The storm damaged remains of the elegant Sampson Alma Bridge were sadly demolished in May 2020, ready for the modern replacement to take its place later in the summer .
Sampson Society Appreciation Visit 6th June 2019
When first built Gateways was known as Alkerton Cottage, and sometimes just Alkerton. The adjacent house, Evesham, was previously known as Kingston. Alkerton was designed by Robert William Sampson. The architect of Kingston is unknown. The land on which the two houses were built once formed part of the Knowle Estate.
Houses at Sid Park Road, designed by Robert William Sampson
Many of the buildings we see in Sidmouth today were designed by the architect Robert William Sampson. His designs spanned a period of more than four decades following his arrival in the town in 1891. He is perhaps most well known for his Edwardian villas and individual buildings such as the Victoria Hotel. However, he also worked on the full range of housing schemes, including Sidmouth’s early council houses.
As described in ‘Sampson’s Sidmouth’ by Sylvia Brownlee
Fortfield Chambers has the date 1928 on its ironwork and holds the initials RWS in relief to the South above the arched entrance and WH to the North.
Originally Mr Sampson owned the ground and first floor on the right of the archway (the South) and Mr Hastings owned the ground and first floor on the left of the archway (the North). Today all four properties are owned by separate people.
Sampson Society Appreciation Visit - 21 July 2018
Trow Hall was built in 1902 and is almost certainly the largest house that Sampson designed. The size of the house is probably the reason why 2 building firms were involved in its construction - Messrs Skinners and F. J. Luxton and Sons from Ottery St Mary. The 2 firms were closely related because Catherina Luxton was married to Alfred Skinner; both were siblings of the family members involved in their respective building businesses. Both firms continue to trade today, with Luxtons still within the family's ownership.
The workforce of Skinners and Luxtons, builders of Trow Hall.