Ryde Architecture
WYNDHAM HOUSE
Melville Street, Ryde
In 1841, number 7 Melville Street was occupied by Henry Phené, Esq. a practicing surgeon, and David Ryland, surgeon’s assistant. They had three servants. Henry was born at Melksham, Wiltshire, son of Nicholas Peter Phené. He was at Wyndham House when he died in July 1858.
Henry Phené was the leaseholder of Melville Hall, the adjoining property Wyndham House, and the corner dwelling house and shop known as Norton House situated in Nelson-street, Ryde. When Norton House was sold by the trustees of his Will in 1889, it had the estimated value of £25.
An entry in the Ryde Pier minute book stated that “Mr. J. F. Cole, having been killed at Newport at an election, Mr. Henry Phené surgeon, was elected a director in his stead, 1854.”
In the Fashionable List of July/August 1869, the residents of Wyndham House were Dr. and Mrs. Welch. The list also gave the names of Dr. J. and Mrs. Menham Pletts as being at the house in March 1883
20 April 1889 – A notice by order of the Trustees of the Will of the late Henry Phené, Esq., Ryde, Isle of Wight, appeared in the local press. Important Sale of Long-Leased Property and well-secured Ground Rents.
Messrs. Wallis and Down, have received instructions to sell by auction, at Yelf’s Hotel, in Ryde, on Thursday, May 2nd, 1889 at 6 for 7 o’clock in the evening, the following valuable long-leasehold properties.
The Commanding Residence, known as, Wyndham House, situate in Melville Street, Ryde, with three reception rooms, nine bedrooms, surgery, a consulting room, good stabling, &c., the whole especially adapted to the requirements of a medical man, and lately occupied by Dr. J. Menham Pletts, at a yearly rent of £110. Held on a long lease at the apportioned ground rent of £6.15s. per annum.
Also being sold at auction, by order of the same trustees:
The desirable Residence known as Melville Hall, adjoining the last-named property, and also well suited for professional purposes, in the occupation of W. H. Daish, Esq., dentist, as a yearly tenant, from 23 August, 1888, at £73.10s per annum. Held on long lease at an apportioned ground rent of £5 per annum.
10 August 1907 – By this date Wyndham House was occupied by Dr. Lionel L. Preston. An important notice in the local press listed him as being the Medical Officer of Health of the district. The notice read:
Infectious Disease Notification (Act,1889). Notice is hereby given – that on and after Saturday, the 17th August 1907, for a period of six calendar months, Cerebro Spinal, or “Spotted” Fever will be an Infectious Disease to which the above Act applies. Under the provisions of the Act every case of Cerebro Spinal or “Spotted“ Fever occurring within the District shall be at once notified by the head of the family to which any person so suffering belongs and in his default by the nearest relative of the patient present, and in default of such relatives, by every person in charge of or in attendance on the patient, and in default of any such person by the occupier of the building.
Such notice to be given to the Medical Officer of Health of the District, Dr. L. L. Preston, Wyndham House, Melville-street, Ryde. Penalty for failing to give notice, a fine, on summary conviction, not exceeding Forty Shillings. (By order) Chas. G. Vincent, Clerk. 4 St. Thomas’s-street, Ryde.
22 August 1914 – Dr. Preston was still at Wyndham House, and writing many letters via the Observer newspaper, on the subject, and complaining about, a new shop opened in Union-street by the Research Defence Society, and the leaflets they were handing out on the subject of Vivisection. Dr. Preston was the Secretary I.W. Branch of the Anti-vivisection Society.
June 1940 – As mentioned in various articles of this date, at some point the building had been converted into flats.
Sources: RSHG, IW Observer
Image: Roy Brinton Collection
Article: Ann Barrett