Pickford's House Museum
Encyclopedia
Pickford's House Museum of Georgian Life and Costume is in Derby
, England
is an elegant Georgian
town house
built by the prominent architect Joseph Pickford
in 1770 for his own family.
When Pickford died he left the house to the Reverend Joseph Pickford who had the house extended and divided in to two properties.. He left the house to his cousin William Pickford in his will in 1844. William promptly mortgaged the house and by 1850 it was sold to William Evans
of Allestree Hall
1788 1856. His son Sir Thomas William Evans 1st Bt
, who was also a politician, sold it in 1879 to Frederick Ward who sold it to W.S.Curgenven who was the first of a number of surgeons to own it. In 1977 it was upgraded from Grade II to Grade I. It was purchased in 1982 by Derby City Council. The council did not pay enough attention to its Grade I status and they removed chimeys, floors and walls without applying for permission.
"Pickford's House" was intended to showcase his work, with the intention of securing new contacts. It was also his residence. Unlike many houses open to the public this was not owned by a member of the aristocracy but by a professional. The relative luxury of the Pickford family bedroom and dressing room which are decorated as they would have been in 1815 can be compared with the servants' bedrooms above. The house also has kitchens, scullery and laundrey that are kept as they might have been in 1830. At the rear of the property Pickford had his builder's yard, access being by a driveway to the right of the property. The cellar of the property is decorated as a 1940s bomb shelter.
It is owned and run by the Derby City Council.
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
, England
History
Pickford's House is at No 41 Friar Gate Derby,is an elegant Georgian
Georgian era
The Georgian era is a period of British history which takes its name from, and is normally defined as spanning the reigns of, the first four Hanoverian kings of Great Britain : George I, George II, George III and George IV...
town house
Townhouse
A townhouse is the term historically used in the United Kingdom, Ireland and in many other countries to describe a residence of a peer or member of the aristocracy in the capital or major city. Most such figures owned one or more country houses in which they lived for much of the year...
built by the prominent architect Joseph Pickford
Joseph Pickford
Joseph Pickford was an English architect, one of the leading provincial architects in the reign of George III.-Biography:Pickford was born in Warwickshire in 1734 but he moved as child to London when his father died. Pickford's initial training was undertaken under the stonemason and sculptor...
in 1770 for his own family.
When Pickford died he left the house to the Reverend Joseph Pickford who had the house extended and divided in to two properties.. He left the house to his cousin William Pickford in his will in 1844. William promptly mortgaged the house and by 1850 it was sold to William Evans
William Evans (politician)
William Evans was a Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons in three periods between 1818 and 1852....
of Allestree Hall
Allestree Hall
Allestree Hall is a 19th century former country house situated in Allestree Park, Allestree, Derby. It is a Grade II* listed building but has been unoccupied for many years, and has been placed on the Buildings at Risk Register now the Heritage at Risk Register.The Mundy family owned the Manor of...
1788 1856. His son Sir Thomas William Evans 1st Bt
Sir Thomas William Evans, 1st Baronet
Sir Thomas William Evans, 1st Baronet was an English Liberal politician who represented the constituency of South Derbyshire....
, who was also a politician, sold it in 1879 to Frederick Ward who sold it to W.S.Curgenven who was the first of a number of surgeons to own it. In 1977 it was upgraded from Grade II to Grade I. It was purchased in 1982 by Derby City Council. The council did not pay enough attention to its Grade I status and they removed chimeys, floors and walls without applying for permission.
The Museum
The museum that was established in 1988 shows the accommodation of a late Georgian professional person. The ground floor is furnished as it might have been in Pickford's time together with displays of eighteenth and nineteenth century costume. This museum is home to a collection of model toy theatres that were gathered by Frank Bradley."Pickford's House" was intended to showcase his work, with the intention of securing new contacts. It was also his residence. Unlike many houses open to the public this was not owned by a member of the aristocracy but by a professional. The relative luxury of the Pickford family bedroom and dressing room which are decorated as they would have been in 1815 can be compared with the servants' bedrooms above. The house also has kitchens, scullery and laundrey that are kept as they might have been in 1830. At the rear of the property Pickford had his builder's yard, access being by a driveway to the right of the property. The cellar of the property is decorated as a 1940s bomb shelter.
It is owned and run by the Derby City Council.
External links
- Pickford's House Museum - official site
- Pickford's House information