John James (architect) facts for kids

John James (born around 1673 – died May 15, 1746) was an important British architect. He designed many churches and grand houses. He worked a lot in west London, especially in Twickenham. For example, he rebuilt St Mary's Church there. He also built a house for James Johnson, who was a Secretary of State for Scotland. Some people thought he was a skilled architect, even if his designs were not always very daring.

Life of a Master Builder

John James was the son of a parson, who was also named John James. He went to the Holy Ghost School in Basingstoke, where his father was the headmaster. In 1690, he started learning his trade as an apprentice to Matthew Banckes. Banckes was the Master Carpenter for the King. John James later married Banckes' niece. For a while, he lived at Hampton Court Palace.

Working with Famous Architects

John James worked at Greenwich. In 1718, he became a joint Clerk of the Works with Nicholas Hawksmoor. This meant he helped manage building projects. Later, he took over from Hawksmoor as the Surveyor of Westminster Abbey. He finished the west tower there, which Hawksmoor had started.

Before that, he became the master carpenter at St. Paul's Cathedral. He helped the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren there. In 1723, he took over Wren's role as the Surveyor of St. Paul's Cathedral. In 1734, he became the Master of the Worshipful Company of Carpenters, a group for skilled carpenters.

Designing Churches and Houses

In 1714, John James began work on St George's Church, Tiverton. This church was finally finished in 1733.

In 1716, he became one of the two main surveyors for a special group. This group was called the Commissioners for the Building of Fifty New Churches. The other surveyor was Nicholas Hawksmoor. John James designed one church for them, St George's, Hanover Square. He also worked with Hawksmoor on two other churches: St John Horsleydown in Southwark and St Luke Old Street.

At St Alfege's Church in Greenwich, he added a steeple to the old tower in 1730. Hawksmoor had rebuilt the rest of the church earlier. James also designed St. Mary's Church, Rotherhithe around 1714–15. He also designed St Lawrence in Whitchurch. He even updated the medieval tower of St Margaret's, Westminster, between 1735 and 1737.

John James also oversaw the building of East India House in London. This was designed by Theodore Jacobsen, who was a merchant and an amateur architect.

In Twickenham, John James designed St. Mary's Church after it collapsed in 1713. Only its old west tower remained.

He also designed Wricklemarsh in south-east London. This was a grand house built in the Palladian style, which was popular at the time. It was his only building in this style. He probably also designed Ranger's House in Blackheath, London.

Around 1725, John James designed a house for himself called Warbrook in Eversley, Hampshire. This is one of the few houses from that time built by an architect for their own use. He might have also designed Hursley House in Hampshire and Barnsley House in Gloucestershire.

His Writings and Ideas

John James was not just a builder; he also wrote books. He published a pamphlet in 1736 about the design of Westminster Bridge. He had submitted his own design for the bridge, which was well-liked.

He was good at Latin, French, and Italian. This helped him translate important books about architecture. He translated Andrea Pozzo's book on perspective, which is about how to draw things to look three-dimensional. It was called Rules and Examples of Perspective, proper for Painters and Architects. He also translated a French book called A Treatise of the Five Orders of Columns in Architecture. Another book he translated was The Theory and Practice of Gardening.

Because of his translations, John James helped bring new ideas from Europe to English architects and builders. These ideas included new styles for buildings, decorative painting, and garden design.

Gallery of architectural work

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  Appuldurcombe House, Isle of Wight

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  St. Alphege's Greenwich, upper part of tower by James

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  St. Luke's Old Street, London, with Nicholas Hawksmoor

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  St. John's Horsleydown, London, with Nicholas Hawksmoor, bombed in London Blitz and demolished

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  St. Mary's Church, Twickenham, rebuilt by James apart from the medieval tower

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  St George's, Hanover Square, London

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  St. Mary's Rotherhithe, London

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  Cannons House, Middlesex, one of many architects involved in the house's design