James Essex
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

James Essex (1722–1784) was an English builder and architect who mostly worked in
Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a university city and the county town in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located on the River Cam approximately north of London. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the population of Cambridge was 145,700. Cambridge bec ...
, where he was born. He designed portions of many
colleges of the University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is composed of 31 colleges in addition to the academic departments and administration of the central University. Until the mid-19th century, both Cambridge and Oxford comprised a group of colleges with a small central ...
, and carried out major restorations of the cathedrals at Ely and
Lincoln Lincoln most commonly refers to: * Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865), the sixteenth president of the United States * Lincoln, England, cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England * Lincoln, Nebraska, the capital of Nebraska, U.S. * Lincol ...
. He was an admirer of
Gothic architecture Gothic architecture (or pointed architecture) is an architectural style that was prevalent in Europe from the late 12th to the 16th century, during the High and Late Middle Ages, surviving into the 17th and 18th centuries in some areas. It e ...
, and assembled materials for a history of the style, though the book remained unpublished.


Early life

Essex was born in Cambridge in August 1722, the son of a builder of the same name who had fitted the
sash window A sash window or hung sash window is made of one or more movable panels, or "sashes". The individual sashes are traditionally paned window (architecture), paned windows, but can now contain an individual sheet (or sheets, in the case of double gla ...
s and wainscot in the Senate House (1724-5), under
James Gibbs James Gibbs (23 December 1682 – 5 August 1754) was one of Britain's most influential architects. Born in Aberdeen, he trained as an architect in Rome, and practised mainly in England. He is an important figure whose work spanned the transi ...
, and had worked on the hall of
Queens' College, Cambridge Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Queens' is one of the oldest colleges of the university, founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou. The college spans the River Cam, colloquially referred to as the "light s ...
(1732-4). He had a
grammar school A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching Latin, but more recently an academically oriented secondary school ...
education at the school of King's College, Cambridge, and then studied under Sir James Burrough. When his father died in February 1749, Essex took over his business, and, in September 1749, built the
Mathematical Bridge The Mathematical Bridge is the popular name of a wooden footbridge in the southwest of central Cambridge, England. It bridges the River Cam about one hundred feet northwest of Silver Street Bridge and connects two parts of Queens' College. It ...
at Queens' College.


Cambridge colleges

For the next 25 years he was occupied with work for Cambridge colleges. In 1757 he designed and built the Ramsden Building at St Catharine's College in a design matching that of the late 17th-century parts of the college; and in 1758 he repaired and altered Nevile's Court at
Trinity College Trinity College may refer to: Australia * Trinity Anglican College, an Anglican coeducational primary and secondary school in , New South Wales * Trinity Catholic College, Auburn, a coeducational school in the inner-western suburbs of Sydney, New ...
. In 1760 he designed and built the new west range at Queens' College, a white-brick building described by
Nikolaus Pevsner Sir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner (30 January 1902 – 18 August 1983) was a German-British art historian and architectural historian best known for his monumental 46-volume series of county-by-county guides, ''The Buildings of England'' (1 ...
as "impeccable of its kind but somewhat dull". His plans to extend the new structure northwards, in place of the existing 15th-century buildings, were never carried out. In 1764 he repaired and altered the hall at Emmanuel College; in 1766 he designed and built the stone bridge at Trinity College. In 1769 he
ashlar Ashlar () is finely dressed (cut, worked) stone, either an individual stone that has been worked until squared, or a structure built from such stones. Ashlar is the finest stone masonry unit, generally rectangular cuboid, mentioned by Vitruv ...
ed the first court of Christ's College and completed the chapel at
Clare College Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. The college was founded in 1326 as University Hall, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. It was refounded ...
after the death of Burrough. In 1775, he rebuilt the former Great Hall of Trinity College as the new "Combination Room" with an ashlared Classical front towards the Great Court, and designed and built the west front of Emmanuel College. In 1776 he designed and set up the altarpiece at
King's College Chapel King's College Chapel is the chapel of King's College, Cambridge, King's College in the University of Cambridge. It is considered one of the finest examples of late Perpendicular Gothic English architecture and features the world's largest fan ...
, with the wainscot round the
sacrarium A piscina is a shallow basin placed near the altar of a church, or else in the vestry or sacristy, used for washing the communion vessels. The sacrarium is the drain itself. Anglicans usually refer to the basin, calling it a piscina. For Roman ...
, and altered the south side of the first court of St John's College; between 1778 and 1782 he made the bookcases for the library, and designed and built the chapel at
Sidney Sussex College Sidney Sussex College (referred to informally as "Sidney") is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England. The College was founded in 1596 under the terms of the will of Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex (1531–1589), wife ...
. In 1751 he fitted up the "dome room" at the
University Library An academic library is a library that is attached to a higher education institution and serves two complementary purposes: to support the curriculum and the research of the university faculty and students. It is unknown how many academic librar ...
for manuscripts; bookcases he designed for the old library in 1731–34 are in the current University Library. In 1768 he completed the west end of the Senate House, left unfinished by Gibbs. In 1754 he rebuilt
Magdalene Bridge Magdalene Street is a street in the north of central Cambridge, England. It runs between Castle Street, by Castle Hill, at the junction with Northampton Street and Chesterton Lane, then Chesterton Road (the A1303), to the northwest and ...
. In 1784 he designed and built the old
Cambridge Guildhall Cambridge Guildhall is a civic building in the centre of the historic city of Cambridge, England. It includes two halls, ''The Large Hall'' and ''The Small Hall'', and is used for many disparate events such as comedy acts, conferences, craft fai ...
.


Ecclesiastical work

In his works at Cambridge (except for the altarpiece at King's College), Essex used the Italianate style which he had learnt from Burrough; but he was an admirer of the then despised Gothic style, and was a pioneer professional architect in imitations of medieval English architecture. In 1757 he was consulted by the dean and chapter of
Ely Cathedral Ely Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, is an Anglican cathedral in the city of Ely, Cambridgeshire, England. The cathedral has its origins in AD 672 when St Etheldreda built an abbey church. The presen ...
. Over the next five years he restored the east front, and repaired the roof of the eastern limb of the church, together with the woodwork of the lantern, which neglect had brought to a dangerous condition. Finally, he moved the choir from its original position to the east end of the presbytery (work not completed until 1770). The repairs executed between 1757 and 1762 were carried out conservatively, the old timber being, where possible, preserved; but Essex recommended the destruction of the west porch, as "neither ornamental nor useful". In 1760 he built the doctors' gallery in Great St Mary's Church (Burrough, architect), and the next year accepted a major commission at
Lincoln Cathedral Lincoln Cathedral, Lincoln Minster, or the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lincoln and sometimes St Mary's Cathedral, in Lincoln, England, is a Grade I listed cathedral and is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Lincoln. Constructio ...
, where substantial repairs were needed. Besides these he constructed an arch under the west tower, repaved the entire church, repaired the choir screen, and designed an altarpiece and bishop's throne. Here, also, Essex tried to get the choir removed to the same position as at Ely, but without success. In 1775 he designed and put up the four spires and battlement of the central tower. Essex also restored the tower of
Winchester College Chapel Winchester College is a public school (fee-charging independent day and boarding school) in Winchester, Hampshire, England. It was founded by William of Wykeham in 1382 and has existed in its present location ever since. It is the oldest of th ...
, altered
Madingley Hall Madingley is a small village near Cambridge, England. It is located close to the nearby villages of Coton and Dry Drayton on the western outskirts of Cambridge. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 Census was 210. The village was kno ...
, Cambridge, and built the steeple of the parish church at Debden,
Essex Essex () is a county in the East of England. One of the home counties, it borders Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to the north, the North Sea to the east, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent across the estuary of the River Thames to the south, and G ...
. At
Ampthill Park Ampthill Park and Ampthill Park House is a country estate in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, England. The park was opened to the public after the Second World War. From the 14th century Ampthill Park was a royal lodge and hunting park. In the 15th centur ...
, Bedfordshire he built the cross to commemorate Queen
Catherine of Aragon Catherine of Aragon (also spelt as Katherine, ; 16 December 1485 – 7 January 1536) was Queen of England as the first wife of King Henry VIII from their marriage on 11 June 1509 until their annulment on 23 May 1533. She was previously ...
, erected in 1773 for the
Earl of Ossory Earl of Ossory is a subsidiary title held by the Earl of Ormond that was created in the Peerage of Ireland in 1528. During King Henry VIII of England's pursuit of Anne Boleyn, who would be his second wife, he arranged for the main claimant to the ...
. The design followed a rough sketch by
Horace Walpole Horatio Walpole (), 4th Earl of Orford (24 September 1717 – 2 March 1797), better known as Horace Walpole, was an English writer, art historian, man of letters, antiquarian, and Whigs (British political party), Whig politician. He had Strawb ...
.


Associations and reputation

He was a close friend of
Michael Tyson Michael Gerard Tyson (born June 30, 1966) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 2005. Nicknamed "Iron Mike" and "Kid Dynamite" in his early career, and later known as "The Baddest Man on the Planet", Tyson is cons ...
,
Thomas Kerrich Thomas Kerrich (4 February 1748 – 10 May 1828) was an English people, English clergyman, principal Cambridge University librarian (''Protobibliothecarius''), antiquary, draughtsman and gifted amateur artist. He created one of the first ''catalo ...
,
Richard Gough Charles Richard Gough (born 5 April 1962) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a defender. Gough played in the successful Dundee United team of the early 1980s, winning the Scottish league title in 1982–83 and reachi ...
,
James Bentham James Bentham (10 March 1709? – 17 November 1794) was an English clergyman, antiquarian and historian of Ely Cathedral. Life Bentham was a son of the Rev. Samuel Bentham (''c''.1681–1733), registrar of Ely Cathedral and vicar of Witchford n ...
, William Cole (whose house at
Milton, Cambridge Milton is a village just north of Cambridge, England, with a population of 4,679 at the 2011 census. History Milton grew from a small population of 31 peasants in 1086, growing slowly up to 170 people making up 40 families in 1728. The Ordnance ...
he built, and who made him his executor), Horace Walpole and other well-known antiquaries. For a few years he was Walpole's architect at his Gothick villa, Strawberry Hill, where he added the Beauclerk Tower in 1777. He was elected
Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...
23 January 1772, through Gough, and contributed papers to '' Archæologia'' on architectural history. In 1756 he issued proposals for engraving views, plans, and sections of
King's College Chapel King's College Chapel is the chapel of King's College, Cambridge, King's College in the University of Cambridge. It is considered one of the finest examples of late Perpendicular Gothic English architecture and features the world's largest fan ...
; the scheme of this work, with plates drawn by his own hand, was among the manuscripts which, after his death, passed to Thomas Kerrich, who bequeathed them to the
British Museum The British Museum is a public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence. It docum ...
. The same collection contained the manuscript and many of the illustrations for his unfinished ''History of Gothic Architecture''. In 1748, when Essex was 26, he became involved in a controversy with the Rev. Robert Masters, fellow and historian of Corpus Christi College, over the authorship of a plan for adding a new court to the college. In December 1747 Masters had employed Essex to draw a plan, which he then had engraved and circulated as his own. Essex published proposals for engraving and printing by subscription his own design, and, in February 1749, published a pamphlet in which he criticised Masters's design and conduct.


Family

Essex married Elizabeth Thurlbourne, the daughter of a Cambridge bookseller. They had two children: James, who died in infancy in 1757, and Millicent, who married, on 10 May 1785, the Rev. John Hammond, sometime fellow of Queens' College. She died in January 1787.


Death

Essex died in Cambridge of a paralytic stroke on 14 September 1784, in his sixty-third year. He was buried in St Botolph's churchyard, Cambridge, on the south side of the church, where a tomb commemorates him, his father, mother, wife, and children. He and his children are further commemorated by a tablet in the north aisle.


Published writings

Essex acknowledged the following works: * "Proposals for Engraving and Printing a Plan of an intended Addition to Corpus Christi College,Cambridge", 20 September 1748. * "Whereas Mr. Masters ...", 4 October 1748. – An advertisement. * "Mr. James Essex's Letter to his Subscribers to the Plan", 20 February 1748–9. * "Proposals for Engraving Views, Plans, and Sections of King's College Chapel", 1 October 1756 (Gough, Brit. Top. i. 237). * "Letter to Dr. Ducarel, containing observations on Canterbury Cathedral", 1 February 1768 (Nichols, ''Bibliographia Topographica Britannia'' i. 470). * "Plan of the original Cathedral Church of Ely, with an account of the several Alterations and Additions" (Bentham, Ely, 1812, addenda, pp. 1–8). * "Account of the Old Conventual Church at Ely" (Bentham, Ely, 1812, addenda, pp. 9, 10). * "Remarks on the Antiquity and the different Modes of Brick and Stone Buildings in England" ('' Archæologia'', iv. 73). * "Observations on Lincoln Cathedral" (''Archæologia'' iv. 149). * "Observations on the Origin and Antiquity of Round Churches, and of the Round Church at Cambridge in particular" (''Archæologia'' vi. 163). * "Observations on Croyland Abbey and Bridge" (Nichols, ''Bibliographia Topographica Britannia'' No. xxii.) * "Description and Plan of the Ancient Timber Bridge at Rochester" (''Archæologia'', vii. 395). * "Description and Plan of Denny Abbey, Cambs." (Lysons, Cambridgeshire, pp. 272–4). Besides these, his description of the old chapel of Sidney Sussex College, and his "Journal of a Tour through part of Flanders and France in August 1773", were printed after his death.In the ''Architectural History of the University and Colleges of Cambridge'', by the Rev. R. Willis and J. W. Clark, and the Cambr. Antiq. Soc. Octavo Publ. No. xxiv. respectively.


References


Sources

* * ;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Essex, James 1722 births 1784 deaths 18th-century English architects People from Cambridge Architects from Cambridgeshire