M0/34 THOMAS LEVERTON

Updated: 6 Apr 2000

FROM THE DICTIONARY OF NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY Volume XI:

LEVERTON, THOMAS (1743-1824) Architect, born at Woodford in Essex and baptised at Waltham Abbey on 11 June 1743, was son of Lancelot Leverton, a

builder. After learning his father's business, he became an architect, and was extensively employed in the erection of dwelling houses in London and

the country. He exhibited 34 designs in The Royal Acadamy between 1771 and 1803. His executed works include Woodford Hall, Essex, in 1771, now Mrs.

Gladstone's Convalescent Home; Boyes, Essex in 1776; Watton Wood Hall, Hertfordshire, in 1777; The Phoenix Fire Office, London in 1787; engine house,

Charing Cross about 1792; Riddlesworth Hall, Norfolk, in 1792; bank for Messrs. Robarts in Lombard Street in 1796 (since rebuilt); hall for the

Grocers' Company in the Poultry, London, of which the first stone was laid on 30 Aug 1798, and the work completed on 21 Jul 1802 (it was afterwards

altered by Joseph Gwilt, q.v.); Scampston House, Yorkshire, in 1803; Marine Villa, at Lislee, co. Cork, in 1803. He also erected large premises for

sugar-boilers in London and New York. In 1783 he received a government premium for designs for improved penitentiary houses. He and his pupil, Thomas

Chawner, were architects in the department of land revenue of the office of works, and in that capacity submitted, in July 1811, a plan for the

improvement of the crown property of Marylebone Park Farm (now Regent's Park); but the design of John Nash (q.v.) was preferred and executed.

Leverton was surveyor to the Phoenix Fire Insurance Company and to the Theatre Royal in London, and was Justice of the Peace for Surrey, Kent,

Middlesex, and Westminster. He was twice married, first, in 1766, and afterwards, in 1803, to Mrs. Rebecca Craven of Blackheath. He died at 13

Bedford Square, London (a house he had erected for himself) on 23 Sep 1824, and was buried in Waltham Abbey, where a monument by Kendrick is erected

to his memory. In the same Abbey were buried his brother Lancelot and his son Henry. A bust of the son by Flaxman is now in the Flaxman Hall,

University College. The sculptor, when a young man, had been largely employed by Leverton to model for him.

Sources:-

[Notice by great-nephew, T. Leverton Donaldson, in Dictionary of Architecture, where a list of his drawings exhibited in the Royal Academy is given;

register of Waltham Abbey, per Rev. F. B. Johnston; Grave's Dictionary of Artists; Redgrave's Dictionary of Artists; Thorn's Environs of London, page

736; Allen's York, ii, 340; Richardson's New Vit. Brit. i xxvii, xxviii, ii v, vi, xiv-l; first report of The Commissioners of Woods, Forests, and

Land Revenues, 1812, pages 10, 26,75-81, app. 12 (a); Gent. Mag. 1793 page 424, 1802 page 879, 1803 page 788, 1824 ii pages 381, 469, where account

of Leverton's will is given]

FROM THE LONDON CHRONICLE Vol. LXIX No. 5366 Thurs 13 to Sat 15 Jan 1791:

How much the value of property is increasing in London, and by implication, the riches of the country, is apparent by the

amazingly high prices which houses now sell for at public sales. The late Sir Hildebrand Jacob's house in Park Lane, is a

notable instance. The intrinsic value of that house is £1500, yet Mr. Leverton and Mr. Porden yesterday bid against each other,

to the great amusement of numbers, till it was knocked down at 5510 guineas, exclusive of fixtures, it was purchased for Lady

Tyrawley, and it is said her Ladyship had commissioned her surveyor to go to the sum of 10,000 guineas, though the lease was

only 32 years. The house is finished in an antiquated style, without one marble chimney-piece, and had never been let for more

than £150.

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