Charles Heathcote Tatham

1772 - 1842  (70 years)

• Name	Charles Heathcote Tatham  [1, 2]
  Birth	08 Feb 1772	Duke St, Westminster   [1, 2]
  Education	abt 1782 - 1788	Louth Grammar School   [2]
  Occupation	abt 1788	Apprentice Architect & Surveyor  [2]
  Occupation	aft 1789	Architect and Designer  [2, 3, 4]
  Education	abt 1794 - 1797	Italy ; Art studies  [2]
  Marriage	23 Oct 1801	St Martin in the Fields, Westminster
  	Harriet Williams,   b. 18 Jan 1780, London d. 13 Jan 1834, Montpelier Square, Brompton
  Residence	1808	103 Park St, Mayfair   [5]
  Residence	abt 1812 - 1831	Alpha Rd, Regents Park   [2]
  		Tatham's Garden, Alpha Road, at Evening - 1812 by John Linnell (1792-1882). Watercolour on cream wove paper. Inscribed in ink 'Tatham's Garden' b.l., 'J Linnell 1812' bottom centre and 'Alpha Road' b.r. The scene is in the garden or grounds of Linnell's friend Charles Heathcote Tatham's house, 34 Alpha Cottages, Alpha Road, Marylebone, London. Alpha Road ran between Park Road and Lisson Grove, to the west of Regent's Park. Houses on either side of it, designated Alpha Cottages, began to be built c. 1808 (the first year in which they were rated), in what had formerly been open fields. Charles Heathcote Tatham (1772-1842), at this period a flourishing architect with a practice in Queen Street, Mayfair, designed and built 34 Alpha Cottages for himself; but his house was no cottage in the ordinary sense. Marylebone Parish Rate Books (Marylebone Library, Archives Department) show that it had the highest rateable value in Alpha Road (£120 p.a.; most of the other houses were rated below £50); street plans show 34 Alpha Cottages as a sizable detached house, set at an oblique angle to the road in large grounds (see R. Horwood, Plan of the Cities of London and Westminster, 3rd ed., 1813; Peter Potter, Map of the Parish of St. Marylebone, 2nd ed., c.1824). It should be noted that some renumbering of Alpha Cottages took place between 1812 and 1826, in the course of the development of the road, and possibly because one or more of its semi-detached houses came under single ownership; rate books at the beginning of that period number Tatham's house first as 36, then as 35 and finally as 34. The street was styled Alpha Cottages until 1826, when it became known as Alpha Road. [The Tate Gallery 1984-86: Illustrated Catalogue of Acquisitions 1982-84]
  Residence	May 1817	Queen St, Mayfair   [2]
  	He was living at Queen Street, Mayfair, May, 1817, and at Mayfair, June, 1818. In the Royal Blue Book, 1825, he appears as "Charles Heathcote Tatham, Esq., 1 Queen St., Mayfair, and 35 Alpha Road, Regent's Park." [Curtis] I saw Mr Tatham, Snr., yesterday: he sat with me about an hour, and looked over the Dante; he express'd himself very much pleas'd with the designs as well as the Engravings. I am getting on with the Engravings and hope soon to get Proofs of what I am doing. [William Blake to John Linnell, 15 Mar 1827]
  Occupation	Jul 1831	Architect  [6]
  Residence	Jul 1831	34 Alpha Rd, Regents Park   [6]
  Residence	Nov 1833	Montpelier Square, Brompton   [7]
  Financial	1834	Dire misfortune  [4]
  	no evidence yet located that he was legally bankrupt or insolvent. edit of Wikipedia article by Chipgc on 09 Jul 2011 cites Curtis and bankruptcies from The Times Digital Archive.
  Occupation	1837 -	Trinity Hospital, Greenwich ; Warden  [2]
  	Trinity Hospital, Greenwich, was founded in 1613 as a charity to shelter and care for 20 poor men in almshouses. It is still carrying out its original purpose and was enlarged in 2007. There was never any connection with the better known and much larger Royal Hospital for Seamen (1712-1869), later the Royal Naval College (1873-1998). At the eastern end of the town, fronting the Thames, is a college for the maintenance of twenty old and decayed housekeepers, twelve of whom are to be chosen from Greenwich, and the rest alternately from two parishes in Norfolk. It is called the Duke of Norfolk's College, though it was founded not by one of the Dukes of Norfolk, but by his brother Henry, Earl of Northampton, who committed it to the care of the Mercers' Company. The edifice, which is commonly styled Trinity Hospital, is situated at a short distance eastward of Greenwich Hospital. [Edward Walford, "Old and New London": Volume 6 (1878), pp. 190-205. British History website accessed 11 Dec 2009]
  Occupation	Jun 1841	Trinity Hospital, Greenwich ; Warden  [1]
  Residence	Jun 1841	Trinity Hospital, Greenwich   [1]
  Death	10 Apr 1842	Trinity Hospital, Greenwich   [2, 8, 9, 10]
  	of Norfolk College per burial register, same place as Trinity Hospital
  Burial	18 Apr 1842	Trinity Hospital, Greenwich   [4, 8]
  		Charles Heathcote Tatham (1772-1842) Burial register
  Probate	15 Dec 1842	London   [11]
  	Will dated 13 Sep 1841, proved PCC 15 Dec 1842. Witnessed by his 2nd cousin & solicitor Meaburn Tatham (1784-1875)
  Notes	Charles Heathcote Tatham, was b. 8 Feb., 1772, at Duke Street, Westminster, He was educ. at Louth, co. Lincoln, and returned to London, 1788, when aged 16. According to one account, which may be correct, but it is not alluded to in the record of Tatham in the Dict. of Nat. Biog., to which the reader's attention is directed for fuller particulars, Charles Heathcote Tatham was taught drawing by John Landseer, 1769-1852, painter, eminent engraver, and author, father of, - besides the artist dau., Jessica, - three famous sons, Thomas, Charles, and Sir Edwin Landseer, R.A., the animal painter; and the account goes on to say that Tatham competed against his master for the design of the Nelson Memorial, Trafalgar Square, of which more hereafter. On leaving Louth Grammar School and returning to London, in 1788, he was for a brief period in the office of Samuel Pepys Cockerell, Architect and Surveyor, but soon left, and worked hard for a year or more at home, at Architecture, French Ornament and Mathematics. Then, about the end of 1790, or commencement of 1791, "when nearly 19," he was received into the house of Henry Holland, 1746?-1806, the Prince of Wales's architect in the Carlton House alterations, and the Pavilion, Brighton, who designed for B. R. Sheridan, in 1791, Drury Lane Theatre, the house being opened 12 March, 1794, only to be destroyed by fire, 24 Feb., 1809. For this Theatre, Tatham designed and drew at large all the ornamental decorations; D.N.B. The years 1794-1797 were spent in fruitful study in Italy. He contributed to the Royal Academy between 1797 and 1836, exhibiting 53 designs. In 1799, he published "Etchings representing the Best Examples of Ancient Ornamental Architecture, drawn from the Originals in Rome and other parts of Italy during 794, 1795, and 1796." In the same year, 15 Aug., 1799, the Treasury invited designs from artists for a national monument of a pillar or obelisk 200 ft. high upon a basement of 30 ft., "in commemoration of the late glorious victories of the British Navy." Tatham sent in three designs. Finding after more than two years had passed that no decision had been made, he published, in 1802, his designs as etchings, with descriptive text, dedicating them to the Earl of Carlisle, whom he had met in Rome. The D. N. B. adds: "The project ultimately took shape in the Nelson Column in Trafalgar Square;" which, according to A Dictionary of Dates, "was laid out between 1829 and 1845." In another account it is stated that "the Corinthian column, designed by W, Railton, was erected in 1843," "The four bronze lions for which Sir Edwin Landseer, R.A., was commissioned in 1859, were placed there in 1866, and uncovered 3 Jan., 1867;" D.N.B. Charles Heathcote Tatham appears in 1808 as "C. H. Tatham, Esq., Surveyor, 103, Park Street, Grosvenor Square." He was living at Queen Street, Mayfair, May, 1817, and at Mayfair, June, 1818. In the Royal Blue Book, 1825, he appears as "Charles Heathcote Tatham, Esq., 1 Queen St., Mayfair, and 35 Alpha Road, Regent's Park." The D. N. B. says: "Tatham removed from 101 Park St., Mayfair, first to York Place, and then to a house with a beautiful garden in Alpha Road, which he built for himself." In Nov., 1833, he was living at Montpelier Square, Brompton. In 1834, dire misfortune befell; his wife died, and his house and valuable collections were sold. In 1837, he was appointed Warden of Greenwich Hospital, and delivered an Address to the Aged Poor there that year, which is now in the British Museum Library, with other publications. He d. 10 April, 1842, when Warden of Holy Trinity Hospital, Greenwich, and was bur. in the Chapel there. Portrait by Thomas Kearsley, in the possession of his grandson, Canon Richmond. Large crayon portrait by R.Haydon, dated 1823, in the Print Room of the British Museum. [Curtis] Charles Heathcote Tatham was the father of Edmund and Robert Bristow Tatham, brothers who came to Natal in 1850. He was born in 1772, the fifth and youngest son of Ralph Tatham and his wife Elizabeth Bloxham. Ralph Tatham was a "private Gentleman in Essex who imprudently exhausted his fortune by involving himself in the party politics of his day". "He left a widow lady with five sons having most restricted means." At a very early age Charles Heathcote showed great talent in drawing. He was taught drawing by Landseer, worked for two well-known Architects of the time, and himself became a famous Architect. He is sometimes mentioned as the "Father" of the Regency style of furniture, and was Architect to King William IV. Furniture designed by him for Carlton House and Brighton Pavilion is now at Buckingham Palace - two magnificent chairs are in the Throne Room. While he was still a very young man he designed and drew all the ornamental decoration for the exterior of Drury Lane Theatre, which was later destroyed by fire. He exhibited 53 designs at the Royal Academy between 1797 and 1836. In 1794 Charles Heathcote was given an income by his employer, Henry Holland, Esq. to go to Rome for three years, and while he was there he associated with the famous Canova, Camucini, Flaxman and Nollekens. He afterwards published "Etchings representing the Best Examples of Ancient Ornamental Architecture drawn from originals in Rome and other parts of Italy during 1794, 1795, 1796." The original drawings of this work are in the Soane Museum in London. A copy of this magnificent book is in possession of George Tatham, Ladysmith, and another belongs to Mr. Wilfrid George Tatham of St. Helena. Charles Heathcote built and did additions to many Stately Homes of England. He designed and built the Portrait Gallery at Castle Howard near York. In 1808 he was living in Grosvenor Square, and in 1817 in Mayfair. In 1833 he was living at Montpelier Square, Brompton. In 1799 he entered a Competition for the design of the Nelson Memorial in Trafalgar Square. There is a theory that the Corinthian column erected there was actually designed by Charles Heathcote. Owing to a delay in the result of the Competition he published his designs, and it is possible that the ensuing Court Cases about this matter were the reason for his diminished financial circumstances. In 1834 "dire misfortune befell". His wife, Harriet, died, and his house and valuable collections were sold. In 1837 he was appointed Warden of Greenwich Hospital, and afterwards Holy Trinity Hospital, Greenwich. (Some accounts say it was Norfolk College, Greenwich.) [Note: Greenwich Hospital, Holy Trinity Hospital and Norfolk College are one and the same.] He died in 1842 and was buried in the Chapel of Holy Trinity Hospital, Greenwich. A beautiful watercolour portrait in his uniform of that time, was painted by his son, Frederick Tatham, R.A. and is in possession of Mr. Bill Tatham in Johannesburg. It was given to him by the Richmond family in England. A large Crayon portrait by B. R. Haydon dated 1823 is in the Print Room at the British Museum. Copies of this portrait are in possession of various members of the family. Charles Heathcote married in 1801, Harriet, daughter of William Williams, button-maker of London. A miniature of Harriet Williams by John Linnell is in possession of the Maritzburg Tathams. They had four sons and six daughters. Copies of etchings of these as children are in possession of various members of the family. [TFSA]
  Person ID	I0731	Tatham | Bloxham branch, Heathcote branch | Descendant - male line
  Last Modified	03 Sep 2023

  
  

  Father	Ralph Tatham,   b. abt Nov 1732, Stockton-on-Tees d. Dec 1779, Castle & Falcon, Aldersgate St, London (Age ~ 47 years)
  Mother	Elizabeth Bloxham,   b. 02 Jan 1739/40, London d. 02 Apr 1809, 11 Mount St, Mayfair (Age 69 years)
  Marriage	14 Mar 1761	St Augustine, Watling St, London   [2, 12]
  	The Marriage License,- Bishop of London's Registry, dated 12 March, 1761, describes Ralph Tatham as a Bachelor, aged 27, of St. Augustine, London, and Elizabeth Bloxham, as Spr., aged 21, of St. Giles-in-the-Fields, to be married in either Church. [Curtis] Marriage reg not found in IGI or LMA/Guildhall indices. Parish registers for St Augustine Watling St do not appear to include marriages for the period. Saturday, was married at St. Austin's church, Mr. Ralph Tatham, a Spanish Merchant, to Miss Betsey Bloxham, of Little Queen-Street. [Whitehall Evening Post or London Intelligencer, Issue 2340, Sat 14 Mar 1761] Ralph Tatham m., 14 of March, 1761, Elizabeth, dau. and co-heiress of Jabez Bloxham, a hosier in Cateaton Street, Cheapside, with considerable property in the neighbourhood of St. Paul's, Paternoster Row, and Westminster. Each of his daus. inherited £30,000. [Curtis]
  Notes	12 children of whom 7 died young. [Curtis] Of the children who died young, two sons named George, probably after Sir George, later Lord Rodney, appear in the Havering Registers: * George Ramsey Tatham, bp 18 Oct., 1773, at Havering; bur. there, 6 Jan. 1774. * George Tatham, bp. 31 Jan 1775, at Havering; bur there, 4 Feb., 1775. [Curtis] 5 boys out of 13 children, of whom I was the youngest. [Charles Heathcote Tatham]. [Note: the 5 boys were Thomas (upholsterer), William (naval officer), John (solicitor), Henry (gunmaker), Charles (architect)] No baptisms yet found between Elizabeth 19 Sep 1764 and John 10 May 1768. Gaps indicating possible missing children in 1767 and 1769.
  Family ID	F0251	Family Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Harriet Williams,   b. 18 Jan 1780, London d. 13 Jan 1834, Montpelier Square, Brompton (Age 53 years)
  Marriage	23 Oct 1801	St Martin in the Fields, Westminster ; Type: Linked: 2 bro = 2 sis  [2, 13, 14]
  		Charles Heathcote Tatham & Harriet Williams Marriage register
  Association	Family: Henry Tatham / Mary Williams (Relationship: 2 bro = 2 sis )
  Notes	youngest 6 children all baptized at Christ Church, Marylebone, on 19 Jul 1831, aged 7 to 18.
  Children	1. Charles Howard Tatham,   b. 11 Dec 1802, Park St, Mayfair d. 28 Dec 1802, Park St, Mayfair (Age 0 years)   2. Caroline Tatham,   b. 06 Dec 1803, Keppel St, Holborn d. 17 May 1842, Trinity Hospital, Greenwich (Age 38 years) + 3. Frederick Tatham,   b. 31 Jul 1805, 103 Park St, Mayfair d. 13 Jul 1878, 45 Oak Village, Kentish Town (Age 72 years)   4. Lydia Tatham,   b. 27 Feb 1807, York Place, Marylebone d. 22 Mar 1808, York Place, Marylebone (Age 1 year) + 5. Arthur Tatham,   b. 22 Sep 1808, York Place, Marylebone d. 22 Feb 1874, Rectory, Broadoak, Cornwall (Age 65 years) + 6. Julia Tatham,   b. 24 May 1811, Alpha Rd, Regents Park d. 06 Jan 1881, Eastbourne (Age 69 years)   7. Harriet Tatham,   b. 22 Mar 1813, Alpha Rd, Regents Park d. 11 Aug 1886, 249 Uxbridge Rd, Shepherd's Bush (Age 73 years) + 8. Augusta Tatham,   b. 07 Dec 1814, Alpha Rd, Regents Park d. 24 Dec 1871, 11 Upper North St, Brighton (Age 57 years) + 9. Maria Tatham,   b. 14 Dec 1816, Alpha Rd, Regents Park d. 20 Jul 1865, Woodlands House, Shooters Hill Rd, Blackheath (Age 48 years) + 10. Georgiana Tatham,   b. 10 Mar 1820, Alpha Rd, Regents Park d. 24 Feb 1869, Te Aute, NZ (Age 48 years) + 11. Edmund Tatham,   b. 01 May 1822, Alpha Rd, Regents Park d. Jan 1880, Ladysmith, Natal (Age 57 years) + 12. Robert Bristow Tatham,   b. 30 May 1824, Alpha Rd, Regents Park d. 06 Apr 1881, 25 Berg St, Pietermaritzburg, Natal (Age 56 years)
  Photos		Charles Heathcote Tatham & Harriet Williams "Charles Heathcote Tatham, Architect, aged 43 and his wife Harriet aged 35. Picture was painted by Thomas Heaphy Esq in 1815. My dearest Mother died Jan 17th 1834 [in fact Jan 13th] aged 54. Arthur Tatham."
  Family ID	F0252	Family Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	23 Oct 2013

  
  

• Photos » Slide Show		Charles Heathcote Tatham (1772-1842) On the back of this large oil picture of CHT is inscribed painted by Thomas Kearsley and exhibited at So……House [probably Somerset House, the original RA] in 1799 followed by Thomas Kearsley went mad soon after completing this clever picture. These words were probably written by George Richmond to his son Thomas Knyvett Richmond as it states to TKR of his grandfather.
  		Charles Heathcote Tatham (1772-1842) Portrait by Thomas Kearsley, pencil, c. 1794
  		Charles Heathcote Tatham (1772-1842) Portrait by Vincenzo Camuccini, pencil, c. 1795-96
  		Charles Heathcote Tatham (1772-1842) Pastel Drawing, Benjamin Robert Haydon [remarkably similar to a painting ascribed to Linnell]
  		Charles Heathcote Tatham (1772-1842) Portrait by his son Frederick tatham

  
  

  Histories » Slide Show		For copyright or privacy reasons, access is restricted.
  		Charles Heathcote Tatham (1772-1842) Fragment of Autobiography
  		For copyright or privacy reasons, access is restricted.

  
  

• Sources

  [S01] Census, 1841, UK. age 70 [S04] H Curtis: Notes for a Pedigree of the Tathams of Co. Durham. [S03] Family Members, WGT. [S21] Dictionary of National Biography. [S04] H Curtis: Notes for a Pedigree of the Tathams of Co. Durham. citing Triennial Directory, W Holden, 1808 [S06] Parish Registers, 19 Jul 1831, baptisms, Christ Church, Marylebone. [S20] School and College Registers, St Paul's. son Robert [S06] Parish Registers, 18 Apr 1842, burials, St Alfege, Greenwich. [S02] BMD Index, 2Q1842, death reg Greenwich. [S50] Gentleman's Magazine, Oct 1742. [S48] Will, 13 Sep 1841. [S11] Newspaper, 14 Mar 1761, Whitehall Evening Post or London Intelligencer, Issue 2340. marriage notice [S06] Parish Registers, 23 Oct 1801, marriages, St Martin-in-the-Fields. [S53] Marriage Licence, 16 Oct 1801.