ESSEX, JAMES, the first professional man in the 18th century who made Gothic architecture his study and practice, was the son of a carpenter in good business at Cambridge, where he was born in 1723. Educated in the school of King's College, the unrivalled chapel became the object of his admiration, and totally impressed hint with the powers au:1 beauties of a style which was then neither valued nor understood. Except his own eyes and his own diligence, he had nothing to assist or direct him in the study of it—nothing to give him recut the slightest ineight into its principles. Greatly therefore is it to his credit that his own judgment and perseverance enabled him to attain the knowledge of it, and to do in it what he did, instead of being led astray like Batty Langley, who had about that time just published his' Gothic Architecture Improved by Rules and Proper time' In 1757 Essex was employed by Beutham to make drawings for hi? work on Ely Cathedral, and from him he acquired much information relative to the history of Gothic architecture and its leading styles; and of that cathedral itself he altered the choir in 1770, and conducted extensive repairs in other parts for many years afterwards. He was also engaged in repairing Lincoln minster, where he erected a stone altar-piece of his own designing. Besides various
alterations at several of the colleges at Cambridge, he executed some repairs at King's College Chapel, and designed coins stone-screens. Among his other works was a monumental cross at Auipthill iu inetuory of Catheriue of Aragon, nod improvements in the ancient man.iuu at Meddiegley. Cambridgeshire, the seat of Sir John Hinde Cotton. 110 also published designs for new buildings et King's, Bonet (Corpus Cbilst).and Emmanuel colleg.s, and fur a new Public Library at. Cambridge. His reputation as an antiquary was considerable, and be was aequainted with most of thou who were umed fur their attachment to similar stuoies—Gray the poet, llorace Walpole, Gough, Ty sou, Cole of Melton, and others. Beeiaes beiug a member of the Society of Antiquaries, he contributed some papers to their' Archreo testa,' namely, ' Remarks on the Antiquity of differeut Modes of Brick mud Stour Buildings in Eugland,' voi. iv.; Observatione un Lincoln Cathedral.' vol. iv.; ' On the Origin and Antiquity of Round Churchee,' vol. ti. lie died at Cambridge of a paralytic stroke, September 14th, 1784.