Source Description:

Title: Villa in the Regent's Park, The Residence of John Maberly Esq: MP
Artist: Shepherd, Thomas
Engraver / Plate Maker: Barber, T.
Size: 6" x 3.5"
Print Date: 1827

St. John's Lodge, designed by John Raffield of whom little is known, is situated a short distance from The Holme in the center of the Park, it was the first Villa to be built in the Park and also the first to be occupied, from 1817 to 1821, by Charles Tulk a Magistrate for Middlesex and also MP for Sudbury. The Villa was empty until 1826 when John Maberly, MP for Rye took possession until 1829, when he let the Villa to the Duke of Wellington's eldest brother the Marquess Wellesley who in 1833 terminated his tenancy when he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. He was succeeded by Isaac Lyon Goldsmid, a banker and financier, who was knighted in 1841 and in 1846 became Baron de Palmeira through his monetary services to the Portuguese government. Before his death in 1859 he greatly enlarged the villa in the Italian Palazzo Style. His family continued to occupy the building until 1888. The Villa was then leased to the Marquess and Marchioness of Bute until 1916, when it was converted into a Hospital for Disabled Officers until 1921, it then became the headquarters of St. Dunstan's, a charity for blind ex-service men. ( See The Marquess of Hertford's Villa) In 1937 it was taken over by the University of London's Institute of Archaeology. 1959 to 1983 saw Bedford College's History Department in occupation ( See The Holme) At present the Villa is leased to a member of the Royal Family of Brunei. (The Sultan or possibly his brother.) Part of the gardens are open to the public.

Description:

Printed in dark blue on a single indented earthenware plate.  The pattern is named Villa in the Regent's Park, London, a title taken from the source print shown below and appearing on the printed mark.   This plate can also be found with an embossed scroll border.