John Jay (builder)
Encyclopedia
John Jay was a building contractor and, earlier, a skilled stonemason, who owned a construction company located in the central City of London
within Metropolitan London
, England
, during the 19th century and its period of rapid civic and railway expansion in the middle of the 19th century. Jay's varied body of works included building the Victorian clock tower and city clock of the British Houses of Parliament after the Westminster Palace had been damaged by a fire in 1833 fire. Jay was also responsible for the construction of many smaller architectural projects, such as the notable Abney Park Chapel
and the Trinity Independent Chapel
.
near the City of London, where he married Esther Wilson (1806–88) at St. Matthew's Church. By the late 1830s, Jay had his offices and workshops in the heart of the City of London at 65 London Wall
. These appear to have been inheritance oned either by Jay alone, or else shared with close relatives, because in 1806, an older Mr. Jay, who was also a builder with an address at London Wall, had already rebuilt the building that was later renamed the "Adelphi Theatre
", designed by the architect Samuel Beazley
.
(opened May 1840). This project was soon followed by the Trinity Independent Chapel
(opened 1841), both designed by the architect William Hosking
, and St. Michael's Church in Stockwell
, designed by William Rogers.
During the 1850s, Jay won the contract for construction of the Victoria Towers and clock, and the Old Palace Yard frontage at the Houses of Parliament ; and one for St. Olave's Grammar School. His other civic buildings included Andrew Reed's philanthropic ventures, the Infant Orphan Asylum at Wanstead (opened in 1843) and the so-called "Idiot Asylum at Earlswood" now the Royal Earlswood Hospital
.
In the realm of railway building, Jay's contracts included Stoke-on-Trent Railway Station
, built to the Elizabethan and Jacobean designs of A.H. Hunt (contract awarded in July 1847); a section of the Great Northern Railway
from the King's Cross Station to the entrance of the tunnel beneath Copenhagen Fields
, and also the King's Cross goods station and passenger terminus itself (all built around 1850). In 1853, Jay was awarded the contract for building the Metropolitan Railway
, which he worked on during the 1860s. Colchester Station
(Eastern Counties Railway
) was also built by Jay. Furthermote, there was a substantial part of Paddington Station that was constructed by Jay. The latter building was built by Jay in about 1857 for the Great Western Railway Company
, followingo the design of Isambard Brunel
.
Jay also built commercial premises (such as the first Billingsgate Market
, and the rebuilding of the Clothworker's Hall in the City of London - both during the 1850s); and estates of domestic houses - for example, three hundred houses at the Packington Estate just north of the City of London were built by John Jay. Also, in 1868, upon acquisition of Campsbourne Lodge along with those parts of its estate not already sold off to the British Feeehold Land Company or other developers, he proceeded to build several of the streets bordering Alexandra Park, some of which remain to this day.
At one point relatively early in his career, his business was expanding so rapidly that he was unable to finance it (he was compelled to file for bankruptcy on 14 February 1843, at the Court of Bankruptcy in London). Before long his debts were re-arranged and discharged, and the business prospered again, enabling his family to move, in about 1860 to a fashionable detached villa in its own grounds, Highbury Park House, Highbury
; and soon afterwards to Ashford House, Priory Road, in nearby Hornsey
.
), stands in Dr Watts' Walk, Abney Park Cemetery
, Stoke Newington
and is said to have been carved in his own workshop, possibly by his own hand. It is a highly ornamented white marble sarcophagus with moulded cover, lions' feet and rich acanthus decoration to the corners. Many of his station buildings still exist, and are also listed by English Heritage
.
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
within Metropolitan London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, during the 19th century and its period of rapid civic and railway expansion in the middle of the 19th century. Jay's varied body of works included building the Victorian clock tower and city clock of the British Houses of Parliament after the Westminster Palace had been damaged by a fire in 1833 fire. Jay was also responsible for the construction of many smaller architectural projects, such as the notable Abney Park Chapel
Abney Park Chapel
Abney Park Chapel, is a Grade II Listed chapel, designed by William Hosking and built by John Jay that is situated in Europe's first wholly nondenominational cemetery, Abney Park Cemetery, London....
and the Trinity Independent Chapel
Trinity Independent Chapel
Now a Methodist chapel, the original Trinity Independent Chapel was designed in 1840-41 by William Hosking FSA, at Poplar, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, and built by John Jay....
.
Early life
John Jay was born in Norfolk, England, in January 1805. By 1826, he had moved to the village of Bethnal GreenBethnal Green
Bethnal Green is a district of the East End of London, England and part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, with the far northern parts falling within the London Borough of Hackney. Located northeast of Charing Cross, it was historically an agrarian hamlet in the ancient parish of Stepney,...
near the City of London, where he married Esther Wilson (1806–88) at St. Matthew's Church. By the late 1830s, Jay had his offices and workshops in the heart of the City of London at 65 London Wall
London Wall
London Wall was the defensive wall first built by the Romans around Londinium, their strategically important port town on the River Thames in what is now the United Kingdom, and subsequently maintained until the 18th century. It is now the name of a road in the City of London running along part of...
. These appear to have been inheritance oned either by Jay alone, or else shared with close relatives, because in 1806, an older Mr. Jay, who was also a builder with an address at London Wall, had already rebuilt the building that was later renamed the "Adelphi Theatre
Adelphi Theatre
The Adelphi Theatre is a 1500-seat West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receiving house for a variety of productions, including many musicals...
", designed by the architect Samuel Beazley
Samuel Beazley
Samuel Beazley was an English architect, novelist and playwright. He became the leading theatre architect of his time and the first notable English expert in that field....
.
Buildings of note
The first building known to have been built by John Jay was the Abney Park ChapelAbney Park Chapel
Abney Park Chapel, is a Grade II Listed chapel, designed by William Hosking and built by John Jay that is situated in Europe's first wholly nondenominational cemetery, Abney Park Cemetery, London....
(opened May 1840). This project was soon followed by the Trinity Independent Chapel
Trinity Independent Chapel
Now a Methodist chapel, the original Trinity Independent Chapel was designed in 1840-41 by William Hosking FSA, at Poplar, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, and built by John Jay....
(opened 1841), both designed by the architect William Hosking
William Hosking
William Hosking FSA was a writer, lecturer, and architect who had an important influence on the growth and development of London in Victorian times...
, and St. Michael's Church in Stockwell
Stockwell
Stockwell is a district in inner south west London, England, located in the London Borough of Lambeth.It is situated south south-east of Charing Cross. Brixton, Clapham, Vauxhall and Kennington all border Stockwell...
, designed by William Rogers.
During the 1850s, Jay won the contract for construction of the Victoria Towers and clock, and the Old Palace Yard frontage at the Houses of Parliament ; and one for St. Olave's Grammar School. His other civic buildings included Andrew Reed's philanthropic ventures, the Infant Orphan Asylum at Wanstead (opened in 1843) and the so-called "Idiot Asylum at Earlswood" now the Royal Earlswood Hospital
Royal Earlswood Hospital
The Royal Earlswood Hospital or The Royal Earlswood Asylum for Idiots in Redhill, Surrey was the first establishment to cater specifically for people with learning disabilities...
.
In the realm of railway building, Jay's contracts included Stoke-on-Trent Railway Station
Stoke-on-Trent railway station
Stoke-on-Trent Railway Station is a main-line railway station in central England. It is located on the Stafford to Manchester branch of the West Coast Main Line and serves the Staffordshire city of Stoke-on-Trent...
, built to the Elizabethan and Jacobean designs of A.H. Hunt (contract awarded in July 1847); a section of the Great Northern Railway
Great Northern Railway (Great Britain)
The Great Northern Railway was a British railway company established by the Great Northern Railway Act of 1846. On 1 January 1923 the company lost its identity as a constituent of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway....
from the King's Cross Station to the entrance of the tunnel beneath Copenhagen Fields
Metropolitan Cattle Market
The Metropolitan Cattle Market in Islington, north London was built by the City of London Corporation and opened in June 1855 by Prince Albert...
, and also the King's Cross goods station and passenger terminus itself (all built around 1850). In 1853, Jay was awarded the contract for building the Metropolitan Railway
Metropolitan railway
Metropolitan Railway can refer to:* Metropolitan line, part of the London Underground* Metropolitan Railway, the first underground railway to be built in London...
, which he worked on during the 1860s. Colchester Station
Colchester railway station
Colchester or Colchester North is the main railway station for Colchester in Essex, England. It is on the former Great Eastern Railway main line from London Liverpool Street to Norwich and is a junction for the line to Walton-on-the-Naze and Clacton-on-Sea, which diverges southwards from the main...
(Eastern Counties Railway
Eastern Counties Railway
The Eastern Counties Railway was an early English railway company incorporated in 1836. It was intended to link London with Ipswich via Colchester, and then on to Norwich and Yarmouth. Construction began in late March 1837 on the first nine miles, at the London end of the line.Construction was...
) was also built by Jay. Furthermote, there was a substantial part of Paddington Station that was constructed by Jay. The latter building was built by Jay in about 1857 for the Great Western Railway Company
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
, followingo the design of Isambard 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...
.
Jay also built commercial premises (such as the first Billingsgate Market
Old Billingsgate Market
Old Billingsgate Market is the name given to what is now a hospitality and events venue in the City of London, England, based in the Victorian building that was formerly Billingsgate Fish Market....
, and the rebuilding of the Clothworker's Hall in the City of London - both during the 1850s); and estates of domestic houses - for example, three hundred houses at the Packington Estate just north of the City of London were built by John Jay. Also, in 1868, upon acquisition of Campsbourne Lodge along with those parts of its estate not already sold off to the British Feeehold Land Company or other developers, he proceeded to build several of the streets bordering Alexandra Park, some of which remain to this day.
At one point relatively early in his career, his business was expanding so rapidly that he was unable to finance it (he was compelled to file for bankruptcy on 14 February 1843, at the Court of Bankruptcy in London). Before long his debts were re-arranged and discharged, and the business prospered again, enabling his family to move, in about 1860 to a fashionable detached villa in its own grounds, Highbury Park House, Highbury
Highbury
- Early Highbury :The area now known as Islington was part of the larger manor of Tolentone, which is mentioned in the Domesday Book. Tolentone was owned by Ranulf brother of Ilger and included all the areas north and east of Canonbury and Holloway Road. The manor house was situated by what is now...
; and soon afterwards to Ashford House, Priory Road, in nearby Hornsey
Hornsey
Hornsey is a district in London Borough of Haringey in north London in England. Whilst Hornsey was formerly the name of a parish and later a municipal borough of Middlesex, today, the name refers only to the London district. It is an inner-suburban area located north of Charing Cross.-Locale:The ...
.
Memorial to the life of Jay
A memorial monument to John Jay, which is (grade 2 listed by English HeritageEnglish Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
), stands in Dr Watts' Walk, Abney Park Cemetery
Abney Park Cemetery
Abney Park in Stoke Newington, in the London Borough of Hackney, is a historic parkland originally laid out in the early 18th century by Lady Mary Abney and Dr. Isaac Watts, and the neighbouring Hartopp family. In 1840 it became a non-denominational garden cemetery, semi-public park arboretum, and...
, Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington is a district in the London Borough of Hackney. It is north-east of Charing Cross.-Boundaries:In modern terms, Stoke Newington can be roughly defined by the N16 postcode area . Its southern boundary with Dalston is quite ill-defined too...
and is said to have been carved in his own workshop, possibly by his own hand. It is a highly ornamented white marble sarcophagus with moulded cover, lions' feet and rich acanthus decoration to the corners. Many of his station buildings still exist, and are also listed by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
.