GEORGE DEVEY (1820-1886)

The Gasworks was built by notable architect George Devey (1820-1886) and was best known for country houses, estate villages, lodges and picturesque estate buildings for wealthy Victorian families — including the Rothschilds.

Devey’s work includes Ascott House in Buckinghamshire, Betteshanger House in Kent and Dover Clock Tower (one of his few civic buildings), as well as additions to Sudbury Hall including the stable block. The stable block is now The Courtyard at Sudbury, featuring a café and independent retailers.

Devey started life as an artist and had a good eye for decoration, which is perhaps why all his buildings have a decorative quality to them. You can see the decorative diamond pattern on the brickwork, also known as “diapering” (repeating diamond patterns in contrasting brick colours). This was particularly popular in Victorian architecture when Tudor revival was popular.

Most Victorian gasworks were entirely utilitarian, whereas Sudbury’s appearance was designed to visually complement the estate and village. This is partly what makes The Gasworks so unique.