Edward Graham Paley
Edward Graham Paley, usually known as E. G. Paley, (1823–95), was an English architect who practised in Lancaster, Lancashire, in the second half of the 19th century.
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[edit] Education and career
Paley was born in Easington, North Yorkshire, the fourth son of Rev Austin Paley. His father was the local vicar, and his grandfather was the Christian apologist William Paley. He was educated at Christ's Hospital at the time it was situated in London. In October 1838 he went to Lancaster as a pupil of the architect Edmund Sharpe.[1] After he completed his articles, he became a partner in the practice which was then known as Sharpe and Paley, Architects,[2] (or more usually as Sharpe & Paley)[3] Sharpe retired in 1851 and Paley practised single-handed as E. G. Paley until he was joined as a partner by Hubert Austin in 1868, when the practice became Paley & Austin. Paley's son Henry joined the partnership in 1886, when the practice became Paley, Austin & Paley, a title it retained until Edward Paley's death in 1895.[2] It is considered that the architectural firm of Austin & Paley "did more outstanding work than any other in the county" and this work was "outstanding in the national as well as the regional context".[4]
Paley was a founder member of the Royal Archaeological Society, a member of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society, on the council of the Royal Institute of British Architects, and was involved with the Lancaster Mechanics Institute and School of Art (later the Storey Institute). He was Bridgemaster of the Hundred of South Lonsdale, for whom he designed the road bridge over the River Lune at Caton, a member of the central committee of the Royal Albert Asylum, and a director of the Lancaster Waggon and Carriage Works, for whom he designed their factory.[5]
[edit] Architectural styles
During the first half of the 19th century ecclesiastical architecture was moving away from the neoclassical style towards Gothic. Initially the churches in Gothic Revival style incorporated Gothic-like features, such as lancet windows, and towers with pinnacles and crockets. This was known as a pre-archaeological style and was used in the first phase of the Commissioners' Churches. Pugin argued that these features should correctly and accurately reflect medieval Gothic architecture, and Sharpe became an expert in this movement. Paley learned much of this from Sharpe and as a consequence incorporated "correct" Gothic features in his own work. At the same time the Cambridge Camden Society, influenced by the Oxford Movement, were advocating a more sacramental form of liturgy, which required a larger chancel than that normally provided in the Commissioners' Churches. Paley was also influenced in this by his brother, Frederick, who was a member of the Camden Society and was himself an expert on medieval architecture.[6]
Paley's designs for new churches and for restorations were largely in the Decorated style. His finest work is considered to be St Peter's Church, Lancaster, which is now the Roman Catholic Lancaster Cathedral. Another fine church is St George's, Barrow, but otherwise his work is considered to be "not very special".[7]
[edit] Personal life
Edward Paley married Frances Sharpe, his partner's sister in 1851. They had four children, one son, Henry (known as Harry), who joined his father as a partner in the practice, and three daughters. They lived at a house designed by Paley called the Greaves for about 40 years. Paley took little interest in local politics; he was a councillor for three years from 1858 but declined to be renominated at the end of his term. He was a keen oarsman, helping with Sharpe to found the Lancaster Rowing Club, and took an interest in music, being a member of the local choral society.[8]
[edit] See also
- Sharpe, Paley and Austin
- List of works by Sharpe and Paley
- List of ecclesiastical works by E. G. Paley
- List of non-ecclesiastical works by E. G. Paley
- List of ecclesiastical works by Paley and Austin
- List of non-ecclesiastical works by Paley and Austin
[edit] References
- Notes
- ^ Price 1998, p. 27.
- ^ a b Price 1998, pp. 4–5.
- ^ Pevsner 1969, p. 31..
- ^ Hartwell and Pevsner 2009, p. 31.
- ^ Price 1998, pp. 28–29.
- ^ Price 1998, pp. 38–41.
- ^ Price 1998, p. 41.
- ^ Price 1998, pp. 29–30.
- Bibliography
- Hartwell, Clare; Nikolaus Pevsner (2009) [1969]. The Buildings of England. Lancashire: North. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. ISBN 978 0 300 12667 9.
- Pevsner, Nikolaus (2002) [1969]. The Buildings of England: North Lancashire. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. ISBN 0 300 09617 8.
- Price, James (1998). Sharpe, Paley and Austin: A Lancaster Architectural Practice 1836–1942. Lancaster: Centre for North-West Regional Studies. ISBN 1-86220-054-8
