Jane and Mary Parminter facts for kids
Jane Parminter (1750–1811) and Mary Parminter (1767–1849) were cousins from Devon, England. They were famous for their travels and for helping to design a unique sixteen-sided house called A La Ronde. They also built a chapel, a school for local girls, and special homes for unmarried women on their property. They made sure that these properties would always be passed down to women in their family.
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Early Life and Family
Jane Parminter was born on February 5, 1750, in Lisbon, Portugal. Her father was a merchant from Devon who sold wine. Her mother, Jane Arboyne, came from a French Protestant family called Huguenots. Jane had an older brother, William, and younger siblings: MaryAnne, Elizabeth, Margaret, and John.
In 1755, while the family was visiting London, a huge earthquake hit Lisbon. This disaster destroyed their family business in Portugal. Jane's father went back to Lisbon to help rebuild, but the rest of the family moved to Devon.
By 1773, the Parminters were living in Braunton, Devon. It was here that Jane took in her cousins, Mary and Rebecca Parminter. Jane became Mary's guardian, looking after her.
Amazing Travels and Design Work
In 1784, after her father passed away, Jane planned an exciting trip across Europe. This journey, known as a Grand Tour, was for herself, Mary, Elizabeth, and Jane Colville. They explored many countries, including France, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland.
Elizabeth returned to London by 1788, and Jane and Mary followed in 1791 after Elizabeth died. Miss Colville's journey with them ended at some point.
Designing A La Ronde
During their travels, Jane and Mary were very impressed by the chapel of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy. This beautiful building inspired them. After their trip, they had a unique sixteen-sided house called A La Ronde built near Exmouth in Devon.
Many people believe Jane designed the house herself. However, some research suggests that a Mr. Lowder might have drawn the actual plans, based on Jane's creative ideas.
The cousins decorated the inside of A La Ronde themselves. One of the most amazing parts is the shell gallery, which took them ten years to finish! The house was designed to display all the treasures and souvenirs they collected during their Grand Tour. They also carefully planned and created the gardens around the house.
In the summer of 1811, Jane and Mary also drew up plans for a small chapel called Point in View. This chapel was built right next to their house. They also planned for special homes (called almshouses) and a school for girls to be built nearby.
Their Religious Beliefs
The Parminter family were Protestants who did not follow the official Church of England. They preferred to worship in Meeting Houses. After moving to A La Ronde, Jane and Mary attended the Glenorchy United Reform Church in Exmouth.
Elizabeth and Mary were especially keen on helping Jewish women become Christians. Because of this, the rules for the almshouses they built gave priority to women who had converted to Christianity.
Later Years and Legacy
Jane Parminter passed away in 1811. She was buried in a vault beneath the Point in View chapel, which she and Mary had built.
After Jane's death, Mary inherited her estate. Mary then set up a charity called the Mary Parminter Trust, also known as the Point in View Trust. This charity still exists today. Mary died in 1849 and was buried next to her cousin, Jane.
In her will, Mary made very specific rules for A La Ronde. She stated that the house and estate should always be passed down to six named female relatives, who had to be unmarried. This ensured that the property would remain in the hands of women in their family.
Today, A La Ronde is looked after by the National Trust, a charity that protects historic places.
