George Templer

George Templer (1781–1843) was a Devon landowner, and the builder of the Haytor Granite Tramway. He was the son of James Templer of Stover House, Teigngrace, Devon. He inherited the estate on the death of his father in 1813. George left the running of the estate to his lawyer, spending his time in hunting, writing poetry, and amateur dramatics. He had six children by his mistress, Ann Wreyford, and two daughters by his wife, Charlotte Kennaway who he married in 1835, probably after his mistress died.[1]

Templer built the Haytor Granite Tramway, running between his quarries at Haytor and the Stover Canal, in 1820.[2] In 1825 he formed the Company of the Proprietors of the Devon Haytor Quarries, with a capital of £200,000. The company provided several thousand tons of granite a year for buildings such as the British Museum and the National Gallery.[3] Grey Haytor granite, along with two Scottish granites, was specified by an Act of Parliament in 1825 for the rebuilding of London Bridge, although it is unclear where the Devon granite was used.[4]

By 1829 Templer had spent most of his fortune, and was forced to sell Stover House, the tramway and canal to the eleventh Duke of Somerset.[3] Before 1833 he returned to the area, and built Sandford Orleigh house on the outskirts of Newton Abbot.[3] He was employed as the granite company's chief agent in Devon, but was in conflict with the directors over the low pricing of contracts.[5] George Templer died in December 1843 after a hunting accident.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "George Templer". Templer Family. Retrieved 2012-09-16.
  2. ↑ Ewans 1966, p. 17
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Ewans 1966, p. 23
  4. ↑ Ewans 1966, pp. 17–18
  5. ↑ Ewans 1966, p. 24
  6. ↑ Ewans 1966, p. 25

Bibliography

  • Ewans, M.C. (1966). The Haytor Granite Tramway and Stover Canal. Newton Abbot: David & Charles.