Palmer House, Great Torrington

Palmer House, Great Torrington, in 2013
Stained glass in Palmer House, Great Torrington, showing arms of John Palmer[nb 1]

Palmer House is a historic residence in Great Torrington, Devon, England, built in 1752 by John Palmer, husband of author Mary Palmer.

History

Sir John Palmer built Palmer House in 1752. It was the home that he shared with his wife, Mary Reynolds Palmer, who was the author of Devonshire Dialogue and eldest sister of artist Sir Joshua Reynolds. Reynolds and Dr. Samuel Johnson were visitors to the house.[1][2]

Building

The Grade II* listed house is a three-storied building with the front facade made of red brick with Ionic pilasters. In the late 18th century, a wing was added to the back of the house. A gazebo that had been on the property is now located at Rosemoor Gardens in the same town. The 1st floor has a "plaster ceiling with Palmer arms and Ionic mantel." The Palmer arms is represented in stained glass on the half-landing of the staircase.[2]

Nikolaus Pevsner called it the "best house in town".[3] It has also been described as "a most interesting example of brickwork subordinated to a Palladian treatment of pilasters and cornice"."[4]

Notes

  1. Arms of John Palmer: "Gules, three escallops", with crest: "A wyvern's head and neck couped", with inscription below: "J N Palmer". A palmer was an old term for pilgrim, and pilgrims to the shrine of St James at Compostella, Spain, distinguished themselves by wearing a scallop shell, the symbol of that saint

References

  1. Lee, Elizabeth. Mary Palmer. Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Vol.43.
  2. 1 2 "Palmer House Including Garden Wall, Great Torrington". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  3. Bridget Cherry; Nikolaus Pevsner (1991). The Buildings of England: Devon. YALE University Press ACADEMIC. pp. 461–462. ISBN 978-0-300-09596-8. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  4. "Palmer House. A new Chapter in its History". The Johnson Society: Dr. Samuel Johnson 1709-1784. Retrieved 23 June 2013.

Coordinates: 50°57′10.08″N 4°8′41.64″W / 50.9528000°N 4.1449000°W / 50.9528000; -4.1449000

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