In 1821 Testa left his job as a lawyer in Turin to become what was known as a constitutional Insurrectionist. The group of which he was part wanted changes in the government and would use force if necessary although they did not wish to harm the King.  This was all before the unification of Italy.  Eventually the group realised that success was unlikely and they fled. They were sentenced to death for their role. Testa went to Switzerland then London and by 1825 he had moved to Doncaster to become a language teacher.  After living in Bennetthorpe he moved to Christ Church Terrace .  He became friends with the Wrightsons at Cusworth and through them met other local aristocrats.

He lived in Doncaster for the rest of his life. Eventually his sentence in Turin was cancelled and he was pardoned which allowed him to visit Italy again.  He became a historian of Lombardy and he was knighted after a united Italy was created in 1870.  In 1882 he left Doncaster again to visit relatives in Italy but died there.

The terrace itself is of interest. Built in 1829 they overlook the church. Several more houses were built in the Edwardian era.

Information on Giovanni Testa published courtesy of  historian Brian Barber.