George Tapps facts for kids
Sir George Ivison Tapps, 1st Baronet (born January 5, 1753 – died March 15, 1835), was an important British landowner. He was also a developer who played a big part in starting the town of Bournemouth. His actions helped shape the area into the popular place it is today.
Early Life and Titles
George Ivison Tapps inherited several large estates in 1778. These lands included Hinton Admiral, which he received from his cousin, Joseph Jarvis Clerke. His cousin had no children, so the estates passed to Tapps.
With this inheritance, Tapps became the Lord of the Manor for areas like Hinton Admiral, Christchurch, and Westover. Being a Lord of the Manor meant he owned the land and had special rights over it. In 1793, he was also chosen to be the High Sheriff of Hampshire. This was an important local government role, like a chief officer for the county.
Tapps was known to be a close friend of the Prince of Wales. This prince later became King George IV of the United Kingdom.
Developing Bournemouth
Sir George Ivison Tapps was very involved in the early growth of Bournemouth. After the Christchurch Inclosure Act 1802 was passed, he bought a large piece of land. This land was about 205 acres (0.83 square kilometers) and cost him £1,050. Today, this area is part of Bournemouth.
As the Lord of the Manor, Tapps also looked after areas set aside as common land. This land was for local villagers to use, for example, to dig for turf. In 1809, he opened a public house, which is like an inn or a pub, called The Tapps Arms. This building was later renamed The Tregonwell Arms. It was located where Post Office Road and Old Christchurch Road meet in Bournemouth today.
In 1810, Tapps sold a smaller piece of land, about 8.5 acres (34,000 square meters), to Lewis Tregonwell. This land was on the west side of the Bourne Stream.
Future Plans and Legacy
In 1834, Sir George Ivison Tapps took out a large loan of £40,000. He borrowed this money from the Earl of Arran and John Augustus Fuller. The loan was secured against his estate at Hinton Admiral. Tapps planned to use this money to develop his lands on the east side of the Bourne Stream.
However, Sir George Ivison Tapps passed away in 1835. Building work for his development plans finally began in 1837. His son continued the project, carrying on his father's vision for the area. Tapps's efforts were crucial in the very early days of Bournemouth, helping to lay the groundwork for the town's future growth.
