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James Hicks
Architect of Redruth Varian Tye May 2022 The parish of Box is fortunate in having a wealth of buildings of special historic and architectural interest, the importance of which has been recognised by a Historic England listing for their protection. In several cases the list description refers to the architect who designed them. The architect James Hicks of Redruth is noted by Historic England for the design of Box Primary School, the School House and the impressive homes built by the Pictor quarry owners at the Rudloe Arms (formerly Rudloe Park Hotel) and Fogleigh House. This article starts by trying to find out more about James Hicks and his relationship with the Pictor family of Box. We consider the design and early photographs of the buildings and further information about them. We also review another property which, although not listed, may have been designed by him at 1 and 2 Adult House on Box Hill. Right: Courtesy of the Journal of The Royal Institution of Cornwall and Sharron Schwartz, joint author of James Hicks, Architect of Regeneration in Victorian Redruth by Ronald Perry and Sharron Schwartz, 2001. |
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In undertaking research on James Hicks, I am very grateful for the help and information provided by Linda Beskeen and Samantha Barnes, members of the Cornwall Vernacular Group, Angela Broome, Librarian and Archivist, Courtney Library (Cornish History Research) and Julian Orbach author and lecturer in architectural history.
James Hicks (1846 – 1896)
James Hicks was born in Redruth, Cornwall and played a major role in its development in the late 19th century. Some of the buildings he designed in Redruth included his own house which was also used as his offices, Penarth House, the Church of
St Andrew, Post Office, Mining Exchange, Passmore Edwards Library and Redruth’s Temperance Hall.
James Hicks was born in Redruth, Cornwall and played a major role in its development in the late 19th century. Some of the buildings he designed in Redruth included his own house which was also used as his offices, Penarth House, the Church of
St Andrew, Post Office, Mining Exchange, Passmore Edwards Library and Redruth’s Temperance Hall.
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Above Left: Penarth House (courtesy of Samantha Barnes CVG) and Above Right: Passmore Edwards Free Library (Courtesy Journal of The Royal Institution of Cornwall and Sharron Schwartz, joint author of James Hicks Architect of Regeneration in Victorian Redruth by Ronald Perry and Sharron Schwartz)
James’ early, local work often involved villa residences for successful managers, investors in the mining industry, and local businessmen. When the Schools Boards were introduced in 1870, he won several bids to design school buildings in the vicinity of Redruth and Camborne, as well as others in west Cornwall. He designed several buildings in Falmouth at the Drill Hall on Kimberly Park and the Methodist Church on The Moor, still two of the best-known buildings in the centre of Falmouth today.
The design for the school in Box may have been through competition but no definite evidence has been found to substantiate this. Robert Pictor was on the Box School Board in 1871 and his brother Cornelius James Pictor was elected to the School Board in 1877. Having completed the Box School, James Hicks was given contracts to build two mansions for the Pictor family.
He appears to have built a strong relationship with the family and Arthur John Pictor, the son of Robert, was trained with him in Redruth after Robert died suddenly in 1887. Arthur later became an architect practicing in Bruton Somerset and later in Bath.
The archive records show the variety of James Hicks’ work with a total of 160 designs for buildings by him but there are probably many more. Hicks designed many Methodist Chapels in Cornwall and in other places. In the late 1870s he had an office in central Bristol as well as Redruth. He designed at least two chapels in Bristol, (Upper Easton and Newfoundland Road), one in Bath, Claremont, and one in Blaenavon, South Wales. Linda Beskeen noted: Hicks was generous and passionate, vociferous and political. He was agent for Lord Clinton in Cornwall, very involved in mining, and ran a provision business, tin steaming works and quarries locally in Redruth. His strong support for the poorer miners and drive to improve (their living conditions) often led to disagreements, many years in his 40s being spent (trying to improve) better water supply to Redruth and improvements in living conditions for the poor and the ‘middling ‘ income classes….
The design for the school in Box may have been through competition but no definite evidence has been found to substantiate this. Robert Pictor was on the Box School Board in 1871 and his brother Cornelius James Pictor was elected to the School Board in 1877. Having completed the Box School, James Hicks was given contracts to build two mansions for the Pictor family.
He appears to have built a strong relationship with the family and Arthur John Pictor, the son of Robert, was trained with him in Redruth after Robert died suddenly in 1887. Arthur later became an architect practicing in Bruton Somerset and later in Bath.
The archive records show the variety of James Hicks’ work with a total of 160 designs for buildings by him but there are probably many more. Hicks designed many Methodist Chapels in Cornwall and in other places. In the late 1870s he had an office in central Bristol as well as Redruth. He designed at least two chapels in Bristol, (Upper Easton and Newfoundland Road), one in Bath, Claremont, and one in Blaenavon, South Wales. Linda Beskeen noted: Hicks was generous and passionate, vociferous and political. He was agent for Lord Clinton in Cornwall, very involved in mining, and ran a provision business, tin steaming works and quarries locally in Redruth. His strong support for the poorer miners and drive to improve (their living conditions) often led to disagreements, many years in his 40s being spent (trying to improve) better water supply to Redruth and improvements in living conditions for the poor and the ‘middling ‘ income classes….
Connection with Box
Historic newspapers record that Hicks used Box Stone for dressings of several of his buildings in Redruth and Penarth, possibly because Box Stone was easier to carve for decorative detail than the local granite. Possibly the competitions entered by James and his works on schools were the way that the Pictors first became aware of him. The family probably had a strong relationship with him, which influenced them to choose him as the architect for their prestigious homes. They will have noted that he had already constructed impressive buildings for wealthy businessmen in Redruth and was an architect for a number of Methodist Chapels. The Pictors were also strong Methodists, indeed Robert Pictor donated a plot of ground large enough for a chapel, school and vestry at Box Hill Chapel in 1868.
Hicks knew about stone and the quarry industry. He was not content with designing buildings but he opened quarries to supply stone for them therefore discussions on quarrying with the Pictors may not have been uncommon.
Historic newspapers record that Hicks used Box Stone for dressings of several of his buildings in Redruth and Penarth, possibly because Box Stone was easier to carve for decorative detail than the local granite. Possibly the competitions entered by James and his works on schools were the way that the Pictors first became aware of him. The family probably had a strong relationship with him, which influenced them to choose him as the architect for their prestigious homes. They will have noted that he had already constructed impressive buildings for wealthy businessmen in Redruth and was an architect for a number of Methodist Chapels. The Pictors were also strong Methodists, indeed Robert Pictor donated a plot of ground large enough for a chapel, school and vestry at Box Hill Chapel in 1868.
Hicks knew about stone and the quarry industry. He was not content with designing buildings but he opened quarries to supply stone for them therefore discussions on quarrying with the Pictors may not have been uncommon.
Buildings Attributed to James Hicks by Historic England
Box Primary School and School House Grade II 1874–75
Box Primary School and School House Grade II 1874–75
Above: An early photograph of Box School (courtesy Box Parish Council) and Below: the modern school (courtesy Varian Tye)
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Box School started as a National School encouraged by Foster’s Education Act of 1870 requiring all children under 14 years to have an education (but sometimes limited to the admission of children who professed to be Anglicans rather than Dissenters who were expected to go to the Methodist School). The premises were built in 1874-75, largely on the existing design with separate entrances for Boys and Girls and Infants which gave them the original name of Box Schools (plural). They are often called day schools to distinguish them from Sunday Schools offering religious instruction as well as literacy. One substantial difference, however, was that the tower didn’t have a clock installed until Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897.
Rudloe Park House (now Rudloe Arms) Grade II c1875
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Above Left: Illustration of Residence near Bath (printed in Building News 1876), Right: contemporary tower (courtesy Carol Payne)
Below Left: Historic photograph of Rudloe Park (courtesy David Ibberson) and Right: Ordnance Survey, 1844 – 1888
Below Left: Historic photograph of Rudloe Park (courtesy David Ibberson) and Right: Ordnance Survey, 1844 – 1888
The Ordnance Survey 1844–1888 shows the building when in use later as Rudloe College. It is interesting to note, to the north east of the College, a lodge adjacent to the entrance from the main road. The lodge appears to have since been demolished with the realignment of the A4, which probably occurred in the 20th century with the building of the new housing developments in Rudloe. I wonder if the lodge was also designed by James Hicks and what the entrance gates would have looked like.
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The listed description notes that the property was constructed c1875 by James Hicks of Redruth for Herbert Robert Pictor.[2] However, it is more likely to have been built for Robert Pictor, his father. There are differences in some of the details between these illustrations and the building as seen today, particularly the height of the tower with a grand room at the top. With the taller tower, very fine views could have been obtained from the top room overlooking the hillside and down in the By Brook valley – a very fine building, suitable for a wealthy quarry owner.
The print from online Building News 1876 was exhibited at the Royal Academy. The Building News article referred to a local contractor WH Bromley of Corsham reinforcing the probability that this was the Rudloe Park House:
RESIDENCE NEAR BATH
We give the view and plans of a residence now in course of erection near the summit of one of the hills overlooking Bath and from which magnificent views can be obtained. The plans show the internal arrangements; there are five family sitting rooms and conservatory leading out of the lobby. The first floor, containing 11 rooms, so that the stone partitions extend from ground to roof; there are five rooms. The contractor is Mr W H Bromley, of Corsham, and the architect Mr James Hicks of Redruth. The view is another of the Academy drawings we are able to give.
Design for the Decoration of a Dining Room
The drawing from which our illustration is taken was exhibited at The Royal Academy this year. The woodwork of the chimney piece, door cabinet and dado panelling is intended to be executed in dark stained oak, with ebony mouldings; the other decorative parts of the furniture to be carved in oak and ebony. The deep frieze round the room is to be of hand-painted subjects, illustrating birds, flowers. The design is by Mr Wun (sic) Poley.
The print from online Building News 1876 was exhibited at the Royal Academy. The Building News article referred to a local contractor WH Bromley of Corsham reinforcing the probability that this was the Rudloe Park House:
RESIDENCE NEAR BATH
We give the view and plans of a residence now in course of erection near the summit of one of the hills overlooking Bath and from which magnificent views can be obtained. The plans show the internal arrangements; there are five family sitting rooms and conservatory leading out of the lobby. The first floor, containing 11 rooms, so that the stone partitions extend from ground to roof; there are five rooms. The contractor is Mr W H Bromley, of Corsham, and the architect Mr James Hicks of Redruth. The view is another of the Academy drawings we are able to give.
Design for the Decoration of a Dining Room
The drawing from which our illustration is taken was exhibited at The Royal Academy this year. The woodwork of the chimney piece, door cabinet and dado panelling is intended to be executed in dark stained oak, with ebony mouldings; the other decorative parts of the furniture to be carved in oak and ebony. The deep frieze round the room is to be of hand-painted subjects, illustrating birds, flowers. The design is by Mr Wun (sic) Poley.
Fogleigh House 1881
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Above Left: West elevation of Fogleigh House (courtesy Carol Payne) and Right: The gardens of the house (courtesy Carol Payne)
Below: Ordnance Survey 1844 – 1888 (courtesy Know your Place)
Below: Ordnance Survey 1844 – 1888 (courtesy Know your Place)
The 1881 Fogleigh House was built on the site of another house owned by an earlier quarry-master Thomas Strong.[3] The house was built partly on land owned by the trustees of the Box Charity School, based in the old Box Poorhouse and appears to have taken about a decade to come to fruition with enormous amounts of High Gothic embellishments and intricate workmanship, including stained glass representations of the quarry trade. It remains one of the finest late Victorian buildings in the parish.[4]
Other Potential Candidates for Design by James Hicks
Adult House at Clift Quarry Works
Adult House at Clift Quarry Works
Above: Clift House on Box Hill (photographs courtesy Varian Tye)
Below Left: Adult House seen to the right of the premises and Left: Odnance Survey 1844 – 1888 (courtesy Know your Place)
Below Left: Adult House seen to the right of the premises and Left: Odnance Survey 1844 – 1888 (courtesy Know your Place)
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The Pictor family started quarrying in 1860s at the Clift Works site on Box Hill. Near the quarry entrance they constructed workshops (now altered to provide residential accommodation), offices, a stacking yard, and tramway. To the west of the workshops, they built Clift House (as a residence for Mary Pictor and family) and probably Adult House. They are all shown in the Ordnance Survey map above, with the workshops to the east and Clift House and Adult House to the West.
Adult House could have been originally constructed as offices and is prominently located facing the main road, it is now in residential use. The premises were an appropriate location for prestigious offices for the business and the building has Gothic detailing and may have also been designed by James Hicks.
If readers have any further information on the history of the properties discussed in this article, in particular the history of Adult House and its architect, can they please contact Box People and Places.
Adult House could have been originally constructed as offices and is prominently located facing the main road, it is now in residential use. The premises were an appropriate location for prestigious offices for the business and the building has Gothic detailing and may have also been designed by James Hicks.
If readers have any further information on the history of the properties discussed in this article, in particular the history of Adult House and its architect, can they please contact Box People and Places.
References
[1] See http://www.boxpeopleandplaces.co.uk/1870-start-of-era.html and https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1022784
[2] See Listed Building description: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1022811
[3] See http://boxpeopleandplaces.co.uk/strong--pictor.html
[4] See http://www.boxpeopleandplaces.co.uk/fogleigh-house.html and Listed Building description: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1022795
[1] See http://www.boxpeopleandplaces.co.uk/1870-start-of-era.html and https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1022784
[2] See Listed Building description: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1022811
[3] See http://boxpeopleandplaces.co.uk/strong--pictor.html
[4] See http://www.boxpeopleandplaces.co.uk/fogleigh-house.html and Listed Building description: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1022795