In support of Pride and to celebrate the opening of the Public Consultation for Oldway this month, we discuss the extraordinary Winnaretta Singer. Daughter of one of the most forceful, flamboyant, and unscrupulous tycoons in American business history – Isaac Merritt Singer.
Her father revolutionized the domestic sphere with his iconic Singer machines. Using the pioneering tactic of hire-purchase plans. Singer was selling twice as many machines as his rival, resulting in a bitter and protracted patent war. Meanwhile, his iconic sewing machines became ubiquitous in households everywhere.
As a result, Winnaretta Singer was born in 1865 into the family of one of the richest men in the world. The Singer family moved from London to Paignton in 1872, where they built their dream house – Oldway Mansion.
Located in the heart of Paignton, this incredible cultural asset stands eerily vacant but remains highly valued by the local community to this day.
Thanks to her father’s fortune Winnaretta received many privileges and became financially independent as soon as she came of age. Following in her mother Isabella’s footsteps, she found a deep connection with the arts, particularly music. She spent her life generously supporting some of history’s most renowned creative talents; among them were Debussy, Marcel Proust, Igor Stravinsky, Isadora Duncan, Jean Cocteau and Claude Monet, to name a few.
Her altruistic nature led her to become deeply invested in sending medical help to the soldiers in World War One, working alongside Marie Curie to acquire medical supplies and converting her friend’s limousines into mobile radiology units to help wounded soldiers at the front. She was also at the vanguard of the creation of public housing, championing support for abused women and their children by restoring buildings where they could find refuge.
What is most striking is her fierce independence and her determination to strike a deeply unconventional path, which was in part afforded by her financial security. She married Prince Louis de Scey-Montbéliard, only to see the marriage annulled five years later after never being consummated. Just one year later she made a strategic match and stepped into a lavender marriage with the 59-year-old prince Edmond de Polignac, an amateur composer who was gay. Their platonic relationship allowed them to share their passion for music and travel.
In 1894, the Prince and Princess de Polignac established a salon in their mansion in Paris. It soon came to be known as a haven for avant-garde music. Winnaretta was bold and unashamed about her sexual orientation and maintained romantic relationships with women.
Following Edmund’s death in 1901, Winnaretta used her vast fortune to invest in the arts even more, supporting artists financially as well as emotionally. She was a force to be reckoned with – her loyal dedication propelled her friends through difficult times and helped them reach their highest potential.
We continue to be fascinated by the historical and social history of Oldway and its people and appreciate the significance of this building that is so deeply ingrained in the community. The Mansion has undergone various permutations and was a popular civil ceremony venue, second only to Gretna Green. Weddings took place in her namesake “Winnaretta Room”, which features intricate details, high ceilings and elegant tall windows.
The Heritage team have conducted a tour of Oldway Mansion to let members know what it will take to make the building weathertight and the public consultations are now underway.
At LHC Design, we’re unravelling a beautiful story of possibilities as we dive into initial concept design and consider the core elements of occupation with our client Torbay Council and thanks to National Lottery players, we hope to unlock the potential and find a new way for Oldway.
We are working with cost consultant Peter Rice from Ravenslade Limited, conservation specialists Nick Bishop and Jenny McCracken from Avalon Planning & Heritage, Heritage consultant Bryher Mason of Wreyland Rural Planning Consultants, Consultant Danny Cleal from Coreus Group, Business planners Carrie Blogg and Caroline Taylor, Evaluation and consultation specialist Melinda Humphrey and Project Director Katherine Findlay.