“Picture a crescent of houses facing the heath.” This is The Paragon in Blackheath. It is not just any crescent. The Paragon is a testament to Georgian architecture. Let me tell you its story.
The Paragon was designed by Michael Searles. Searles was a commercial architect. He aimed to create homes for the upper middle class. He leased land from John Cator to build these houses.
Construction began around 1800. The location was ideal. It offered an elevated position near London. Road, water and rail transport were easily accessible. The distinctive architecture added to the appeal.
The Paragon consists of 14 linked semi-detached houses. They face Greenwich across the heath. Half of the crescent was in Greenwich. The other half was in Lewisham. Number 7 was split diagonally by the borough boundary.
Number 7 is particularly interesting. Robert Wilcoxon lived there from 1843 until his death in 1866. He was a plate glass manufacturer. He also worked as an upholsterer, cabinet maker and paper stainer. His business was in London.
The house was one of the largest in The Paragon. It had substantial gardens at the rear. Before the Wilcoxons, Mr. Isaac and Mrs. Mary Warner lived there. They occupied the house from 1807 until 1842.
In 1842, the lease was advertised for sale. The advertisement described a commodious family residence. It had capital dining and drawing rooms. There was a breakfast room and a gentleman’s room. Six bedchambers were on the first and second floors. Three servants’ quarters were in the attic. The basement had light, airy and spacious offices. A walled pleasure garden connected to a kitchen garden. A three-stall stable and coach house were available for rent.
Ralph Wilcoxon’s will revealed another layer to the story. Number 7 was one of Ralph’s leasehold interests. He left his mother Mary a life interest in the house. She would receive the rent. After her death, the property would go to his daughter Catherine.
Robert and his wife Lucretia had eight children. By 1851, they lived at The Paragon. The census showed three female house servants. Even with a large house, it must have been crowded.
Their eldest son, Robert, died at The Paragon in 1846. He was unmarried. His death certificate listed his profession as gentleman. Lucretia Lucy, their eldest daughter, married James Nasmyth Arnold Wallinger. He was a solicitor. Interestingly, James lived four doors away from the Wilcoxons.
Another daughter, Mary Elizabeth, married Edwin Eddison. He was also a solicitor. Annie married John Laws Milton. He founded St John’s Hospital for Diseases of the Skin. Emilie, the youngest daughter, married Edward Curteis Engleheart. He was a legal practitioner. Charles, the youngest son, had ten children.
Robert Wilcoxon’s brother Arthur lived nearby. He was Master of the Clothworkers Company in 1856. Robert died at The Paragon in 1866. His will described Lucretia as his darling wife. He called her a devoted, faithful and loving wife.
After Robert’s death, the remaining lease was sold. The advertisement described a capital dwelling house. It had a large garden. It was a short walk from Blackheath station. The rent was low.
In 1871, Robert’s widow, Lucretia, lived nearby. She resided at 9 Vanbrugh Park Road West. Number 7 was then occupied by Ralph Wilcoxon’s daughter Catherine and her husband George Martin Hughes. They had a large family and several servants.
The Paragon remains an iconic Georgian development. Sir Patrick Abercrombie called it the most important surviving example of Georgian domestic architecture. It was home to the Wilcoxon and Hughes families. They lived their lives during a vibrant period of Victorian Britain.
The Paragon stands as a reminder of architectural elegance. It is a place where families lived. It reflects changing social structures. It is a significant piece of London’s history.