Building record 1403400000 - Hamilton House, West Street

The western end of West Street is dominated by Castle House and Hamilton House, both of which are substantial buildings set within sizable grounds located adjacent to each other on the northern side of the street. The remaining historic properties at the western end of the road are primarily residential; many are detached, are relatively widely spaced apart and situated within spacious grounds. At this end of the street limestone as well as brick is used for the construction of buildings and boundary walls which creates a very different character from the brick and render dominated elevations at West Street's eastern end with built frontages of buildings positioned close to the back edge of the pavement. Hamilton House is one such example of a large, detached, late 19th century building situated back from the road behind a stone wall with brick coping. The building, which is now used as a nursing home, has been heavily extended in more recent years, but the original range is quite a flamboyant structure constructed of brick with applied decorative timber. The original building has an attractive entrance which is emphasised by a flat lintel porch resting on wooden corbels and supported from above by wrought iron braces. Above the porch is a large arched window ornamented with decorative and coloured glass. The building is important because it was the home of George De'Ath, a pioneering doctor who worked to reduce the high incidence of early mortality in Buckingham during the latter half of the 19th century. In conjunction with Florence Nightingale, Dr. De'Ath worked to improve hygiene and sanitary conditions in peoples' houses and established the first ever Conference of Rural Health Visitors at Buckingham Nursing Home in 1892. Tragically he died prematurely in 1901 at the age of 36. Despite the addition of modern extensions, Hamilton House does contribute to the character of the Conservation Area by virtue of its historical associations with Dr. De'Ath, the attractive boundary wall enclosing its grounds, the trees and vegetation within its gardens and the views afforded across the grounds of Castle House. A local building of note within the Conservation Area of Buckingham (B1).
Plans, elevations and perspective view published in 'The Building News' of 18th February 1898 (B2).