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Happy 200th birthday to No.2 Percy Street, built in 1820 by the wonderfully-named Appleton Bennison who deserves a quick thread.
Currently available to let as offices ( as it has been for years) and once the home of a typewriter company, No. 2 is a lovely-looking late Georgian town house. Imagine the stories it holds.
Bennison also built this distinctive Georgian terrace in Baker Street
According to contemporary trade directories, he lived at No 2 Baker St. He’s listed as a stonemason and architect. This was his front door.
It’s still a handsome-looking terrace but in obvious need of some TLC.
Bennison built some of the first terraced housing in Sculcoates, sadly none remains.
He was also active in Beverley. Perhaps his finest surviving work is Sessions House in New Walk, originally an assizes court now a beauty spa and restaurant.
His Sessions House development also included what is now Beverley’s police station. Seems he favoured yellow brick.
His other surviving work in Beverley is the Registrar's House, tucked away in the complex of buildings which make up County Hall.
Bennison's stonework also included bridges, including re-building a medieval bridge at Yarm which still exists and this stone bridge at Tickton, sadly no longer with us.
I haven't been able to confirm whether he also had a hand in building the old North Bridge in Hull but I wouldn't be surprised. The date fits - 1785 - and it was another stone bridge.
Finally, another fine Bennison building - the Zion church in Hallgate, Cottingham.
Any further info on this largely unsung local figure would be gratefully received
Any further info on this largely unsung local figure would be gratefully received
