| Arlington
Court Barnstaple North Devon |
|
Arlington Court has been the
family home of the Chichester family since
its construction in 1820. The main house was enlarged by the addition
of the staircase hall and servants wing in 1865.
The National Trust acquired the
house and its accompanying estate in
1949 upon the death of Miss Rosalie Chichester. The house is
renowned for its collection of model sailing ships, and the
stables which has a collection of horse
drawn carriages.
|
| The original heating
system installed in the house was a
Perkins HPHW type system. This is the first
Perkins heating
system to be discovered in any National Trust property by the Heritage
Group, and was probably installed when the staircase hall was added. Sadly,
the
majority of the distribution pipework has been
removed. However,
fortunately two items from the original system still remain which are
of great interest and rarity. For more information about the Perkins family and HPHW heating system.  |
| Firstly
the original iron cased furnace (which was fired by solid fuel), still
complete with its
refractory
brickwork lining and pipework coil is to be
found in its original position in a basement room. The
furnace was made by the Liverpool firm
of Renton Gibbs who was a major manufacturer and installer of Perkins
heating systems in the late 19th century. A check made in the
Renton Gibbs
reference list of contracts dated 1898, shows an entry for Sir Bruce
Chichester Arlington Court Barnstaple. Why the Chichester family
employed a
Liverpool firm for the installation of the Perkins heating system when
there were local firms installing Perkins systems must remain
conjecture. For more information about the firm of Renton Gibbs. |
 |
 R.R.GIBBS
SEAMLESS HEATING
APPARATUS WORKS MILL St LIVERPOOL |
 |
A view taken looking forwards and down into the furnace showing both the pipework coils around the furnace and also the refractory brickwork. |
| Secondly, either side of the main staircase are two beautifully decorated ornamental cast iron heater enclosures each covering a Perkins spiral type heater coil. These Perkins heater enclosures are the first to be found by the Heritage Group and are wonderful examples showing the Victorian craftsmanship in casting metalwork. |
 |
 |
 |
| The current wet heating system most likely dates from the very early 20th century, and is fitted with a variety of cast iron column radiators. One small size sectional radiator fitted in the Music Room is a cast iron Ornamental pattern of Rococo design manufactured by the American Radiator Company. This would date the system to the first decade of the 20th century. |
 |
 |
JULY 2005
