 | John Passmore Edwards 1823-1911 |
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James Hicks FRIBA MSA
1846-1896
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James Hicks was born at Redruth, Cornwall, on 10 November 1846. He was the son of James (sometimes called John) Hicks of Sparnon, Redruth, who was the Parish Surveyor. After receiving his education at Trevarth School, Gwennap, Nr Redruth, James Hicks junior, served articles with a Torbay architect, John Watson, and became an architect and surveyor. He built for himself Penarth House on Clinton Road, next to St Andrew's Church. Here he resided and had his office. He was also the Agent for Lord Clinton on Treruffe Estate, Redruth, and Trefusis Estate, Flushing and had interests in local mines and tin stream-works and the Carn Marth Quarry. He died on 3 January 1896 and was buried in Redruth Parish Churchyard. |
| Examples of James Hicks' work are widespread in the neighbourhood, to such an extent that parts of Redruth were referred to as "Hicksville". Among his first undertakings was Tolvean House, West End, Redruth. He was also architect for a considerable restoration of Redruth Parish Church, where he gave the present font, and was the local architect and assistant to Mr. G Sneddon for the erection of the first portion of St Andrew's Church. Other work of his included the houses at Kiliganoon, Treliske,Trevano, Mellingey (since burnt down) and post offices, schools and chapels, etc. He was also associated with some of the building on the railway in Cornwall. From "Annals of an Ancient Cornish Town- Redruth, by Frank Mitchell 1978 and an article for the Royal Institution in Cornwall (2001) by DR S P Schwartz and DR Ronald Perry. |
| Like Silvanus Trevail, Hicks benefited from the significant expansion of school building which occurred following the passing of the Education Act. He was the chosen architect for the Passmore Edwards Fee Libraries at Redruth and Liskeard and also the Newlyn Art Gallery. |
| © Dean Evans 2008 | Page last updated on 7 July, 2008 |