The Davies of Hoole: Difference between revisions

 

=== Richard Davies (1778 – 1862) ===

The Davies family’s origins lay in Ellesmere, Shropshire. Richard Davies grew up there and trained as an architect but in 1800 he moved to Chester to work with Thomas Harrison, for whom he oversaw the construction of the Grosvenor Bridge and the Chester Law Courts. Richard settled permanently in Chester in 1823 and established an architectural practice in the city, primarily focusing on Chester and the Northwest, including Wales. He counted amongst his clients several wealthy private individuals, breweries and various local authorities including Chester City Corporation.

One of Richard’s wealthy clients was Thomas Faulkner, for whom he acted in 1850 as surveyor and agent in the disposal and subsequent development of “The Bishop’s Field”, on which were built the first six streets of Hoole, namely Faulkner, Charles, Bishop, Peploe and Law Street, plus Griffiths Terrace. It is of interest to note that Richard’s son, John Henry, was one of the first residents of Peploe Street after its construction, living at number 27.

Some three years later, in 1853, Richard was the architect appointed to draw up plans for Moor Park, then open fields on the south side of Hoole Road, and which were divided up into separate lots for sale to purchasers who then commissioned their own individual property to be built on them. The large terraces of houses appeared on Hoole Road, and Derby and Stone Place were constructed. These were to be gated properties and the gateposts remain today. (link to Moor Park article)