Part of the
Acorn Archive
Penzance,
Cornwall
Architecture
and Heritage
Oliver
Caldwell - Architect
Oliver Caldwell FRIBA, b 1860, was an architect and
surveyor of Penzance for 30 years.
He lived at Nr 4, Morrab Terrace and later at Elmsdale,
Alexandra Road.
James Caldwell mayor of Penzance ( 1891 ) was a brother
of his.
Oliver Caldwell’s first scheme was begun in 1880,
and was one which brought him more difficulties than he
had envisaged.
1880 saw start of the development of streets, which
resulted from the sale of the
gardens and agricultural fields of Leskinnick House.
The area is known as "The Battlefield" owing to
a legal battle between the builders and Mr Rodd,
who objected to having the houses built so close to his
large house,
next to the Roman Catholic Church , hence the delay of
ten years after commencement.
St Francis Street 1880; St Philip Street 1891;
St Dominic Street 1893; St Warren Street 1895
The streets were named after Saint's names and names of
the builders,
St Mary, St Dominic, St Michael, St Philip, St Warren
& St Henry.
Also two names with historic significance in the area of
Penzance – Penlee & Gwavas.
Warren Middleton was a convert of Canon Shortland of the
Catholic Church in Penzance.
As a priest of the diocese he served in a number of
places including Par,
but is best known for founding the Bideford Mission
and he was connected with the building of the houses.
Oliver Caldwell’s
work on the “battlefield” gained him
the respect of others in the town.
HIS DESIGNS AND
WORK
26
and 27, Market Place 1884; Number 26
was later demolished for Burtons to be built.
Sea
Water Public Baths, Promenade 1887 [demolished
1935]
Lariggan
Bolitho Convalescent Home 1889
Parade
Street Methodist Church 1889
Roman
Catholic School 1892 - St Mary's Street
New School off Alexandra Road 1894
Penzance
Club ( bottom of Alexandra Road ) 1895
Trevayler Estate Repairs 1896
Camborne Post Office 1899 Page 2a
Gulval Water Supply – Reservoir
1900
Trehurst
Villa 1902
Penberthy Croft – St Hilary 1903
Towednack School – Survey report
1903
Public
Benefit Boot Company ( became Lennards and now Threshers ) 1905
Richard
Foster Bolitho Almshouses 1905
Riviera
Palace Hotel ( St Clare Girl's School )
1906
St Erth Methodist Church raising
of the roof and new 'Gothicised'
windows 1906
The
Firs, King's Road 1907
The
Sycamores 1908
He worked on the Girl's County
School, with Sampson Hill [architect of the Boy’s County Schoo] .
Pendarves
Villa 1911 (Tolver Place, Pendarves Rd)
The
Sailor's Institute 1916
Morrab
Road houses
Alexandra
Road houses
Elmsdale,
Alexandra Road – his last home.
The
Gas Board Office, 94 Market Jew Street Penzance
Raymond
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