James Demaine

• Birth date            1842
• Christening         22 January 1843 at Bolton Abbey
• Marriage              April 1891 to Rosalie Agnes Leonard (widow) at York
• Death date          6 May 1911 at York

Surprisingly little is known of this architect, who, despite his associations with the practice established by John Carr of York, failed to warrant an entry in the Dictionary of British Architects. Dates given in various sources vary and must be treated with caution. The only known work in Greater Manchester by James Demaine, (carried out in association with Connon of Leeds) was the church of St Mark at Bury in 1882-1883. Reasons for their appointment are unknown.

Born at Bolton Abbey near Skipton, Yorkshire, in 1842 James Demaine was the son of James Demaine senior, a gardener/ farmer and his wife Emma. By the time of the 1861 census the family were living at Acomb on the western outskirts of York, with James’s occupation given an architect’s pupil. It is said that he was trained in the Gothic school but no further details have been found.

In 1870 he joined the long-established practice founded by John Carr and Peter Atkinson, then in the hands of Atkinson’s grandsons John Bonas Atkinson, and, William. Well versed in the classical traditions of the eighteenth century, increasingly the Atkinsons were obliged to meet the prevailing taste for Gothic, resulting in their decision to employ the appropriately trained James Demaine. John Bonas Atkinson died in 1874 after which William Atkinson took Demaine into partnership under the style Atkinson and Demaine.  William Atkinson retired in 1878 handing over his interest in the practice to James Demaine who then worked alone. In 1885 the practice was transformed with the arrival of the highly gifted Walter Henry Brierly,(qv) the name of the practice becoming Demaine and Brierly. The practice style continued after the supposed retirement of James Demaine in 1889. Note that the York Directory of 1901 contains entries for Demaine and Brierly, architects and J Demaine diocesan surveyor, both at 13 Lendal, York.

James Demaine married in early April 1891 at York. His wife, Rosalie Agnes Leonard, was a widow with four children. The 1891 census, taken on 5 April 1891, only days after their marriage, indicates that they honeymooned at the Hotel Metropole in central London.

James Demaine of Thornby Lodge St. Peter's Grove York died on 6 May 1911. He was survived by his wife who died on 27 September 1918.

Address
1874        13 Micklegate, York
1885        James Demaine, architect, diocesan surveyor, agent for Royal Exchange Insurance Company. 22 Micklegate, York. (York Directory)
1895        Demaine and Brierley 9 Lendal, York (White’s Directory of York)
1901        Demaine and Brierley 13 Lendal, York
1901        James Demaine  Diocesan surveyor, 13 Lendal, York

Residence
1861        Acomb Hall, Great Ouseburn, Yorkshire
1881        Micklegate, York (in lodgings – Elizabeth Atkinson)
1885        86 Micklegate York
1895        15 Grosvenor Terrace (Bootham) York (White’s Directory of York)
1911        Thornby Lodge St. Peter's Grove York.

Reference     The Yorkshire Archaeological Journal Volume 29 1929 page 123-128