Style and status
The Parkers were a family who valued creativity in many forms, from Henry Stockman’s skill as a craftsman-builder to Sir Joshua Reynolds’ ability to capture character on canvas. They surrounded themselves with the work of the best artists, architects, designers and makers of their time to create an estate of the greatest natural beauty and taste. They were motivated by a wish to raise their social status and achieved it – from Devon landowners to a hereditary Earldom in three generations.
Theresa and John’s friendship with Reynolds was a particularly close one, they met often in London, and he stayed at Saltram too. You can find Angelica Kauffman’s warm portrait of him hanging in the Staircase Hall.
You’ll find the portrait of Henry Stockman, the app guide character, in the house too. For those interested in Henry, a further two versions of this portrait are to be found in the British Museum collection: a drawing in black and red chalk over pencil and a print made from it, both by Peltro William Tomkins. Why Tomkins drew, engraved and published this print in 1778 we do not know, there cannot have been a much of a commercial audience for it.
Turning back to the facade, there are further changes to it which Henry would not have known. The porch was added by ‘Jack’ the 1st Earl of Morley, who commissioned London-trained architect John Foulston to design it. Foulston had settled in Plymouth in 1811 after winning a big commission to design the Theatre Royal, Assembly Rooms and Royal Hotel in Plymouth – all of which were sadly destroyed in the Blitz of World War Two. After his work at Saltram, Foulston went on to design Devonport’s Guildhall, Egyptian House, Calvinist Chapel and Column, making him Plymouth’s leading Regency architect.
The coming of the porch in 1824 meant two sculptures of sphinxes by John Cheere had to be relocated from either side of the front door. You can now find them at the west side of the house facing the garden.
Emma Philip