Edward Graham Paley
Encyclopedia
Edward Graham Paley, usually known as E. G. Paley, (1823–95), was an English architect who practised in Lancaster
, Lancashire
, in the second half of the 19th century.
, North Yorkshire
, the fourth son of Rev Austin Paley. His father was the local vicar, and his grandfather was the Christian apologist
William Paley
. He was educated at Christ's Hospital
at the time it was situated in London. In October 1838 he went to Lancaster as a pupil of the architect Edmund Sharpe
. After he completed his articles
, he became a partner in the practice which was then known as Sharpe and Paley, Architects, (or more usually as Sharpe & Paley) Sharpe retired in 1851 and Paley practised single-handed as E. G. Paley until he was joined as a partner by Hubert Austin
in 1868, when the practice became Paley & Austin. Paley's son Henry
joined the partnership in 1886, when the practice became Paley, Austin & Paley, a title it retained until Edward Paley's death in 1895. It is considered that the architectural firm of Austin & Paley "did more outstanding work than any other in the county" and this work was "outstanding in the national as well as the regional context".
Paley was a founder member of the Royal Archaeological Society
, a member of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society, on the council of the Royal Institute of British Architects
, and was involved with the Lancaster Mechanics Institute and School of Art (later the Storey Institute
). He was Bridgemaster of the Hundred of South Lonsdale
, for whom he designed the road bridge over the River Lune
at Caton
, a member of the central committee of the Royal Albert Asylum, and a director of the Lancaster Waggon and Carriage Works, for whom he designed their factory.
style towards Gothic
. Initially the churches in Gothic Revival style incorporated Gothic-like features, such as lancet window
s, and towers with pinnacle
s and crocket
s. This was known as a pre-archaeological style and was used in the first phase of the Commissioners' Church
es. Pugin argued that these features should correctly and accurately reflect medieval
Gothic architecture, and Sharpe became an expert in this movement. Paley learned much of this from Sharpe and as a consequence incorporated "correct" Gothic features in his own work. At the same time the Cambridge Camden Society
, influenced by the Oxford Movement
, were advocating a more sacrament
al form of liturgy
, which required a larger chancel
than that normally provided in the Commissioners' Churches. Paley was also influenced in this by his brother, Frederick, who was a member of the Camden Society and was himself an expert on medieval architecture.
Paley's designs for new churches and for restorations were largely in the Decorated style. His finest work is considered to be St Peter's Church, Lancaster, which is now the Roman Catholic Lancaster Cathedral
. Another fine church is St George's, Barrow
, but otherwise his work is considered to be "not very special".
, and took an interest in music, being a member of the local choral society.
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, in the second half of the 19th century.
Education and career
Paley was born in EasingtonEasington, North Yorkshire
Easington is a village in the borough of Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. It is located on the A174 near Loftus and inside the North York Moors National Park. It has a pub - the "Tiger Inn" and a church...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, the fourth son of Rev Austin Paley. His father was the local vicar, and his grandfather was the Christian apologist
Christian apologetics
Christian apologetics is a field of Christian theology that aims to present a rational basis for the Christian faith, defend the faith against objections, and expose the perceived flaws of other world views...
William Paley
William Paley
William Paley was a British Christian apologist, philosopher, and utilitarian. He is best known for his exposition of the teleological argument for the existence of God in his work Natural Theology, which made use of the watchmaker analogy .-Life:Paley was Born in Peterborough, England, and was...
. He was educated at Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital is an English coeducational independent day and boarding school with Royal Charter located in the Sussex countryside just south of Horsham in Horsham District, West Sussex, England...
at the time it was situated in London. In October 1838 he went to Lancaster as a pupil of the architect Edmund Sharpe
Edmund Sharpe
Edmund Sharpe was an English architect and engineer. He started his career as an architect, initially on his own, then in partnership with Edward Paley, designing mainly churches but also some secular buildings...
. After he completed his articles
Articled clerk
An articled clerk, also known as an articling student, is an apprentice in a professional firm in Commonwealth countries. Generally the term arises in the accountancy profession and in the legal profession. The articled clerk signs a contract, known as "articles of clerkship", committing to a...
, he became a partner in the practice which was then known as Sharpe and Paley, Architects, (or more usually as Sharpe & Paley) Sharpe retired in 1851 and Paley practised single-handed as E. G. Paley until he was joined as a partner by Hubert Austin
Hubert Austin
Hubert James Austin was an English architect who practiced in Lancaster. With his partners he designed many churches and other buildings, mainly in the northwest of England.-Early life and career:...
in 1868, when the practice became Paley & Austin. Paley's son Henry
Henry Paley
Henry Anderson Paley was an English architect, the only son of Edward Paley, also an architect, of Lancaster. He started his training with his father and Hubert Austin, then went on to the London office of T. E. Collcutt. He returned to his father's practice in 1882 and became a partner in 1886...
joined the partnership in 1886, when the practice became Paley, Austin & Paley, a title it retained until Edward Paley's death in 1895. It is considered that the architectural firm of Austin & Paley "did more outstanding work than any other in the county" and this work was "outstanding in the national as well as the regional context".
Paley was a founder member of the Royal Archaeological Society
Royal Archaeological Institute
The Royal Archaeological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland is a learned society, established in 1844, primarily devoted to the publication of the Archaeological Journal, a production of archaeological news that has been in print since 1844....
, a member of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society, on the council of the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
, and was involved with the Lancaster Mechanics Institute and School of Art (later the Storey Institute
Lancaster and Morecambe College
Lancaster and Morecambe College is a further education College situated on Torrisholme Road, halfway between Lancaster and Morecambe, Lancashire, England...
). He was Bridgemaster of the Hundred of South Lonsdale
Lonsdale (hundred)
Lonsdale was a hundred of Lancashire, England. For many decades, it covered most of the northwestern part of Lancashire around Morecambe Bay, including the detached part around Furness, and the city of Lancaster....
, for whom he designed the road bridge over the River Lune
River Lune
The River Lune is a river in Cumbria and Lancashire, England.It is formed at Wath, in the parish of Ravenstonedale, Cumbria, at the confluence of Sandwath Beck and Weasdale Beck...
at Caton
Caton, Lancashire
The civil parish of Caton with Littledale is situated in Lancashire, England near the River Lune. The parish lies within the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and contains the villages of Caton, Brookhouse, Caton Green, Littledale and Townend.-History:The original settlement of...
, a member of the central committee of the Royal Albert Asylum, and a director of the Lancaster Waggon and Carriage Works, for whom he designed their factory.
Architectural styles
During the first half of the 19th century ecclesiastical architecture was moving away from the neoclassicalNeoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
style towards Gothic
English Gothic architecture
English Gothic is the name of the architectural style that flourished in England from about 1180 until about 1520.-Introduction:As with the Gothic architecture of other parts of Europe, English Gothic is defined by its pointed arches, vaulted roofs, buttresses, large windows, and spires...
. Initially the churches in Gothic Revival style incorporated Gothic-like features, such as lancet window
Lancet window
A lancet window is a tall narrow window with a pointed arch at its top. It acquired the "lancet" name from its resemblance to a lance. Instances of this architectural motif are most often found in Gothic and ecclesiastical structures, where they are often placed singly or in pairs.The motif first...
s, and towers with pinnacle
Pinnacle
A pinnacle is an architectural ornament originally forming the cap or crown of a buttress or small turret, but afterwards used on parapets at the corners of towers and in many other situations. The pinnacle looks like a small spire...
s and crocket
Crocket
A crocket is a hook-shaped decorative element common in Gothic architecture. It is in the form of a stylised carving of curled leaves, buds or flowers which is used at regular intervals to decorate the sloping edges of spires, finials, pinnacles, and wimpergs....
s. This was known as a pre-archaeological style and was used in the first phase of the Commissioners' Church
Commissioners' Church
A Commissioners' church is an Anglican church in the United Kingdom built with money voted by Parliament as a result of the Church Building Act of 1818 and 1824. They have been given a number of titles, including Commissioners' churches, Waterloo churches and Million Act churches...
es. Pugin argued that these features should correctly and accurately reflect medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
Gothic architecture, and Sharpe became an expert in this movement. Paley learned much of this from Sharpe and as a consequence incorporated "correct" Gothic features in his own work. At the same time the Cambridge Camden Society
Cambridge Camden Society
The Cambridge Camden Society, later known as the Ecclesiological Society from 1845 when it moved to London, was a learned architectural society founded in 1839 by undergraduates at Cambridge University to promote "the study of Gothic Architecture, and of Ecclesiastical Antiques." Its activities...
, influenced by the Oxford Movement
Oxford Movement
The Oxford Movement was a movement of High Church Anglicans, eventually developing into Anglo-Catholicism. The movement, whose members were often associated with the University of Oxford, argued for the reinstatement of lost Christian traditions of faith and their inclusion into Anglican liturgy...
, were advocating a more sacrament
Sacrament
A sacrament is a sacred rite recognized as of particular importance and significance. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites.-General definitions and terms:...
al form of liturgy
Liturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
, which required a larger chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
than that normally provided in the Commissioners' Churches. Paley was also influenced in this by his brother, Frederick, who was a member of the Camden Society and was himself an expert on medieval architecture.
Paley's designs for new churches and for restorations were largely in the Decorated style. His finest work is considered to be St Peter's Church, Lancaster, which is now the Roman Catholic Lancaster Cathedral
Lancaster Cathedral
Lancaster Cathedral, also known as The Cathedral Church of St Peter and Saint Peter's Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. It towers above its superb location overlooking Lancaster and Lancaster Canal...
. Another fine church is St George's, Barrow
St. George's Church, Barrow-in-Furness
St. George's Church is in Central ward of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England. It is the oldest active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Barrow in the archdeaconry of Westmoreland and Furness . Its benefice is united with those of St Aidan, Newbarns, St Luke, Risedale, and...
, but otherwise his work is considered to be "not very special".
Personal life
Edward Paley married Frances Sharpe, his partner's sister in 1851. They had four children, one son, Henry (known as Harry), who joined his father as a partner in the practice, and three daughters. They lived at a house designed by Paley called the Greaves for about 40 years. Paley took little interest in local politics; he was a councillor for three years from 1858 but declined to be renominated at the end of his term. He was a keen oarsman, helping with Sharpe to found the Lancaster Rowing ClubLancaster John O' Gaunt Rowing Club
Lancaster John O'Gaunt Rowing Club is an English rowing club based at Lancaster on the River Lune. Its origins date back to 1842 making it the fifth oldest surviving rowing club in the United Kingdom outside the universities.-History:...
, and took an interest in music, being a member of the local choral society.
See also
- Sharpe, Paley and AustinSharpe, Paley and AustinSharpe, Paley and Austin were the surnames of five architects who worked either alone or in partnerships in one practice in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. They were Edmund Sharpe , Edward Paley , Hubert Austin , Henry Paley and Geoffrey L...
- List of works by Sharpe and Paley
- List of ecclesiastical works by E. G. Paley
- List of non-ecclesiastical works by E. G. Paley
- List of ecclesiastical works by Paley and Austin
- List of non-ecclesiastical works by Paley and Austin