Transcript

of

William John Potts Chatto

Trans. Devon Assoc., 1882, Vol XIV, p. 118.

by

Rev. W. Harpley, (Ed.).

Prepared by Michael Steer

An item related to Mr Chatto’s deceased estate appears in the London Gazette for June 20th, 1882, page 2872. He died at what is now considered Torquay's lost mansion: The Daison. Built in 1850 for the Potts-Chatto family, it was a huge Italianate mansion with 35 acres of land was one of the greatest houses ever built in the town. During the First World War, troops from New Zealand were stationed there. Sadly, the War brought a change of fortunes for many aristocratic families up and down the country, and the mansion and lands were sold off in 1920. It was demolished and replaced with Main Avenue, First Avenue, Second Avenue, Third Avenue and Chatto Road. The article, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

William John Potts Chatto, of The Daison, St Mary Church, Torquay, was well known for the high qualities he possessed as a husband, father, and friend. He associated himself closely with the public interests of St Mary Church, for some time holding the office of chairman of the St Mary Church Local Board. He also did much with the ample means at his disposal towards helping on the work of the Roman Catholic Church, of which he was a devout and pious member, and to him is due the present perfect structural condition of the Roman Catholic Church at St. Mary Church, He devoted much time and attention to the Terra Cotta Works at Watcombe, near his residence. His charity was unbounded. It has been said of him that he had helped thousands who but for his timely aid would have been ruined. Mr. Chatto was born in July, 1824, and died at The Daison, 26th January, 1882. His remains were consigned to their final resting-place, amidst general and public demonstrations of sorrow, in a vault beneath the church which he himself had founded. 

He joined the Association in 1876, and was a life member.