George Portwood Explained

George Portwood
Nationality:	English
Death Date:	3 May 1742
Death Place:	?Stamford, Lincolnshire
Significant Projects:	Work for the 8th Earl of Exeter in Stamford.

George Portwood (died c.1744) was a carpenter and architect who worked in Stamford.^{[1] [2]} He was Chamberlain of Stamford in 1736 and Mayor of Stamford.

Work by George Portwood

• Bridge over the River Nene at Fotheringhay 1722.^[3]
• Took down the ruinous steeple of Pickworth Church, Rutland
• George Hotel, Stamford refronted in 1724 by George Portwood, and further alterations and repairs were carried out between then and 1726.^[4]
• Bridge at Woodnewton, Northamptonshire, 1735 (now demolished).
• Rebuilt Braunston Church Tower, Rutland.^[5]
• Witham on the Hill Church, Lincoln (1737). The tower and steeple were rebuilt in a medieval revival style by Portwood in 1737–38.^{[6] [7]}
• Barn Hill, Stamford. Portwood provided William Stukeley with designs for a frontage for Barn Hill House.

Buildings likely to be by Portwood.

These are buildings attributed to Portwood by John Harris on their similarity to Portwood’s designs for Barn Hill.

• 21 High Street, Stamford
• 13 Barnhill, Stamford
• Leasingham Manor, Lincolnshire.

Literature

• Antram N. (revised), Pevsner N. & Harris J., (1989), The Buildings of England: Lincolnshire, Yale University Press.
• Colvin H. A. (1995), Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600–1840. Yale University Press, 3rd edition London, p. 599.
• Harris J. (1965), The Architecture of Stamford, in Rogers A. (ed) The Making of Stamford, Leicester University Press
• Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. 1977. An Inventory of Historical Monuments. The Town of Stamford No 239, pp. 104–06, plates 94, 119, 128, 133
• Smith J. F. (2013) William Stukeley in Stamford: His Houses, Gardens and a Project for a Palladian Triumphal Arch Over Barn Hill, Antiquaries Journal, Volume 93 September 2013, pp. 353–400

Notes and References

1. Colvin says he died 3 May 1742’’Colvin’’, 599
2. Portwood’s will dated 23 Feb 1744 is in the Public Records Office - Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury PROB 11/732/100
3. "Colvin’’, p. 599
4. "Colvin’’, p. 599
5. "Colvin’’, p. 599
6. "Colvin’’, p. 599
7. "Antram",(1989) p. 807