Kent
Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...
, and was educated at Rawes's academy at
Bromley
Bromley is a large town in Greater London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley. It is south-east of Charing Cross, and had an estimated population of 87,889 as of 2011.
Originally part of Kent, Bromley became a market town, c ...
in the same county. He became a pupil of James T. Parkinson, architect, of Ely Place, who, in addition to a moderate private practice, was entrusted at that time with the laying out of the Portman estate. After the termination of his articles, with the object of perfecting himself in the financial branches of his profession, he served two years with George Smith of Mercers' Hall, and in 1816, accompanied by his friend and colleague George Ledwell Taylor, he undertook a walking tour through England for the purpose of studying, measuring, and drawing the cathedrals and most interesting buildings. The next three years found Cresy and Taylor engaged in similar pursuits on the continent; chiefly on foot, they journeyed through
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
, and
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders ...
, to
Malta
Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
and
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
home. The chief aim of their studies was to present the dimensions of each building in English measurements, and the foliage and ornaments one quarter of the real size. Having returned to England the two friends published ''The Architectural Antiquities of Rome, measured and delineated by G. L. Taylor and E. Cresy'', (2 vols. fol., London, 1821–22; new edition, including the more recent discoveries dited by A. Taylor fol., London, 1874); and a few years later ''Architecture of the Middle Ages in Italy illustrated by views … of the Cathedral, &c. of Pisa'' (fol., London, 1829). A third work on the architecture of the Renaissance was to have followed, but after the publication of two parts, was abandoned from want of encouragement.
Cresy hastily accepted an engagement in Paris, where he designed the Square d'Orléans, which although successful interfered with his professional prospects at home. His practice was almost exclusively private, as he considered the system of open competition to be injurious to art. In his capacity of a superintending inspector under the general board of health Cresy did good work in a branch of engineering then all but unknown, and gave evidence before the Health of Towns and Metropolitan Sanitary Commission.
He became a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1820, and was also a member of the
British Archaeological Association
The British Archaeological Association (BAA) was founded in 1843 and aims to inspire, support and disseminate high quality research in the fields of Western archaeology, art and architecture, primarily of the mediaeval period, through lectures, co ...
.
Publications
Cresy furnished materials for the ''Appendix to Report on Drainage of Potteries'', 1849, &c., and wrote the ''Report as to the Fall of the Extension of the Main Sewer from the Ravensbourne to the Outlet'', 1855, both of which were embodied in the reports of the Metropolitan Commission of Sewers. Among his other works are:
*''A Practical Treatise on Bridge Building'' (fol., London, 1839).
*''Illustrations of Stone Church, Kent, with an historical account'', published for the
London Topographical Society
The London Topographical Society was founded as the Topographical Society of London in 1880 to publish "material illustrating the history and topography of the City and County of London from the earliest times to the present day".Cuthbert William Johnson) ''On the Cottages of Agricultural Labourers'' (London
847
__NOTOC__
Year 847 ( DCCCXLVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place Europe
* Danish Vikings land in the Breton March (western part of Gaul). Duke Nominoe ...
.
Death
Cresy died at South Darenth, Kent, on 12 November 1858 (Gent. Mag. 1858, v. 654).
Family
By his marriage, on 17 March 1824, to Eliza, daughter of W. Taylor of Ludgate Street (ib. xciv. pt. i. p. 367), he left two sons and two daughters. His eldest son, Edward, followed his father's profession, and became principal assistant clerk at the Metropolitan Board of Works, and architect to the fire brigade. He died at Alleyn Road, Dulwich, on 13 October 1870, in his 47th year (Times, 14 October 1870; obituary). Mrs. Cresy is known by her translation, ''with Notes and Additional Lives'', of Milizia's ''Memorie degli Architetti antichi e moderni'', 2 vols. 8vo, London, 1826.