Name

James Caldwell Prestwich

Designation
Architect
Born
1852
Place of Birth
Atherton
Location
Leigh
Died
1940

  • Born  : 24 March 1852 at Atherton, Lancashire
  • Married  : 1880 at Chippenham, Wiltshire, Georgina Matilda Slade (b. 1854 West Kington, Collerne, Wiltshire. Died 1934)
  • Died  : 24 February 1940 at Leigh
  • Buried : Leigh Cemetery.

Born at Atherton on 24 March 1852, James Caldwell Prestwich was the youngest son of J C Prestwich. After attending Leigh and Nantwich Grammar Schools, he was articled to Rowland Plumbe, FRIBA., Fitzroy Square, London, W. while also studying at the London Architectural Association classes, and under R. Phene Spiers, Master of the Royal Academy Architectural School. In 1874-1875 he was assistant in the office of Innocent and Brown of Sheffield and about this time travelled in France and Belgium.

James Caldwell Prestwich commenced practice in Leigh in 1875, continuing to practice there until his retirement in 1939. He was a Fellow of the Manchester Society of Architects and Fellow of the RIBA. His works in Leigh include the Central Buildings (Quality House) Bradshawgate, for the Leigh Friendly Co-operative Society; Leigh Technical School and Library, Leigh Town Hall, Leigh Infirmary, Leigh Public Baths, Leigh Union workhouse hospital, numerous shop and business premises on central streets and houses on St Helens Road and Hand Lane. Beyond Leigh he designed the Public Baths of Stockport and Ashton-in-Makerfield (as well as schemes for baths at Swinton and Gloucester), schools in Southport, Birkdale, Atherton and Hindley; Atherton Town Hall, hotels in Blackpool, Southport, Salford and Atherton and houses in Southport, Wigan and Surbiton. He became a Licentiate of the RIBA in 1911 proposed by Isaac Taylor and the Manchester Society of Architects. He was in partnership with his sons, Harold Oswald Prestwich (1881-1952) from 1907 and Ernest Prestwich (1889-1977) from about 1922. Percy Thomas was an assistant.

 

Buildings and Designs

Building Name District Town/City County Country
Leigh Bazaar Railway Road/ Cook Street   Leigh  GMCA  England
School and Minister’s House. Atherton   Atherton  GMCA  England
Theatre Royal, Silk Street, Leigh   Leigh  GMCA  England
Public Baths: Stockport   Stockport  GMCA  England
Extensive Additions:: Albion Foundry Leigh   Leigh  GMCA  England
Liberal Club. Atherton   Atherton  GMCA  England
Leigh Technical School (former) and Public Library: Railway Road Leigh   Leigh  GMCA  England
Sportsman Inn, Firs Lane, Leigh   Leigh  GMCA  England
Atherton Council Offices: Bolton New Road Atherton   Atherton  GMCA  England
New Central Premises, Leigh (Arcitectural Competition)   Leigh  GMCA  England
Two pairs of gabled shops Bradshawgate Leigh   Leigh  GMCA  England
Leigh Friendly Cooperative Society Central Premises   Leigh  GMCA  England
Warehouse for Harrison M'Gregor & Company. Albion Ironworks, Leigh   Leigh  GMCA  England
White Horse Hotel, Railway Road, Leigh   Leigh  GMCA  England
14-18 Bradshawgate Leigh   Leigh  GMCA  England
Leigh Infirmary   Leigh  GMCA  England
Shops Market Hall and Municipal Offices Market Street Leigh   Leigh  GMCA  England
Council School Windermere Road (Windermere Street?) Leigh   Leigh  GMCA  England
Receiving Wards at Workhouse Leigh   Leigh  GMCA  England
Rebuilding Royal Hotel Tatton Street and Phoebe Street Salford Ordsall  Salford  GMCA  England
Rebuilding: Rope and Anchor Hotel, Bradshawgate, Leigh Leigh  Wigan  GMCA  England

Partnerships

Name Designation Formed Dissolved Location
Prestwich and Son Architectural practice 1907 1912 Leigh
Prestwich and Sons Architectural practice 1912 1965 Leigh