Grantham - Granthamville - Potts Point - New South Wales

Built on five acres of land purchased by Felix Caleb Wilson in 1836.

Potts Point was originally named Point Campbell by Governor Arthur Phillip, during his survey in 1772, and was kept as a reserve for the Aboriginal peoples who were "allowed" to occupy the foreshore area - which they called Carragheen - "without molestation" for a number of years. 

But during Governor Darling's reign, this all changed when he decided to claim the land, which stretched from the headland back along Woolloomoloo Hill, for important government officials. 

The first of these grants was in 1822 when 11 acres were given to Judge John Wylde, the last Judge Advocate and a Justice of the NSW Supreme Court. 

But by 1828, Judge Wylde had done nothing with the land and Governor Darling was considering resuming it unless improvements were made. 

This issue probably informed his decision that year - when allotting the land that later formed Darlinghurst - to impose certain "villa conditions" to allotments, such as the size and grandeur of the home and the landscaping of the gardens.
Governor Darling didn't have to force the issue with Judge Wylde, who soon sold a substantial chunk of his allotment - just over six acres - to Joseph Hyde Potts. 

Potts didn't build on the land either, but he did rename the area Potts Point, ensuring he would be remembered to this day.
Felix Caleb Wilson, a settler in the Hawksbury region, north of Sydney, purchased the remaining five acres of Judge Wylde's allotment in 1836, and set about building the point's very first home, on the site where St Neot Avenue is today

Wilson's home was not subject to Governor Darling's strict "villa conditions", so the wealthy merchant and ironmonger went all-out in the design of his house, which he named Caleb Castle. You can see some of its turrets if you look closely in the photograph above.

According to the Villas book, the house later came to be known as Grantham and was designed by an unknown architect in the "same Gothic Revival style as the new Government House (1837-1845) across the bay". 

"Grantham was considered a rather pretentious building, and became known locally as 'The Pepper Pot' on account of its turrets, or 'Frying Pan Castle' (referring to Wilson's occupation)."

Wealthy merchant and wharf proprietor Frederick Parbury bought the the home in the early 1840s and renamed it Granthamville. Another owner was Donald Larnach who purchased the house and property for 5000 Pounds - a considerable increase on Wilson's 405 Pounds for the land alone.

The land was then subdivided and in 1853, the section with the home was purchased by surveyor and pastoralist Henry Dangar for 6000 Pounds and the residence became known as Dangar's Castle.

(Dangar was born at St Neot, in Cornwall, England, which is probably what the avenue was named for.)

After Dangar's death in 1861, his wife stayed on in the castle until she died in 1869 and it was inherited by one of their sons, Henry Cary Dangar.

Henry Dangar Junior rebuilt the home to his own design in 1870, following the Norman style of architecture.

According to a 1937 article from The Sydney Morning Herald, "the palatial home . . . was built of solid dimension stone quarried on the waterfront".

"Mr Dangar brought into his design the battlemented walls and the old fashioned stone fence. The entrance porch was tiled and led into a vestibule, in which a fine mahogany staircase was built with an overhead balustraded gallery.

"Upon the rebuilding of the home in 1870, Mr Dangar renamed the house Grantham."

Mr Dangar Junior stayed at Grantham until 1917, after which it had a succession of owners.

In the mid-1930s, the 22-bedroom, five bathroom house with cedar fittings was listed for sale and in 1937 was sold for demolition. A little bit of history vanished.

The new owner developed the site, building two blocks of three-storey flats over the original footprint of Grantham.

The only trace that remains is in the name of this apartment building (above), Grantham, and a little street and laneway that run behind St Neot Avenue.

The mansion Grantham (originally known as Granthamville and Dangar’s Castle) was pivotal in shaping the modern streetscape of Potts Point by directly dictating the physical layout, naming, and architectural character of the area following its demolition and subdivision in 1937

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The Newcastle Sun - Thursday 25th April 1918 Pg 4

HISTORIC HOUSE
Pott's Point Auction SYDNEY, Thursday
Grantham, an historic house at Pott's Point, which belonged to the Dangar family for 65 years, was offered at auction to-day, & was passed ln at £15,100. The place originally formed part of a grant of 11 acres in 1822 to John Wylde, judge advocate, who was afterwards knighted. The area started from where Woolloomooloo wharves now stand. Caleb Wilson, ironmonger, built the first house in 1835, but all that remains of it at the pre-sent time are tower & kitchen. It was jokingly called 'frying pan castle of Woolloomooloo.' Wilson paid only £405 for 4 1/2 acres. After his death, Donald Larnach paid £5000 for the house & 4 1/2 acres of land. He subdivided & resold part of it in 1853, to the late Henry Dangar for £4000.

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Sydney Morning Herald - Saturday 16 January 1937, page 18

HISTORIC HOME |
Sold for Demolition.
One of the old homes of Sydney, Grantham, In St, Neot-avenue, Potts Point, is to be demolished. Yesterday, the mansion was offered at auction by Richardson and Wrench, Ltd., for de-molition and removal, & was sold for £530.
After its removal, the grounds will be sub-divided & submitted at auction. Grantham was previously known as Granthamvllle and Dangar Castle. The site originally formed part of a grant of ,11 acres made In 1822 to the Judge Advocate, Mr John Wylde who later received a knighthood
The first house on the property was built about 1835 by Caleb Wilson, an ironmonger, & all that remains of the original building is the present tower & kitchen quarters Wilson's house was known as Caleb Castle but It was referred to jocularly as "Frying Pan Castle of Woolloomooloo "
Mr. F Parbury later owned it. & named It Granthamville He was one of the port's best-known wharf proprietors Parbury's wharves accommodated in their time many of the early wool ships which helped to develop the port of Sydney.
Whereas Caleb Wilson had paid £405 for 4½ acres of ground, Mr Donald Larnach, who later owned it, paid £5000 for the house & the 4½ acres This was later subdivided, & part was resold in 1853 to Mr. Henry Dangar for £6000. After his death in 1861, his widow occupied the house, & left it in her will to, Mr H C Dangar in 1869. He lived there until 1917 Since then the house has been owned bv several persons.
Mr. H C Dangar rebuilt the home to his own design, & followed the Norman style of architecture. The palatial home, as it was known to most people, was built of solid dimension stone quarried on the waterfront Mr Dangar brought into his design the battle-mented walls & the old-fashioned stone fence. The entrance porch was tiled & led Into a vestibule, in which a fine mahogany staircase was built with an overhead balus-traded gallery. Upon the rebuilding in 1870. Mr Dangar renamed the house Grantham.
Today, the house has cedar fittings throughout, and contains 22 bedrooms and five bathrooms.

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Sun Thursday 25 April 1918, page 4

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HISTORIC HOME IN MARKET
"GRANTHAM" FOR SALE
Grant of Nearly 100 Years Ago

The historic old house at Potts Point, "Granthnm," which has belonged to the Danger family for 65 years, was offored for sale at auction this morning by Messrs. Raine & Home. The place has a romantic history, having originally formed part of a grant of 11 acres to Mr. John Wyldc (Judge Advocate, who was afterwards knighted) in 1822. As the quaint old title deed describes it, the grant extended "from the projecting rook I
and to the other side of Port Jackson." This relic has now disappeared, & on the site the Woolloomooloo Bay wharves now stand. Caleb Wilson, an ironmonger, built the first house on this property In 1835 or thereabouts, the present tower & kitchen quarters being all that, remain of the original building. It was joldngly called "Frying Pan Castle of Woolloomooloo," & Wilson's initials are to be found carved on the inside of the old tower. Ho paid only £405 for 4'/a acres. After his death Mr. Donald. Lurnaoh paid £5000 for the houso & 4!/j acres, & he subdivided & resold part of it in 1853 to the late Mr. Henry Dangur for £6000. "After my grandfather's death in 1861,"
says Mr. Neville Dangar, "his widow occupied it, & she left it by her will to my father, Mr. II. C. 'Dangar, In 1869. He lived there until his death last year." As soon as Mr. H. C. Dangar got It he rebuilt it to his own dosign, & he chose the Norman style of architecture. At present the house is called "Grantham" —although formerly It was named "Granthamville"— & It Is to be seen in pictures of old Sydney as the only house on the point. Situated in charming grounds, & surrounded by an old-fashioned high, stone wall, the house with its battlomented walls presents a fine picture, reminiscent of an English home. The octagonal tower, with its flagstaff, is a picturesque note, & the view from the flat roof is all-embracing, including the harbor on one side & the city on the other. A drive enclosing a salvia-bedded lawn leads up to the tiled entrance porch, & inside the vestibule there is a fino wide ma-
"Grantham," Potts Point, the historic home of the Dangar family.
Mahogany staircase with no overhead balustrated gallery. The drawing & dining rooms are on opposite sides of the hall, & lead on to verandahs with verdant lawns beyond. The billiard room & library are in the rear, & upstairs many bedrooms disclose charming views from the windows. Altogether, counting in the servants' ball, there are about 25 rooms. Out of doors there is a lawn tennis court, & the garden lover can find much to interest him. In the distance is the kitchen garden, where origlnnlly most of the stone with which "Grantham" built was quurrled.