George Templer

George Templer (1781–1843) of Stover House, Teigngrace, Devon, was a Devon landowner, and the builder of the Haytor Granite Tramway.

Origins

He was the son of James II Templer (1748–1813) of Stover House, builder of the Stover Canal, by his wife Mary Buller, 3rd daughter of James Buller (1717-1765)[1] of Downes, Crediton, Member of Parliament for East Looe in Cornwall (1741-7) and for the County of Cornwall (1748-1765).

Career

George inherited the Stover estate on the death of his father in 1813. He left the running of the estate to his lawyer, spending his time hunting, writing poetry, and in amateur dramatics.

Builds Haytor Granite Tramway

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]

Sells Stover estate

By 1829 Templer had spent most of his fortune, and was forced to sell Stover House, the tramway and canal to Edward St Maur, 11th 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]

Marriage & progeny

He had six children by his mistress, Ann Wreyford. In 1835 probably after the death of his mistress,[6] he married Charlotte Kennaway (1799-1875), daughter of Sir John Kennaway, 1st Baronet (1758-1836) of Escot House, Ottery St Mary, Devon, British Resident at the Court of the Nizam of Hyderabad in the East Indies, who was instrumental in concluding an alliance in 1790 between the Nizam and the East India Company. By his wife he had two daughters.

Death

George Templer died in December 1843 after a hunting accident.[7]

Monument

His mural monument survives in Teigngrace Church inscribed as follows:

"Sacred to the beloved memory of George Templer Esq formerly of Stover and latterly of Sandford Orleigh in this co. He died the XII Dec MDCCCXLIII aged LXII in hope of pardon and a blessed resurrection through the merits of his Saviour. A man of singular kindness and charity blended with high intelligence and public spirit. He was followed to the grave by very many sorrowing friends in the fulness of their affection and respect and by the blessings and tears of the poor. This tablet is erected by his widow Charlotte Eliza daughter of Sir John Kennaway of Escot, Baronet. She followed him in the same blessed hope Oct VIII MDCCCLXXV aged LXXVI"

References

  1. ↑ Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry, 15th Edition, ed. Pirie-Gordon, H., London, 1937, p.278, pedigree of Buller of Downes
  2. ↑ Ewans 1966, p. 17
  3. 1 2 3 Ewans 1966, p. 23
  4. ↑ Ewans 1966, pp. 17–18
  5. ↑ Ewans 1966, p. 24
  6. ↑ "George Templer". Templer Family. Retrieved 2012-09-16.
  7. ↑ Ewans 1966, p. 25

Bibliography

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