Chapter 4: Early modifications
Rear extensions
Turning to Exmouth House itself, let us begin with the rear extensions to the house, which were gradually extended in its early years. Though the date of these changes is unclear, they were all completed by 1853, when they are shown on the plan that appears on the conveyance of the property to Samuel Gutsell dated 14 February that year. View image. As has already been noted, the original back extension was narrow, comprising only the most north-easterly of the rooms currently at the rear of the house, with a first floor room above it. That this was built as part of the original structure is clear from the fact that the brickwork of the side wall of the house forms a single unit from front to rear. View image. It became apparent while work was being done on the rear of the house in 1999 that the south-westerly wall of this one-bay-deep rear extension to the house was of similarly finished brickwork, as was the rear wall of the main house adjacent to it. (This is also true, incidentally, of the portion of the original rear wall of the house that now forms part of the downstairs lavatory in the corner of the laundry room, where the original brickwork can still be seen.)
However, at a fairly early stage, the amount of accommodation at the rear of the house was evidently considered inadequate. First, a kind of lean-to roof was erected, the remains of which were visible on the original wall as revealed in 1999. Then, an additional two-storey extension was constructed, of similar dimensions to the original one: this was simply propped up against the existing, with no attempt made to bond the brickwork of the two together, as is still apparent on the back wall of the house. Towards the rear of this added extension there was a void between the two upstairs rooms. This seems to have contained a back staircase, presumably for the use of servants, evidently constructed as part of the building of this extension.
View over house from rear
Later still, a further extension was added. In contrast to the previous extension, which was built to the same height as the original rear rooms of the house (and was given a pitched roof to match), this was of different formation. Only part of it was of two storeys, comprising what may always have been a water closet opening off the staircase, with a sloping roof extending that of the main roof of the house. The remainder was of one storey only, with the sloping roof continuing downwards (after a short section of wall finished with traditional weather boarding - the only example of this at Exmouth House) and forming a small attic space over the room below. This room features a grate which still survives, as does the chimney that had to be constructed for it. The architectural advisor, Keith Whitehouse from Fulham Palace, who visited the house in 2009, suggested that the grate seemed to date from c. 1830, a date that would fit well with the supposed trajectory of these additions to the house. View image.