| Published
in 2005, this book is a history of P. Leonard James,
1878-1970, an architect who trained in England,
became the Chief Assistant Architect for the prestigious
firm of A. Saxon Snell in London, and then came
to Canada in 1906. He used the English Arts & Crafts
Style in his work. |
 |
| Before
the First World War, he and his brother, architect
Douglas James, formed a partnership in Victoria,
BC and completed many fine examples in the Tudor
Revival style with half-timbering, brackets or
modillions, exposed rafter tails and windows
of stained or leaded glass. Occasionally, he
worked with Samuel Maclure, F. M. Rattenbury,
J.C.M. Keith and Major K.B. Spurgin |
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MORE on the Life and Times
of Victoria Architect, P. Leonard James
by Rosemary James Cross , BA
|
| After
the War, detailing changed on residential commission
as the influence of such architects
as C.F.A. Voysey, M.H. Baillie-Scott and Sir
Edwin Lutyens brought new details into popularity.
Stuccoed soffits were used in the place of exposed
rafters; instead of overhanging gable ends with
support brackets fascia boards were installed
with minimal overhang; little stained glass and
rather less half-timbering were used. The partnership
with Hubert Savage produced many fine examples
in this later English Arts and Crafts Style.
Within the partnership each architect designed
certain buildings. The partners’ plan collections
at the City of Victoria Archives show the correct
authorship of buildings and are reported in the
lists in this book.
P. Leonard James’ work included clubhouses
for the Royal Colwood Golf club, 1922 and 1929,
the Royal Jubilee Hospital building of 1921-25,
the Crystal Garden 1924, the CPR Lake Louise
outdoor pool 1925, plus several ecclesiastical
and local commercial commissions. In addition,
he was responsible for a significant output
of residential homes, large and small – many
in the Rockland area and over fifty in Oak
Bay. In 1933-34 James visited England and had
the opportunity to see examples of the new
modernist ideas inspired by the Bauhaus, which
he later used in houses, schools and in his
final commission, the Federal Building and
Post Office at the Southwest corner of Government
and Yates Streets in Victoria. This building
has since its 1996 renovation been renamed “P.
L. James Place” in his honour.
There are over 125 illustrations, consisting
of elevations from working drawings, photographs,
sketches (with five coloured drawings by
the Architect) and a portfolio of 25 details
from
some of his English Arts & Crafts residences,
in the book.
From the time of his arrival in Canada, James
was actively associated with the architectural
institutes then in their infancy. The Royal
Architectural Institute of Canada recognized
his pre-eminence in the profession by electing
him to the College of Fellows in 1931.
His personal papers, found in the attic of
the family home, plus discussions at home
and with architect friends supplied the author
with many details of his practice. With the
addition of personal memories of the family
and life in Victoria, which only Rosemary,
his daughter, could supply, this book makes
an interesting historical read. The book’s
value was recognized by the author being
presented with the Mark Madoff Award for
promoting heritage
awareness by the Hallmark Society of Victoria
and The Heritage Society of BC has acknowledged
her outstanding achievement in the field
of heritage conservation.
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