Ernest Coxhead
Encyclopedia
Ernest Albert Coxhead was an English born architect, active in the US. He was trained in the offices of several English architects and attended the Royal Academy
and the Architectural Association School of Architecture
, both in London
. He moved to California
where he was the semi-official architect for the Episcopal Church
. At the beginning of his career, Ernest Coxhead focused on designing churches, primarily in the Gothic Revival style. After the mid 1890s, Coxhead focused on residential designs. He was involved in the emergence of the Arts and Crafts
style in California. He succeeded in designing residences that incorporated the elements and character of the English country house - shingled, Arts & Crafts style English Vernacular Cottages that combined elements from different periods for dramatic effect.
, East Sussex
, the fourth of six children of William Coxhead, a retired schoolmaster. At the age of 15 Ernest became articled to civil engineer George Wallis. After five years experience in both public projects and residential developments, in 1883 Coxhead left Eastbourne for London
. In London he worked for architect Frederic Chancellor, who restored gothic churches.
in 1886, where he established an independent practice, and soon secured commissions to design several Episcopal Churches in Southern California
.
and openned the Coxhead and Coxhead office in 1890, with Almeric as his business partner. Seventeen Coxhead church buildings were constructed - of which eleven are extant. In 1893 his Episcopal Church client, Bishop William Kip
, died and Coxhead started to concentrate on residential work. His residences include townhouses in San Francisco
and large homes in Palo Alto
, Alameda
, and Berkeley
.
From 1918 to 1919, Coxhead went to LeMans, France
, to organize and direct the American Expeditionary Force
's University School of Architecture, established by John Galen Howard
, for members of the United States armed forces stationed in France. He was subsequently appointed Chief of the University Extension Field Work of the Fine Arts Department at the University School of Architecture in Beaune, France
.
Coxhead returned to the United States and lived in Berkeley until his death in 1933. A collection of his work can be found in the Environmental Design Archives at the College of Environmental Design, University of California, Berkeley
.
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
and the Architectural Association School of Architecture
Architectural Association School of Architecture
The Architectural Association School of Architecture, more usually known as the AA, is an architectural school in London, United Kingdom...
, both in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
where he was the semi-official architect for the Episcopal Church
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
. At the beginning of his career, Ernest Coxhead focused on designing churches, primarily in the Gothic Revival style. After the mid 1890s, Coxhead focused on residential designs. He was involved in the emergence of the Arts and Crafts
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
style in California. He succeeded in designing residences that incorporated the elements and character of the English country house - shingled, Arts & Crafts style English Vernacular Cottages that combined elements from different periods for dramatic effect.
Early life
Ernest Albert Coxhead was born in EastbourneEastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
, East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
, the fourth of six children of William Coxhead, a retired schoolmaster. At the age of 15 Ernest became articled to civil engineer George Wallis. After five years experience in both public projects and residential developments, in 1883 Coxhead left Eastbourne for London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In London he worked for architect Frederic Chancellor, who restored gothic churches.
Los Angeles
Coxhead moved with his older brother, Almeric Coxhead (1862–1928), to Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
in 1886, where he established an independent practice, and soon secured commissions to design several Episcopal Churches in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
.
San Francisco
Coxhead's success with these projects led to commissions for half a dozen more churches in Northern California. He moved to San FranciscoSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
and openned the Coxhead and Coxhead office in 1890, with Almeric as his business partner. Seventeen Coxhead church buildings were constructed - of which eleven are extant. In 1893 his Episcopal Church client, Bishop William Kip
William Ingraham Kip
William Ingraham Kip was an American Protestant Episcopal bishop.-Early life:Kip was born in New York City, of Breton ancestry, the son of Leonard Kip and Maria Kip. He graduated at Yale in 1831. After briefly studying law, Kip turned to a clerical calling and graduated from the General...
, died and Coxhead started to concentrate on residential work. His residences include townhouses in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
and large homes in Palo Alto
Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto is a California charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. The city shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is...
, Alameda
Alameda, California
Alameda is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is located on Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island, and is adjacent to Oakland in the San Francisco Bay. The Bay Farm Island portion of the city is adjacent to the Oakland International Airport. At the 2010 census, the city had a...
, and Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
.
From 1918 to 1919, Coxhead went to LeMans, France
Le Mans
Le Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.Its inhabitants are called Manceaux...
, to organize and direct the American Expeditionary Force
American Expeditionary Force
The American Expeditionary Forces or AEF were the United States Armed Forces sent to Europe in World War I. During the United States campaigns in World War I the AEF fought in France alongside British and French allied forces in the last year of the war, against Imperial German forces...
's University School of Architecture, established by John Galen Howard
John Galen Howard
John Galen Howard was an American architect.He is best known for his work as the supervising architect of the Master Plan for the University of California, Berkeley campus, and for founding the University of California's architecture program...
, for members of the United States armed forces stationed in France. He was subsequently appointed Chief of the University Extension Field Work of the Fine Arts Department at the University School of Architecture in Beaune, France
Beaune
Beaune is the wine capital of Burgundy in the Cote d'Or department in eastern France. It is located between Paris and Geneva.Beaune is one of the key wine centers in France and the annual wine auction of the Hospices de Beaune is the primary wine auction in France...
.
Coxhead returned to the United States and lived in Berkeley until his death in 1933. A collection of his work can be found in the Environmental Design Archives at the College of Environmental Design, University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
.
Residential
- Inverness house
- 2710 Scott, San Francisco (1893)
- 2940 Jackson, San Francisco (1894)
- 2600 Jackson, San Francisco (1895)
- 2511 Baker, San Francisco (1895)
- 3362 Clay, San Francisco (1896)
- 2700 Scott, San Francisco (1897)
- 2800 Pacific, San Francisco (1899)
- 3647 Washington, San Francisco (1900)
- 3232 & 3234 Pacific, San Francisco (1901)
- Rieber House, Berkeley (1904)
- Coxhead House 37 East Santa Inez Avenue, San Mateo. Now operated as a Bread & Breakfast Inn, the home was actually occupied by Coxhead from 1891 to 1924. www.coxhead.com
- Williams House
Commercial / Public
- Cedar Gables Inn in Napa County
- Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Building, San Francisco (1908)
- Public library at 1801 Green Street, San Francisco
- Prayer Book Cross in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Churches
- Episcopal Church of the Messiah, Santa Ana (1889)
- Holy Innocents Episcopal Church, San Francisco
- Foothills Congregational Church, Los Altos
- Peter's Episcopal Church, Red Bluff
- Chapel of St John the Evangelist, Monterey (1891) "St John's Chapel is 'one of the great Shingle Style buildings in California, and it is unquestionably one of the most enticing of Earnest Coxhead's churches' (David Gebhard, Guide to Architecture in San Francisco and Northern California, Gibbs Smith Publishers, 1986)."
- All Saints Episcopal Church, Pasadena (1889, demolished 1924)
- Sausalito Presbyterian Church, Sausalito, CA (completed 1909)