Richard Hotham
Encyclopedia
Sir Richard Hotham was an English
eighteenth century property developer and politician who rose from humble origins to a position of some power and influence. He is especially noted for his development of the Sussex village of Bognor Regis
into a seaside resort. He was also sometimes called Hotham the Hatter, to mark his original humble trade.
in October 1722, but otherwise very little is known about his childhood. Having moved to London to become a hatter
's apprentice, in 1743, at the age of 21 he married Frances Atkinson, the daughter of his employer, in the chapel of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea.
By 1746 he was trading as a hatter in his own right from premises in Serle Street, Lincolns Inn, a few years later moving to new premises in The Strand
.
Frances died in 1760, and the next year, at the age of 39 he remarried, to Barbara Huddart. It was at this time he became involved with the British East India Company
, later working up to having a number of ships under his control - records at the British Library
show him as 'Principal Managing Owner' of a number of vessels including the East Indiaman York. Also at this time he received his knighthood, at the relatively young age of 46.
, South London, including a house for himself known as Merton Grove which has since been demolished to make way for South Wimbledon tube station
.
During his time in Merton he was appointed a Magistrate
, and in 1770 the High Sheriff of Surrey
but suffered a further setback in 1777 when Barbara died, leaving him a widower for the second time at the age of only 55.
In the next twist in his complicated career he began to be involved in politics, eventually becoming Member of Parliament
for Southwark
in 1780, a position he held for four years.
Following his own experience of the curative nature of the sea air, and the current trend for the gentry to resort to the seaside his property developing side kicked in, and with an eye to gaining some of the fame and wealth of places like Brighton
and Weymouth he set about buying land in the area until eventually he had around 1600 acres (6.5 km²) in his ownership. Then the building started.
He built a number of large terraces of houses around the tiny hamlet, with the express aim of attracting the more well-heeled visitor to his new resort, the ultimate prize being to attract the King away from his favoured resort at Weymouth, or the Prince of Wales from Brighton.
Ultimately, this was to be unrealised, although minor members of the Royal Family
were attracted to stay in the grand new Dome House, built overlooking Richard’s new house and grounds known as Aldwick Manor. Complete with private chapel and clock tower, this house still stands, now known as Hotham Park House, the chapel has gone but the clock remains.
Sir Richard Hotham died at Bognor in March 1799 and was buried at the parish church of St. Mary Magdalene at South Bersted
, where to this day there is an annual wreath laying ceremony at his grave.
. The grounds of Aldwick Manor are now a public park known as Hotham Park
, and although the name Hothamton did not long survive the man himself, the resort he founded, now known as Bognor Regis
, has continued to attract visitors to the present day.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
eighteenth century property developer and politician who rose from humble origins to a position of some power and influence. He is especially noted for his development of the Sussex village of Bognor Regis
Bognor Regis
Bognor Regis is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun district of West Sussex, on the south coast of England. It is south-south-west of London, west of Brighton, and south-east of the city of Chichester. Other nearby towns include Littlehampton east-north-east and Selsey to the...
into a seaside resort. He was also sometimes called Hotham the Hatter, to mark his original humble trade.
Early life
He was born the youngest of five children in YorkYork
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
in October 1722, but otherwise very little is known about his childhood. Having moved to London to become a hatter
Hatter
A hatter is a person engaged in hatmaking.Hatter also may refer to:*The Hatter, a fictional character in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland* Luton Town F.C., team a.k.a. "The Hatters"* Stockport County F.C., team a.k.a. "The Hatters"...
's apprentice, in 1743, at the age of 21 he married Frances Atkinson, the daughter of his employer, in the chapel of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea.
By 1746 he was trading as a hatter in his own right from premises in Serle Street, Lincolns Inn, a few years later moving to new premises in The Strand
Strand, London
Strand is a street in the City of Westminster, London, England. The street is just over three-quarters of a mile long. It currently starts at Trafalgar Square and runs east to join Fleet Street at Temple Bar, which marks the boundary of the City of London at this point, though its historical length...
.
Frances died in 1760, and the next year, at the age of 39 he remarried, to Barbara Huddart. It was at this time he became involved with the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
, later working up to having a number of ships under his control - records at the British Library
British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
show him as 'Principal Managing Owner' of a number of vessels including the East Indiaman York. Also at this time he received his knighthood, at the relatively young age of 46.
Rise in society
Using the money he had made in this venture it was also at this time that he began his long association with property development, first buying land and buildings in MertonMerton (historic parish)
Merton was an ancient parish in the Brixton hundred of Surrey, England. It was bounded by Wimbledon to the north, Mitcham to the east, Morden to the south and Kingston upon Thames to the west. The 1871 Ordnance Survey map records its area as . The parish was centred around the 12th century parish...
, South London, including a house for himself known as Merton Grove which has since been demolished to make way for South Wimbledon tube station
South Wimbledon tube station
South Wimbledon, originally South Wimbledon , is a London Underground station in South London. The station is on the Northern Line, situated between Colliers Wood and Morden stations. The station is the southernmost station on the London Underground network with platforms below ground. It is...
.
During his time in Merton he was appointed a Magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
, and in 1770 the High Sheriff of Surrey
High Sheriff of Surrey
-List of High Sheriffs of Surrey:The list of known High Sheriffs of Surrey extends back to 1066 At various times the High Sheriff of Surrey was also High Sheriff of Sussex -1066-1228:...
but suffered a further setback in 1777 when Barbara died, leaving him a widower for the second time at the age of only 55.
In the next twist in his complicated career he began to be involved in politics, eventually becoming Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Southwark
Southwark (UK Parliament constituency)
Southwark was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Southwark district of South London. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the English Parliament from 1295 to 1707, to the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and to the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
in 1780, a position he held for four years.
Association with Bognor
He found the climate of the south coast did him the world of good, and decided that he would like to have a house of his own there and accordingly bought a plot of land containing a farmhouse, near the sea. He then set about rebuilding the farmhouse as a comfortable villa which he named Bognor Lodge (this has since been demolished).Following his own experience of the curative nature of the sea air, and the current trend for the gentry to resort to the seaside his property developing side kicked in, and with an eye to gaining some of the fame and wealth of places like Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
and Weymouth he set about buying land in the area until eventually he had around 1600 acres (6.5 km²) in his ownership. Then the building started.
He built a number of large terraces of houses around the tiny hamlet, with the express aim of attracting the more well-heeled visitor to his new resort, the ultimate prize being to attract the King away from his favoured resort at Weymouth, or the Prince of Wales from Brighton.
Ultimately, this was to be unrealised, although minor members of the Royal Family
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
were attracted to stay in the grand new Dome House, built overlooking Richard’s new house and grounds known as Aldwick Manor. Complete with private chapel and clock tower, this house still stands, now known as Hotham Park House, the chapel has gone but the clock remains.
Sir Richard Hotham died at Bognor in March 1799 and was buried at the parish church of St. Mary Magdalene at South Bersted
South Bersted
South Bersted is a village in the Arun district of West Sussex, England. It forms part of the built up area of Bognor Regis and lies on the A259 and A29 roads one mile north of the town centre....
, where to this day there is an annual wreath laying ceremony at his grave.
Legacy
Following his death the estate was broken up and in the intervening years many of his fine buildings have vanished, although some gems remain, including Hotham Park House, now a private residence in the middle of Hotham ParkHotham Park
Hotham Park is a public park in the seaside town of Bognor Regis, West Sussex, England. It was established by the founder of Bognor Sir Richard Hotham, who formerly resided at Hotham House which still stands today.The park is a popular local amenity for residents of the town and also is very...
. The grounds of Aldwick Manor are now a public park known as Hotham Park
Hotham Park
Hotham Park is a public park in the seaside town of Bognor Regis, West Sussex, England. It was established by the founder of Bognor Sir Richard Hotham, who formerly resided at Hotham House which still stands today.The park is a popular local amenity for residents of the town and also is very...
, and although the name Hothamton did not long survive the man himself, the resort he founded, now known as Bognor Regis
Bognor Regis
Bognor Regis is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun district of West Sussex, on the south coast of England. It is south-south-west of London, west of Brighton, and south-east of the city of Chichester. Other nearby towns include Littlehampton east-north-east and Selsey to the...
, has continued to attract visitors to the present day.