. George Soudon Bridgman was also the architect of the Paignton Pier, which was inaugurated in 1879.
- ↑ Information on Oldway Mansion at britishlistedbuildings.co.uk , accessed August 2, 2011.
Coordinates: 50 ° 26'35 " N , 3 ° 34'4" W.