Isaac Mallortie was one of the two main promoters, the other being John Carnac, of the Polygon development in the late 18th century. In 1768 the two men enlisted the services of architect Jacob Leroux to design the layout for the site. It was an ambitious plan designed to match the new, genteel buildings of other spa or resort towns like Bath and Tunbridge Wells. The original plan by Leroux was for a polygonal ensemble covering about 22 acres and consisting, within an encircling carriage road, of 12 large house with long gardens. Lack of money caused the scheme to be aborted in c.1773, by which time only 3 of the central houses had been completed. Mallortie was declared bankrupt in July 1773 and his assets were sold off.
In 1768 he was responsible for building the new almshouses in St Mary’s to replace the dilapidated almshouses in East Street.
See also:
Further reading:
More Stories of Southampton Streets, by A. G. K. Leonard, p10-12. (HS/h)
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