JOHN HOARE'S FAMILY HISTORY

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THE CHEESMAN FAMILY BUILDERS

(updated 13/7/2009, reformatted 2011)

The Cheesman family were prominent in building and allied trades in Brighton in Sussex (known as 'Brighthelmstone' or 'Brighthelmston' until the name Brighton gradually took over from about 1800) and the surrounding part of Sussex for a hundred years from the early 1800s. The best recorded are George Cheesman and Sons and later Cheesman and company, prominent in Victorian times, but John and Cornelius were possibly more important at the beginning. I first found out about them when I was researching my family history - I am descended from George's younger brother Cornelius on my mother's side. The family also sometimes incorporated Childens, Childrens, or Children into their name.

I have recently established that although two generations of Georges were builders, 'George Cheesman' and sons' did not consist of George senior and George Junior, but George senior and his son Charles. This business seems to have evolved into 'Cheesman and co.' around 1850, when George senior was no longer active, but Charles and Frank, sons of the first Charles, joined the business.

I believe I have traced the builders in my family with some certainty. However, there remains a small but worrying number of references to names which don't quite fit. I have included their entries in the story, but I hope that eventually they will all prove to be related!

In this sort of project there is always some shadow of doubt, and a chance piece of information can dramatically change the story. However, in the body of the text I will try to only record facts which are well backed up by my research. This is particularly frustrating in this case, because I am building up a hazy picture of a family who never missed a chance to do business - I'm not sure that I would have liked them!

Members of the Cheesman family were also custodians of the 1822 workhouse, which John had built. The family were active in the business of the town from the early 1800s, but the rise to prominence as builders seems to have started when George built a new vicarage for Henry Wagner in 1834. The coal cellar was enormous enough to raise eyebrows - but who were the local coal merchants? The Cheesmans. Anyway, the Cheesmans built a large number of Churches for the Wagners in the next few years. There was a scandal in 1837 - the inmates of the workhouse were being made to pull carts of shingle up to the town, and one died of a heart attack. The Cheesmans ran a cement manufactury in the town. Another scandal involving the Directors and Guardians of the poor took place in 1838 when they were found to be eating rather too well at Board meetings. Some of this is conjecture, of course - from now on, this page will only carry recorded facts!

I will welcome any information, no matter what, about this extraordinary family. Please e-mail me.

Civic Affairs in Brighton

Until the 1850's Brighton was run by the Commissioners. They worked under a fairly strict constitution and had to own substantial property in the area.

Until 1810 the Commissioners were directly responsible for the workhouse, but after the Brighton improvement act of that year the workhouse was run by a body of Directors and Guardians. For the first few years the Directors and Guardians were elected by the Commissioners, but from1825 they were elected by the Vestry. The Cheesman family appear from time to time in the records of all three organisations.

In 1854 the town was incorporated by act of Parliament, and power passed to the Town Council. Needless to say, this act was passed in the face of strong lobbying by the commissioners.

The Early Days

There are references to an Edward Cheesman with property in West Street in the 1700s, and a reference to a John Cheesman, calico glazer, in the 1799 Brighton street directory, but the first building references are in Brighton Street Directory for 1822, when a John and a Cornelius are mentioned as builders, and George as bricklayer. This was the year the new workhouse was opened. William Mackie of London was the architect, and John Cheesman was the builder. The land cost £1400, and the building £10,000. The design was chosen from forty proposals by the Directors and Guardians of the Poor (also known as the Vestry), who apparently made many recommendations, and it was considered quite advanced. I know that John Cheesman was one of the guardians in 1833, and a Henry Cheesman had been a member in 1794, so there must be at least a possibility of a cosy arrangement. (However, there were no Cheesmans in the Vestry in 1824, so this comment may be unfair)

The workhouse was 191' long, set in 9 acres of land, and located on the East side of Church Hill, Brighton above the extension of St. Nicholas Churchyard. When it was built this was on the Northern edge of the town, at the start of downland. The site was described as affording magnificent views of the sea, but in reality it was a desolate location, and the inmates of the old workhouse weren't keen to move. There is a more detailed description on my workhouse page.

By 1850 an infirmary for the poor had been built in the grounds, and with the arrival of the railway the town had spread around the site. By1862 a new workhouse had been built on Race Hill outside the town. In an 1866 map the site of the 1822 workhouse is unchanged, but in 1867 the site has been cleared completely. As far as I know nothing remains, although there is still a hospital in about the same place as the old infirmary.

There is a large amount of information about workhouses around the country, as well as the Brighton workhouses in an excellent website - 'The Workhouse'.

The Wagner Connection

There seems to be a clear connection between the Cheesmans and Henry Wagner, Vicar of Brighton. This started when they built him the new Vicarage. As Brighton was growing at an enormous rate there was a need for new Churches, which Wagner masterminded and the Cheesmans designed and built for him. However, Wagner's son Arthur Douglas seems to have rejected George junior as architect in favour of Richard Cromwell Carpenter for the building of Saint Paul's, West Street, in 1846.

Royalty and the Royal Pavilion, Brighton

The growth of Brighton in the early 1800's was in no small amount due to the presence of the Prince of Wales. When Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837 the town was desperate to continue Royal patronage, and made elaborate efforts to welcome her whenever she came. The picture at the top of this page shows the Ceremonial Arch built for her first visit, designed and built by George Cheesman. Unfortunately, she never took to the town. However, as the upper classes became less important, the London to Brighton Railway brought a huge influx of more working class visitors, and the town continued to prosper.

The Prince of Wales first moved into what is now The royal Pavilion in 1786 following his secret marriage to Mrs. Fitzherbert. He immediately started extending it, but in its present form it dates from adaptation by John Nash from 1815-1822. In fact, the Prince did not live there after that time. Victoria's rare visits to the town ceased in 1845. By 1847 fittings were being removed for use in other Royal buildings, and the fate of the Royal Pavilion looked bleak. In fact, the site was put up for sale by the Crown for redevelopment as housing in 1849. After some heated discussion, and by a small majority in a poll of Brighton voters, the decision was taken to buy the site on behalf of the town. The bill authorising the sale received Royal Assent on 17 May 1850, and the Pavilion almost immediately started its new life as the centre of cultural life for Brighton.

The Cheesman family were what would now be known as 'preferred contractors' from about 1864 to 1873, and in one recorded case, when they did not bid for a job it was put out to tender again, and they then won the contract.

References to the family

There are quite a few references to the business in various reference works. In particular, Pevsner's 'Sussex' has several occurrences - he seems to be reasonably generous by his standards, although 'ignorant tracery' seems to be a recurring theme. Allegedly the Church of St. John's Carlton Hill was described by the incumbent, the Rev. H. H. Jones as 'the ugliest in Brighton'. I wouldn't be inclined to disagree!

As I find out more about the business I will be updating this site regularly. so, at risk of repeating myself, I would be most grateful to receive any corrections or extra information, no matter how small they may seem.(e-mail me)

Documentary Evidence

So far, I have found just one advertisement in a trade directory for 1885 - but it's a cracker!

©John Hoare 2006

WHO WAS WHO AMONGST THE CHEESMAN BUILDERS

It is difficult if not impossible to be sure which member of the family was responsible for a specific building - often the original source refers to 'Cheesman' or 'Mr. Cheesman', and even contemporary records disagree in detail - JH

Cornelius Cheesman
born 1801, died 1841. My great-great-great grandfather. Appears in Brighton directories as builder around 1832. He passed the Christian name on to his son and grandson, both joiners and carpenters.,

John Cheesman
born about 1766, died August 1823, baseborn, also known as John Cheesman Childens, described in his will as 'gentleman' - owned substantial amounts of property in Brighton, but I have found no references to working as a builder.

John Cheesman
born before May 1789, died after 10 Nov 1858. 1832-3 coal merchant, 1833 member of director and guardians of the poor, proprioter(sic) of houses, apparently a freemason in 1858, died 1858, also known as John Cheesman senior. This is probably the builder.

John Cheesman
born before 20 March 1814, died 19 April 1852 also known as John Cheesman Childens the younger. His will names him as 'proprietor of houses', and suggests considerable affluence.

John Cheesman
born before 19 May, 1843. I haven't found any definite references beyond his Christening.

John Stubbs Cheeseman (apparently no connection to the family)
son of William Cheeseman of Brighton, was apprenticed to Amon Henry Wilds (an important Brighton architect of the time) in 1818. I think I have located him and his family. He would have been born about 1802 and apparently died before 1833.

George Cheesman senior (sometimes referred to as 'George Cheesman the elder', or 'George Cheesman Childrens')
born 1789, the elder brother of my great-great-great grandfather. He was responsible for the first hotel on the Devil's Dyke (1831). it is generally accepted that he built several buildings in Brunswick Square (1825),although accepted wisdom is that it is unclear who built individual houses. however, according to his obituary he built 19, Brunswick Terrace, on the South-East corner of Brunswick Terrace, a building of considerable architectural importance. From about 1833 George was working with his son Charles as 'George Cheesman and son'. George's business partner was Vincent Paine Freeman.George died in 1866.As I have found more information about George I have set up his own dedicated page.

George Cheesman and son
By 1833 George the elder had formed a business with his son Charles, born about 1817, as George Cheesman and son. They built a new vicarage for Henry Wagner (1834), most of the Churches built as Victorian Brighton continued to grow (1837-1862).

One of their more bizarre projects was this triumphal arch built in 1837 to commemorate Queen Victoria's first visit to Brighton on October 4th. The cost is recorded as £90, and it came in under budget!

The last definite reference that I have found to 'George & sons' as builders is 1865, when George the elder would have been well over seventy - so far, I haven't found when he died, or in what circumstances.

Almost certainly the business continued as 'Cheesman and Co.' (q.v.)

George Cheesman the younger
Born 1814, son of George the elder and brother of Charles. He was listed as a builder in trade directories, apparently separate to his father. He was often responsible for the design of his father's buildings, although this job wasn't always dignified with the title architect.  Between 1838 and 1853 George the Elder and George the younger worked together on Civic projects.

George eloped to Gretna Green in 1835 to marry Emma Chandler, a local girl,when he was twenty one but she was only seventeen. They regularised the marriage under English law a few weeks later. (more on my 'George Cheesman the younger' page) They had three daughters - Emma who married Henry Turner, Isabella Maria who never married and stayed close to her father, and Alice, who married Samuel Diprose

Emma died in 1855 at the age of 37.

In 1859 George re-married to Amelia Caroline Davies, twenty one years his junior. and started a new family - Edmund George, Alfred Addison, Jessie Amelia, and Edith May. He seems to have settled in Tunbridge Wells, but his address was still given as Brighton for business purposes. George retired from building about 1865. Edmund George settled in America, and I have recently made contact with his descendants. This story is now told in 'The Cheesman Family in America'

George died in Pembroke in 1882 in Pembroke, leaving £28,652-13-8 - Isabella Maria from his first marriage was still with him, and was executor and beneficiary in his will.

George was a Freemason, member of Royal Clarence Lodge, Brighton 1837-1866 (builder until 1845, gentleman from 1860), although he never held any significant office. As I have found more information about George I have set up his own dedicated page.

Thomas Cheesman
Fifth son of George the elder. his name appears on contracts between 1850 and 1889, firstly in conjunction with his father, and later with his brother Charles

Cheesman and Co.
After the conversion of the stables of the Dome into a concert hall in 1864-7, the records relate to a wide range of projects. From about 1865 most references are to 'Cheesman & Co.' or 'G. Cheesman & Co.' At some stage George ceased to be active and Charles in turn brought his sons Charles (born 1843) and Frank (born 1848) into the business. The younger Charles seems to have relocated to Uckfield, Sussex (seventeen miles to the Northeast), by 1881. The last reference is to carpenter's work by 'Cheesman & Co.' in 1890.

  BUILDINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CHEESMAN FAMILY

This is a list of references to buildings by the Cheesman family. Sources often disagree in detail, and it can be difficult to work out which members of the family were involved in any given project, so I have done my best to transcribe exactly the original builder's name.

A valuable resource now available is 'Church Plans Online', a website of the Lambeth Palace Library, the record office for the history of the Church of England.

Replacement of fence along the West Cliff, Brighton,
March 1819
by John Cheeseman junior

Workhouse
built 1822
by John Cheesman
East side of Church Hill above the extension of St. Nicholas Churchyard

Houses in Brunswick Square
built from 1825
Conventional wisdom is that records are incomplete and it is not possible to establish who built the first houses, but George Cheesman definitely built some and my research points pretty precisely  to George Cheesman senior having built the first house - see my special page.

First Devil's Dyke Hotel
Built 831 (replaced 1871)
Designed by George Cheeeman
(Devil's Dyke is a beauty spot North of Brighton, which first became popular in Victorian times.)

St. Nicholas Vicarage, Montpelier Road, Brighton
Built 1834
designed and built by George Cheesman and sons
Later used as the Junior School of Brighton & Hove High School. reportedly still exists but much modified.

Rural arch in honour of Queen Victoria's first visit
Built 1837
designed by the builder, George Cheesman
Cost £90. Sited where Preston Circus now stands, adjacent to the 'Hare & Hounds' Public house in London Road

Christ Church, Montpelier Road, Brighton
Built 1837-8
Built by George Cheesman Junior (one reference says built by George Cheesman & son, architect George cheesman junior) (one reference says designed by John Cheesman) (one reference suggests designed by John)
plans available on the 'Church Plans Online' website
(demolished following arson 1982)

St. John's Sub-Castro St. John's Hill, Lewes
Built 1839
'by George Cheesman'
(referred to as St. John-under-the Castle by Pevsner to distinguish it from the earlier Church it replaced)
plans available on the'Church Plans Online' website

Holy Trinity, Carlton Hill, Brighton (also referred to as St. John the Evangelist)
Consecrated 1840
'by George Cheeseman'/'built by Messrs Cheesman', Architect George Cheesman Junior/designed by John Cheesman/designed by George Cheeseman junior,
(at one stage a special interest of Brighton College)
There is more information on the Brighton and Hove website
plans available on the 'Church Plans Online' website

Percival and Clarendon Terraces, Brighton
built 1845-50
several houses, built by Cheesman and sons, George may have been the architect

St. Paul's Church, West Street
Built 1846-8
built by Cheesman and son for Henry Wagner. Arthur Douglas Wagner rejected their junior partner George Cheesman as architect in favour of Richard Cromwell Carpenter

Brighton Institute for the Deaf and Dumb, Eastern road, Brighton
built 1848
built and designed by Cheesemans (demolished 1971)

Brighton & Hove Dispensary
built 1849
built by Messrs Cheesman

St. Mark's, Kemp Town
Consecrated 1849
Architect not known, but probably George Cheesman Junior

All Saints Church, Compton Ave.
Built 1850-52 (demolished 1957)
'erected by George Cheeseman'/built by George Cheesman/ built by Messrs Cheesman
plans available on the 'Church Plans Online' website
 

St. Stephen's Church, Montpelier Place, Brighton
reconstructed from the Chapel Royal 1851
built by Cheesemans

St. Mary Magdalen Church, 51, Upper North Street, Brighton
built 1861
built by Messrs. Cheesman

St. Ann's Church, Burlington Street, Brighton
1862
built by Messrs. Cheesman

Concert Hall, The Brighton Dome
Converted from stables, 1864
'by Cheesman Ltd'

Brighton Pavilion new Museum and Library
1871
built by G. Cheesman & Co.
Work valued at £6298

Groyne on Hove seafront
1880
Cheesman & Co.

Houses in Seafield Road, Denmark Villas, and Wilbury Road, Hove
built 1881
Cheesman & Co.

ARCHIVE REFERENCES TO THE CHEESMAN FAMILY BUILDING BUSINESSES

This is a list of archive references to the Cheesman family building businesses. It can be difficult to work out which members of the family were involved in any given project, so I have done my best to transcribe exactly the original builder's name.

NOTE THAT SOME OF THESE REFERENCES RELATE TO UNSUCCESSFUL BIDS.

Main sewer, Hare & Hounds to Albion Hotel
1838
G.C. Cheesman, G. Cheesman 

Main sewer, Western Street to North Street
 1840
G. Cheesman, sen & jun 

Widening Kings Road and concrete wall
1846
G. Cheesman, sen & jun 

Carpentry work
1850
G. Cheesman, sen & T. Cheesman 

Bricklayers work
1850
 G. Cheesman sen & T. Cheesman

Sewer
1851
G. Cheesman, sen & jun 

Gateway & lodges to pavilion at northern end of East Street
1851

Bricklaying work
1853
G. Cheesman, sen & jun

Church, Burlington Street
1862

Goods who [warehouse?] Station Street
1864 

Corn store, Gloster Lane
1864 

House, Kents Court, West Street
1864

2 houses, Albion Hill
1864

Workshops, Kensington Street
1866
Cheesman & Co.

Elm Grove Church
1868
George Cheesman

Builders work valued at £3710 related to converting the Dome, Brighton into an assembly room
1868
Messrs G. Cheesman & Co.

Milton road School
1871
 Cheesman & Co.

Workhouse, Race Hill enlargement of the lunatic wards
1871
VP Freeman for G. Cheesman & Co.

Supplying and fixing bookcases, etc. in the new public library and museum
1872
Messrs Cheesman & Co.

Carpenter's work for the Pavilion, Brighton
1873
Cheesmans' builders

Bristol Road New wing
1879
Cheesmans 

Brewers Arms, Carlton Hill Addition,
1880
Cheesmans 

Black Lion Inn, Preston Road Rebuilding
1880
Cheesmans 

Warleigh Road New houses,
1880
Cheesmans 

'Dog Tray' 8, Edward Street rebuilding,
1881
Cheesmans

Regent Foundry Gloster Road engine House
1885
Cheesmans 

Gloster Road & Roberts Street Public House
1885
Cheesmans 

Advertisement in Pages directory
1885
G. Cheesman & Co.

Brighton College, Eastern Road
1886 

'Carpenter's work' for Brighton Pavilion, to the value of £181.16.3
1888
Cheesman and Co.

Tender for supplying and fixing new seating in the balcony of the Dome Assembly Room (not accepted)
13 May, 1889
The tender of £148 was not successful, and the work went to James Longley & Co. who tendered  for £115
C & T Cheesman, Brighton

'Carpenter work' for Pavilion
1890
Cheesman & Co.

3, Gloster Passage, 1 Court Lodge House addition
1890 

USEFUL SOURCES

Brighton Town and Brighton People by Antony Dale ISBN 0 85033 219 2

Encyclopedia of Brighton ISBN 086 147 3159

Fashionable Brighton by Antony Dale

History of Brighton by John Ackerson Erredge, published 1862 (available at East Sussex Register Office, Lewes)

Sussex by Ian Nairn and Nikolaus Pevsner ISBN 0 14 071028 0

The Wagners of Brighton

Encyclopedia of Hove and Portslade (currently unpublished), by Judy Middleton, c/o Hove Reference Library

Brighton and Hove a Second Selection ISBN 0 7509 0651 0

Brighton As It Is by Wallis, published 1836 (available electronically in the archive section of The regency townhouse)