James Bridges (architect)
Encyclopedia
James Bridges was an architect
and civil engineer working in Bristol
between 1757 and 1763. He was the son of Henry Bridges, an Essex carpenter and clockmaker and famous for his Microcosm
. James claimed he was taught all he knew by his father, but also that he had viewed the works of the ancients, suggesting he may have done the Grand Tour.
James was a talented, personable and highly literate man who had traveled widely, possibly in Europe
, but when he arrived in Bristol in the mid 1750s he never claimed any prior work.
James proved to be one of the finest engineers and draftsmen of his age. He was also ever willing to learn, as he made several trips to London at his own expense to consult Robert Mylne
and Sir Isaac Ware
on his plans. Like his father, he seems to have been comfortably off. He or his friends and family must have put up bonds for his work. His successor on Bristol Bridge had to pay £10,000.
, a Capability Brown
-style mansion for a merchant banker overlooking the city. Often attributed to three architects, it has his characteristic eye for detail and comfort. His model of it survives. It is now part of Bristol University. Similar detail is seen in Arnos Manor, at Brislington
on the outskirts of the city, now Arnos Manor Hotel. It included a famous pleasure garden, incorporating remnants of St Werburgh’s church
in the centre of the city, which he was rebuilding at the same time. After the war the estate fell into neglect and the bath house was rescued and relocated at Portmeirion
in Wales.
For the coronation of King George III he produced a spectacular illumionation with fireworks in Queen Square
, unusual for its detail and the lack of any fatalities. He also did magic tricks, and seems to have got on well with people; the local newspaper Felix Farley’s Journal was a great supporter of him. But his main claim to fame was being given the job of surveyor to rebuild Bristol Bridge, after which the city was named.
with its narrow gateway. But a number of locals waged a war against him, mocking his lack of classical education and claiming he was a carpenter and joiner, but his assessment of St Nicholas’ wooden tower as sound makes it clear he knew little of wood. It proved too much for him so in 1763 he left, the church and bridge unfinished. His work was finished by Thomas Paty whose family became the main builders in Georgian Bristol.
and Civil War
, most buildings, especially in the provinces, were still of wood. James Bridges raised the standards which locals then followed. It is fascinating to consider what he could have achieved had he survived. An intriguing postscript to this is a print of an inhabited bridge with windvane topped towers, corn, coal and other warehouses by Mr Bridges of 1793. It was printed by PD of Bristol, possibly clock maker and engraver Phineas Daniel. It is beautifully and well designed, old fashioned baroque, and sited on the Avon Gorge near Brunel
’s leter Suspension Bridge. A model of it was featured at the Royal Academy of Arts 1996/7 exhibition ‘Living Bridges’. Was this a work of a relative? There was also a Thomas Bridges working on the Stroudwater canal at the time James was in Bristol, suggesting another relative in the area.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
and civil engineer working in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
between 1757 and 1763. He was the son of Henry Bridges, an Essex carpenter and clockmaker and famous for his Microcosm
Microcosm (clock)
Microcosm was a unique clock made by Henry Bridges of Waltham Abbey, England. It stood 10-12 feet high, and six across the base, it toured Great Britain, North America and the West Indies as a visual and musical entertainment as well as demonstrating astronomical movements.It was first advertised...
. James claimed he was taught all he knew by his father, but also that he had viewed the works of the ancients, suggesting he may have done the Grand Tour.
James was a talented, personable and highly literate man who had traveled widely, possibly in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, but when he arrived in Bristol in the mid 1750s he never claimed any prior work.
James proved to be one of the finest engineers and draftsmen of his age. He was also ever willing to learn, as he made several trips to London at his own expense to consult Robert Mylne
Robert Mylne
Robert Mylne was a Scottish architect and civil engineer, particularly remembered for his design for Blackfriars Bridge in London. Born and raised in Edinburgh, he travelled to Europe as a young man, studying architecture in Rome under Piranesi...
and Sir Isaac Ware
Isaac Ware
Isaac Ware was an English architect and translator of Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio.He was apprenticed to Thomas Ripley, 1 August 1721, and followed him in positions in the Office of Works, but his mentor in design was Lord Burlington.Ware was a member of the St...
on his plans. Like his father, he seems to have been comfortably off. He or his friends and family must have put up bonds for his work. His successor on Bristol Bridge had to pay £10,000.
Houses
In Bristol he built The Royal FortRoyal Fort
The Royal Fort House is a historic house in Tyndalls Park, Bristol. The building currently houses the University of Bristol's Institute for Advanced Studies.-History:...
, a Capability Brown
Capability Brown
Lancelot Brown , more commonly known as Capability Brown, was an English landscape architect. He is remembered as "the last of the great English eighteenth-century artists to be accorded his due", and "England's greatest gardener". He designed over 170 parks, many of which still endure...
-style mansion for a merchant banker overlooking the city. Often attributed to three architects, it has his characteristic eye for detail and comfort. His model of it survives. It is now part of Bristol University. Similar detail is seen in Arnos Manor, at Brislington
Brislington
Brislington is an area in the south east of the city of Bristol, England. It is on the edge of Bristol and from Bath. The Brislington Brook runs through the area in the woodlands of Nightingale Valley...
on the outskirts of the city, now Arnos Manor Hotel. It included a famous pleasure garden, incorporating remnants of St Werburgh’s church
St Werburgh's Church, Bristol
St Werburgh's Church, Bristol is a former church and climbing centre in St Werburghs, Bristol, England.St. Werburghs is situated in the St Werburgh's area in central north-east Bristol, England, which became known as St.Werburghs when St Werburghs Church was relocated to Mina Road in this district...
in the centre of the city, which he was rebuilding at the same time. After the war the estate fell into neglect and the bath house was rescued and relocated at Portmeirion
Portmeirion
Portmeirion is a popular tourist village in Gwynedd, North Wales. It was designed and built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975 in the style of an Italian village and is now owned by a charitable trust....
in Wales.
For the coronation of King George III he produced a spectacular illumionation with fireworks in Queen Square
Queen Square, Bristol
Queen Square is a garden square in the centre of Bristol, England. It was originally a fashionable residential address, but now most of the buildings are in office use....
, unusual for its detail and the lack of any fatalities. He also did magic tricks, and seems to have got on well with people; the local newspaper Felix Farley’s Journal was a great supporter of him. But his main claim to fame was being given the job of surveyor to rebuild Bristol Bridge, after which the city was named.
Bristol Bridge
The bridge had become dangerous due to the increase in traffic and encroachments narrowing the roadway. He was given the job of rebuilding the four arch medieval bridge as a classical three arch bridge on the original foundations. The entrance to the bridge was also dangerous, so he was also given the job of rebuilding nearby St Nicholas’ churchSt Nicholas, Bristol
St Nicholas is a church in St Nicholas Street, Bristol, England.The first church was founded before 1154, with a chancel extending over the south gate of the city. The gate and old church were demolished to make way for the rebuilding of Bristol Bridge and the church was rebuilt in 1762-9 by James...
with its narrow gateway. But a number of locals waged a war against him, mocking his lack of classical education and claiming he was a carpenter and joiner, but his assessment of St Nicholas’ wooden tower as sound makes it clear he knew little of wood. It proved too much for him so in 1763 he left, the church and bridge unfinished. His work was finished by Thomas Paty whose family became the main builders in Georgian Bristol.
Assessment
Though little known even in Bristol, there is little doubt of his importance to the city. At a time when England was recovering from the ravages of the ReformationEnglish Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
and Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, most buildings, especially in the provinces, were still of wood. James Bridges raised the standards which locals then followed. It is fascinating to consider what he could have achieved had he survived. An intriguing postscript to this is a print of an inhabited bridge with windvane topped towers, corn, coal and other warehouses by Mr Bridges of 1793. It was printed by PD of Bristol, possibly clock maker and engraver Phineas Daniel. It is beautifully and well designed, old fashioned baroque, and sited on the Avon Gorge near Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS , was a British civil engineer who built bridges and dockyards including the construction of the first major British railway, the Great Western Railway; a series of steamships, including the first propeller-driven transatlantic steamship; and numerous important bridges...
’s leter Suspension Bridge. A model of it was featured at the Royal Academy of Arts 1996/7 exhibition ‘Living Bridges’. Was this a work of a relative? There was also a Thomas Bridges working on the Stroudwater canal at the time James was in Bristol, suggesting another relative in the area.
List of works
- Arno's Court Triumphal ArchArno's Court Triumphal ArchArno's Court Triumphal Arch is in Junction Rd, Brislington, Bristol, England.- Construction :The arch was built around 1760 by James Bridges, for William Reeve, a prominent local Quaker and business man. It is built from Bath stone, of classical proportions but with Gothic and Moorish detail...
(1760) - Black Castle Public HouseBlack Castle Public HouseBlack Castle Public House is a historic building in Junction Rd, Brislington, Bristol, England. It is also known as Arno's Castle.It was built in 1745—1755 as a folly sham castle and office, but may have originally been a stable block and laundry for the lord of the manor...
(1745–55) - Royal FortRoyal FortThe Royal Fort House is a historic house in Tyndalls Park, Bristol. The building currently houses the University of Bristol's Institute for Advanced Studies.-History:...
House (1760) for Thomas Tyndall - Bristol BridgeBristol BridgeBristol Bridge is an old bridge over the floating harbour in Bristol, England, the original course of the River Avon.-History:Bristol's name is derived from the Saxon 'Brigstowe' or 'place of the bridge', but it is unclear when the first bridge over the Avon was built. The Avon has the 2nd highest...
(1763-9), with Thomas Paty - St WerburghsSt Werburghs, BristolSt. Werburghs is an area in central north-east Bristol, England. Surrounded by the M32 motorway, railway embankments and allotment slopes it has the feel of a green village in the inner city.- History :...
Church (1758–61) - St Nicholas Church, St Nicholas Street (1762-9), with Thomas Paty
- Castle WardCastle WardCastle Ward is an 18th century National Trust property located near the village of Strangford, in County Down, Northern Ireland. It overlooks Strangford Lough and is 7 miles from Downpatrick and 1.5 miles from Strangford....
, Strangford, County Down, Northern Ireland (1760s) - attribution uncertain