History of 'Paton House'

This 1884 structure was built for Samuel Herrick Sands by Evans and Jolly. Samuel was a lace and hosiery manufacturer as well as a director of National Telephone Company and Nottingham Patent Brick Company and  also chairman of Nottingham  Joint Stock Bank and Nottingham Suburban Railway Company.

This brick building 'West Hill House' has a large canopy over the main entrance and Baroque style interior.

Herbert D Snook acquired the house in 1904 and named it 'The Cedars'. He was a director of his family clothing firm, J Snook and Company. During his 40 years of resident, the cottage style lodge house at Derby road was occupied by his chauffeurs. His widow later sold it to 'Paton Congregational College'.

It was named 'Paton House' in honor of J B Paton, founder of the theological college, 'Paton Congregational College'. The college was moved to Manchester in 1968 and the building was taken over by University's Department of Architecture which is now 'Department of Architecture and Built Environment'.

Source: The Historic Houses of University Park, The University of Nottingham Compiled by Janet Jones, 1998