Charles Holloway James
Encyclopedia
Charles Holloway James R.A., F.R.I.B.A., (1893-1953), architect, specialised in designs for homes and housing projects, but also completed large public works, particularly in collaboration with Stephen Rowland Pierce.
James was born in 1893 at Gloucester. Articled to Walter Bryan Wood, he later assisted Sir Edwin Lutyens and then Barry Parker
and Raymond Unwin
, consulting architects to the First Garden City
, Letchworth
, arousing his interest in housing questions. Returning from the war of 1914-18, where he lost a leg, James went into partnership with Charles Murray Hennell in 1919, full of enthusiasm for the ideals of a new social order. He lectured on “Housing and Site Planning,” at the Architectural Association in 1921-22, and published a book Small Houses for the Community with photographs by F. R. Yerbury, in 1924.
Both Hennell and James had worked at Letchworth, and much of their early work together was at Welwyn Garden City
. They were also responsible for Swanpool Garden Suburb, Lincoln; government subsidy houses in Thorpe Bay, Essex; and the layout and design of housing schemes in other parts of the country. After Hennell’s death much of James’s work was done at Hampstead Garden Suburb
, including his own house and several on a larger scale.
In partnership with Stephen Rowland Pierce
, F.R.I.B.A., James won competitions for three public buildings. Of these the most important was the City Hall, Norwich
, on an elevated site between the ancient Guildhall and the Church of St. Peter Mancroft above the market place. A building on a grand scale, it combines James's neo-Georgian architecture with a reference to the then fashionable Swedish movement and the tower of Stockholm City Hall
at Ostberg.
Norwich City Hall is the most important of the public buildings by James, but the most characteristic is the Hertford County Building. Here he was most in sympathy with the Georgian architecture of the county. He also designed the municipal buildings at Slough
, a library for the National Book League, and made additions to All Souls College, Oxford
.
James, active despite his war injury, was described as a tall man with soft, flexible, and rather boyish features, giving the impression of great sensibility. He had a good deal of quiet humour, affecting a robust attitude to life that contrasted with his appearance. He became A.R.I.B.A. in 1918 and F.R.I.B.A. in 1926, and served as R.I.B.A. vice president 1947-8. He was elected A.R.A. in 1937 and R.A. in 1946, and won the London Architecture bronze medal in 1949.
He married, in 1922, the designer Margaret Calkin James
.
James was born in 1893 at Gloucester. Articled to Walter Bryan Wood, he later assisted Sir Edwin Lutyens and then Barry Parker
Richard Barry Parker
Richard Barry Parker was an English architect and urban planner associated with the Arts and Crafts Movement. He was primarily known for his architectural partnership with Raymond Unwin.-Biography:...
and Raymond Unwin
Raymond Unwin
Sir Raymond Unwin was a prominent and influential English engineer, architect and town planner, with an emphasis on improvements in working class housing.-Early years:...
, consulting architects to the First Garden City
Garden city movement
The garden city movement is a method of urban planning that was initiated in 1898 by Sir Ebenezer Howard in the United Kingdom. Garden cities were intended to be planned, self-contained communities surrounded by "greenbelts" , containing proportionate areas of residences, industry and...
, Letchworth
Letchworth
Letchworth Garden City, commonly known as Letchworth, is a town and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England. The town's name is taken from one of the three villages it surrounded - all of which featured in the Domesday Book. The land used was first purchased by Quakers who had intended to farm the...
, arousing his interest in housing questions. Returning from the war of 1914-18, where he lost a leg, James went into partnership with Charles Murray Hennell in 1919, full of enthusiasm for the ideals of a new social order. He lectured on “Housing and Site Planning,” at the Architectural Association in 1921-22, and published a book Small Houses for the Community with photographs by F. R. Yerbury, in 1924.
Both Hennell and James had worked at Letchworth, and much of their early work together was at Welwyn Garden City
Welwyn Garden City
-Economy:Ever since its inception as garden city, Welwyn Garden City has attracted a strong commercial base with several designated employment areas. Among the companies trading in the town are:*Air Link Systems*Baxter*British Lead Mills*Carl Zeiss...
. They were also responsible for Swanpool Garden Suburb, Lincoln; government subsidy houses in Thorpe Bay, Essex; and the layout and design of housing schemes in other parts of the country. After Hennell’s death much of James’s work was done at Hampstead Garden Suburb
Hampstead Garden Suburb
-Notable Residents :*Theo Adams*Martin Bell*Sir Victor Blank*Katie Boyle*Constantine, the last King of Greece*Greg Davies*Richard & Judy Finnigan*David Matthews*Michael Ridpath*Claudia Roden*Jonathan Ross*Sir Donald Sinden*Marc Sinden...
, including his own house and several on a larger scale.
In partnership with Stephen Rowland Pierce
Stephen Rowland Pierce
Stephen Rowland Pierce F.R.I.B.A, F.S.A. was an architect and town planning consultant. In partnership with Charles Holloway James he designed several large British public buildings, including Norwich City Hall....
, F.R.I.B.A., James won competitions for three public buildings. Of these the most important was the City Hall, Norwich
City Hall, Norwich
Norwich City Hall is an Art Deco building completed in 1938 which houses the city hall for the city of Norwich, East Anglia, in Eastern England. It is one of the Norwich 12, a collection of twelve heritage buildings in Norwich deemed of particular historical and cultural importance.Norwich City...
, on an elevated site between the ancient Guildhall and the Church of St. Peter Mancroft above the market place. A building on a grand scale, it combines James's neo-Georgian architecture with a reference to the then fashionable Swedish movement and the tower of Stockholm City Hall
Stockholm City Hall
Stockholm City Hall is the building of the Municipal Council for the City of Stockholm in Sweden. It stands on the eastern tip of Kungsholmen island, next to Riddarfjärden's northern shore and facing the islands of Riddarholmen and Södermalm. It houses offices and conference rooms as well as...
at Ostberg.
Norwich City Hall is the most important of the public buildings by James, but the most characteristic is the Hertford County Building. Here he was most in sympathy with the Georgian architecture of the county. He also designed the municipal buildings at Slough
Slough
Slough is a borough and unitary authority within the ceremonial county of Royal Berkshire, England. The town straddles the A4 Bath Road and the Great Western Main Line, west of central London...
, a library for the National Book League, and made additions to All Souls College, Oxford
All Souls College, Oxford
The Warden and the College of the Souls of all Faithful People deceased in the University of Oxford or All Souls College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England....
.
James, active despite his war injury, was described as a tall man with soft, flexible, and rather boyish features, giving the impression of great sensibility. He had a good deal of quiet humour, affecting a robust attitude to life that contrasted with his appearance. He became A.R.I.B.A. in 1918 and F.R.I.B.A. in 1926, and served as R.I.B.A. vice president 1947-8. He was elected A.R.A. in 1937 and R.A. in 1946, and won the London Architecture bronze medal in 1949.
He married, in 1922, the designer Margaret Calkin James
Margaret Calkin James
Margaret Calkin James , was a calligrapher, graphic designer, textile printer, watercolour painter and printmaker, and is best known for her posters designed for the London Underground and London Transport between 1928 and 1935...
.