James Stevens

• Born                      29 October 1826, St James Street London.
• Baptism                3 December 1826 at Church of St Mary, Marylebone Road.
• Died                       February 1902

The son of Thomas Stevens and Maria, James Stevens was born on 29 October 1826 at St James Street, London. On 6 September 1849 at Prestbury near Macclesfield, James Stevens, architect and land surveyor married Maria eldest daughter of John Corns, silk manufacturer. {Manchester Guardian 12 September 1849 page 8] and by 1850 had commenced architectural practice in Macclesfield, where he would reside for the rest of his life. After a brief partnership with G B Parks, he opened another office in central Manchester.

In 1877 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects and was a past President of the Manchester Society of Architects. He enjoyed a considerable practice as an architect, surveyor and valuer in Manchester, Macclesfield and the localities around and was employed as the architect for the building of many large warehouses and business premises. In 1882 he prepared plans and designs for the complete restoration with enlargement of the chancel and north aisle together with new choir and clergy vestries at the parish church of St Michael, Macclesfield. The work was finished as far as funds permitted and the capacity was increased to 900 sittings in 1892. Mr Stevens was also appointed as architect at Macclesfield for the erection for the Town Council of the Technical Schools on the site of the Useful Knowledge Society's premises at Park Green in February 1898, the enlargement with a new front and a new Council Chamber (1869-70) of the Town Hall (originally built in 1823-24 after Francis Goodwin’s designs). Other works included the Militia Barracks in the Crompton-road (1858-59) for which he made the plans and designs after the Gothic style, in conjunction with Mr Pownall of London; the Chadwick Free Library, Park Green (1868-80), a gift to the Corporation by Mr David Chadwick MP in 1876; the School of Art, Park Green, of stone in the Gothic style, opened in June 1870; and the Infirmary near the Park (1870-72) for sixty in-patients, with quarters for the nurses’ training school. One of his last works was the Crewe Technical School.

Address
1851    Stevens and G B Park, architects, Exchange-street, Macclesfield (MG)
1855    James Stevens, 32 Princess Street, Manchester & Exchange Street Macclesfield (MG)
1902    James Stevens, 88 Mosley Street, Manchester and Macclesfield

Residence
1851    James Stevens architect, Exchange-street, Macclesfield (census)
1881    James Stevens FRIBA, Lime Tree House, Macclesfield
1896    James Stevens FRIBA 173 Chester Road Macclesfield (Kelly Cheshire )