Quick Facts
Biography
George Soudon Bridgman was an architect and civil engineer, active in the late 19th Century in Torquay, Devon and the local area. He is best known for his work in the seaside resort of Paignton, designing Oldway Mansion and Paignton Pier within that town, as well as designing the sea wall and promenade at Paignton Beach. He was part of several other local projects and was considered as being so significant to the development of the town, that he became known as 'the Father of Paignton'.
Life
Bridgman was born in 1839 and died in 1925.
He was a freemason who gave a site for new lodge premises in Paignton and laid the foundation stone along with the secretary of the lodge on 15 April 1891.
He was buried in Paignton Municipal Cemetery.
Work
Oldway Mansion
Around 1871 Bridgman was commissioned by Isaac Merrit Singer, who was the founder of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, to construct a mansion on land recently purchased by the latter in Paignton. As well as the mansion, he designed a circular riding pavilion, later be termed 'The Wigwam' by Singer.
Paignton Pier
Bridgman was commissioned by a local Paignton barrister, Arthur Hyde Dendy, to design a pier for the town. The construction was begun in 1878 to his design, and the pier opened in 1879. It remains standing to this day, and continues to be popular with both locals and visitors to the resort.
St Marychurch Town Hall
In 1866,Bridgham received a prize of £25 for his design for a new town hall for St Marychurch. The hall cost £2,718 2s 6d to build and opened in November 1883. As of 2018, the town hall building houses flats.