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wilt.-Jlqirv Zflvrnrh Svnrivtg (formerly the Records Branch of the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society) VOLUME 50 FOR THE YEAR 1994 Inipression of 500 copies THE LETTERS OF ]OI-IN PENISTON, SALISBURY ARCHITECT, CATHOLIC AND YEOMANRY OFFICER 1823 - 1830 EH)YTE[)ITY h4HCPLKEL.CX§VKAbJ THCYWUBRJLXSE 1996 © Wiltshire Record-Society ISBN 0 901333 27 1 Produced for the Society by Salisbury Printing Company Ltd, Salisbury Printed in Great Britain CONTENTS Prgfbce vii Abbreviations v111 INTRODUCTION ix Location Map of Principal Buildings xiii CALENDAR 1 INDEX" OF PERSONS AND PLACES 233 INDEX OF SUBJECTS I 253 List of Members . 261 List of Publications 268 PREFACE Lt Col Cowan wishes to express his thanks to Mr Steven Hobbs, County and Diocesan Archivist, and the staff of the Wiltshire Record Ofiice, with whom the Peniston archive is deposited on behalf of the Salisbury Diocesan Registry, for making the letter-books available, and for generous advice and assistance during the preparation of this edition. He would also like to acknowledge the kindness and help of Miss Suzanne Eward, Salisbury Cathedral Librarian; and Mr Bruce Purvis, Salisbury Local Studies Librarian,\lViltshire Libraries, Museums and Arts. 'Members are asked to note that the ‘International Standard Book Numbers printed in volumes 48 and 49 are incorrect. The correct numbers are: volume 48, ISBN 0 901333 25 5; volume 49, ISBN O 901333 26 3. ' Dr-Jane" Freeman retired in 1994 after six yearsrdistinguished service as general editor of the VI/iltshire Record Society series. Col Cowan and I both'wish to express our appreciation of the skill with which she has guided this project, and I should like to add my personal gratitude for her kindness and advice upon my taking up the mantle of editor. ' JOHN CHANDLER ABBREVIATIONS Boase: Boase, F., Modern English Biography, 3 vols., 1892 Brewer: Breu/er’s dictionary ofphrase andfable, rev. I.I—1. Evans, 1970 CG: The Clerical Guide, 1829 ed. Chambers: Chambers,_]ilI, I/Viltshire machine brealeers, 2 vols., 1993 DAB: Johnson, A., and Malone, D., Dictionary ofAmerican Biography, 1927-36 F: Foster,_I., Alumni Oxonienses, 1715-1886, 1891 F-L: -Fitzgerald-Lombard, Charles, English and I/Walsh priests 1801-1914: a working list, 1993 . Graham: Graham, H., The annals of the yeomanry cavalry ofl/Viltshire...fiorn the time of its formation in 1794 to October 1884, [vol.1], 1886 I Hutchins: Hutchins,]., The history and antiquities of the county of Dorset, 3rd ed., 4 vols, 1861-70' . Kelly: Kelly? directory ofl/Viltshire, 1848 and later“ eds. ' ' I - LN: Horn,_].M. (ed:), Le Neue, Pasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae, 1541-1857, Vol.6, [Salisbury - Diocese], 1986 _ ' " " ' Newman and Pevsner: Newman,_]., and Pevsner, N., Dorset, 1972 (The Buildings of England) - 1 OED: Oxford English dictionary, 2nd ed., 1989 ' P: Pigot,_]., Pigot and Co’s national cornrnercial directory [c.1830 editions used, unless stated; for Wiltshire see WRS vol.47] ' RCH: Hoare, Sir Richard Colt, The history of modern I/Viltshire, 6 vols, 1822-52 VCH: Victoria history of the counties of England: I/Viltshire [in progress] I - WAM: I/Viltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine [in progress] WRS: Wfltshire Record Society [in progress] INTRODUCTION . THREE GENERATIONS OF LETTERS John Peniston (c.1778-1848) founded a dynasty of Salisbury architects, which was continued by his son John l\/lichael (1807-58), and grandson Henry (1832-1911).‘ Together they were responsible for more than 7,000 letters written -between 1823 and 1858, which were copied into a series of letter—books now deposited in the VI/iltshire Record Office (WRO 451/58—69).They form part of a much larger accumulation of Peniston business papers, which includes deeds,' plans, printed and much miscellaneous material. Many of these items relate to letters included here. This volume presents in calendar form, with some full transcripts, nearly 1,700 letters written from October ‘1823, when the letter-books begin, until 31 December 1830. The latter date is arbitrary, chosen to-produce a volume of manageable length and representative of the various facets ofJohn Peniston’s career. He was the writer of the majority of these letters, although during the course of 1829 and 1830 his son became increasingly involved in the more mundane aspects of the business, and a number of letters are his. - THE SCOPE OF THE LETTERS _ " Most of the letters are concerned with some aspect of the professional practice of John Peniston, by calling a surveyor and recorded on his gravestone as an architect. This work was wide-ranging in content and took place throughout Wiltshire, and to some extent in the adjacent counties.Within Wfltshire his additional responsibility as County Surveyor involved him in repairs and maintenance to bridges and prisons. The business correspondence is interspersed with extensive and often detailed letters about the routine administration of the VI/iltshire Yeomanry Cavalry, as well as the exceptional episode in November 1830 when the yeomanry suppressed the uprising of agricultural labourersreferred to as the ‘Swing’ riots.These letters (1625- 41, passirn) provide important hitherto. unpublished evidence about a well known and much studied local historical event. - His involvement as a prominent member of the local catholic community is reflected in a significant number of letters, in this sphere tending to chronicle the exceptional rather than routine events. There are occasional references also to a variety of business and private interests, including dealing in wine and whiting, estate management, and building cottages on speculation. Peniston’s letters are significant not just for what they say, but also for what they- omit. He was a busy man, constantly travelling, who -only wrote when it was x PENISTON LETTERS 1823-30 necessary. The letters have little to say about building work in and immediately around Salisbury, which could easily be dealt with in person."There are only passing references to some matters which indicate substantial business. Conversely other projects, supervised from a distance, might generate a score or more letters. The rebuilding of Clarendon House and a dispute over work at Farnborough Place (Hants) result in more than fifty letters apiece. The letters are a rich source of incidental information about the nature, extent and organization of a professional man's affairs-in a relatively small provincial centre during the decade before the first impact of rail travel and the -opening of the Victorian era. Some aspects of this career are discussed in greater detail below. i - THE CORRESPONDENTS The recipients of the letters form a fairly complete spectrum of society - aristocrats, gentry, clergy, professional colleagues, officials, tradesmen and artisans. A proportion lived in and around Salisbury, but Peniston’s range of acquaintances extended throughout Wiltshire and neighbouring counties, particularly Hampshire and Dorset. More than 200 of the letters were sent to London addresses, and there were correspondents in Ireland and France. _ ' Peers are noticeable because their houses were being refurbished or they were concerned with the WiltshireYeomanry. Some, such as Lord Palmerston, tended to be addressed directly; some feature in correspondence with their steward (Mr Webb for Lord -Normanton) or their agent (Mr Baker in Dublin for the Earl of Enniskillen). Lord-Arundell appears in both religious and yeomanry contexts. " . ' Correspondence with Members of Parliament is a distinctive feature. Most letters are unrelated to parliamentary business, such “as those to Charles Baring Wall, concerning work on his country house, Norman Court; or to John Benett,'for whom Peniston was disposing of material from the ruins of Fonthill Abbey. When he needed to, however, Peniston drew on these useful contacts. Between February and April 1830 he canvassed-opposition to a local bill which would have changed the basis of poor-rate assessment in Salisbury (1253, 1311', 1314). And in August 1830 he travelled to Essex to help in the successful election campaign for a parliamentary candidate,John Tyssen Tyrell (1515). _ _ _ A further distinct group of correspondents is formed ‘by his professional colleagues, architects and surveyors - in neighbouring towns, such as Bath, Andover and_ Winchester. Peniston sometimes listed them when suggesting names for the selection of a referee (e.g. 556). Some were clearly personal friends, such as Anthony Wingrove ofTrowbridge, with whom he conducted a great deal of county business. Others were held in courteous respect, such as George Underwood of Bath (1189) or Mr Percy of Sherborne (1611). With William Garbett of Winchester, the most freq-uent correspondent in this category, his relationship fluctuated. Exasperation at his dilatory behaviour (e.g. 541, 598) rapidly dissolved into satisfaction that he was appointed referee in a dispute (566). In 1830 Penisto11 rearranged the date of a meeting so that he and Garbett would be able to attend Salisbury race meeting (1458). Relations between successful London architects and their provincial brethren are illustrated in various ways. Peniston appearsto have had a close friendship with INTRODUCTION xi Thomas Hopper (e.g. 755), in whose office his son,John Michael, worked for a spell. He nevertheless wrote to him with deference, and seems happy to have regarded himself as I—Iopper's assistant (704). His relationship with a London engineer,Timothy Bramah," was similar. To a Catholic architect in London, Edward Foxhall, he offered to act as clerk of works (1465) but was rejected (1483).When a client replaced him with a MrTatham, he wrote that he did not have the vanity to.compete with London architects (1017), but confronted by the overbearing William Hopperton he appears to have stood his ground (1502). - - One professional colleague to whom Peniston may with some justification have felt superior was the young Richard Upjohn of - Shaftesbury. Upjohn, through inexperience, had incurred the displeasure of the Shaftesbury Wesleyans (799), and facing bankruptcy decided to emigrate.