Ernest Albert Coxhead (1863–1933) was an English-born architect, active in the United States. 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 and Crafts style English Vernacular Cottages that combined elements from different periods for dramatic effect.Robert Winter (1997) Toward a Simpler Way of Life, The Arts & Crafts Architects of California University of California Press.
Early life Ernest Albert Coxhead was born in Eastbourne, 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.
Los Angeles
Coxhead moved with his older brother, Almeric William Sylvester Coxhead (1862–1928), to Los Angeles, California in 1886, where he established an independent practice, and soon secured commissions to design several Episcopal Churches in Southern California.
San Francisco
Coxhead's success with these projects led to commissions for several more churches in Northern California. He moved to San Francisco and opened 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. Richard Longstreth (1998) On the Edge of the World: Four Architects in San Francisco at the Turn of the Century University of California Press.
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.Ernest Coxhead
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.
Selected buildings
Residential +Residential by CoxheadYearAddressNameNotes189011 La Linda Drive, Los Cerritos, Long Beach, CaliforniaBixby Ranch House2421 Green Street, San Francisco, CaliforniaCoxhead HouseThis home was occupied by Coxhead, his wife and three children from 1893 to 1903.189296 Park, San Anselmo, Californiac. 1892486 Coombs Street, Napa, CaliforniaChurchill House (now Cedar Gables Inn)c. 189337 East Santa Inez Avenue, San Mateo, CaliforniaErnest Coxhead HouseThis home was occupied by Coxhead as a country residence, from c. 1893 to 1924; followed by ownership by Arthur Upham Pope and Phyllis Ackerman, from 1924 to 1943. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in San Mateo County, since April 6, 2000.18932431 Ellsworth, Berkeley, CaliforniaLoy-Chamberlain House18932607 Hearst Avenue, Berkeley, California Goldman School of Public Policy18932710 Scott, San Francisco, California 18942940 Jackson, San Francisco, California 18952600 Jackson, San Francisco, California18952511 Baker, San Francisco, California18963362 Clay, San Francisco, California18972700 Scott, San Francisco, California18992800 Pacific, San Francisco, California19003647 Washington, San Francisco, California19013232 & 3234 Pacific, San Francisco, California19022535 Laguna, San Francisco, California19031777 Le Roy Avenue, Berkeley, CaliforniaAllanoke ManorListed as a City of Berkeley Landmark in November, 1986.190415 Canyon Road, Berkeley, CaliforniaRieber House1906160 Prospect Avenue, San Anselmo, Californiac. 19061 Canyon Road, Berkeley, CaliforniaTorrey House1907351 Homer Avenue, Palo Alto, CaliforniaWilliams House76 Codornices Road, Berkeley, California192911 Southgate Drive, Woodside, California
Commercial and public +Commercial and Public Buildings by CoxheadYearNameAddressNotes1906Spanish–American War Soldier's MonumentPortland, Oregon 1908Pacific Telephone & Telegraph BuildingSan Francisco, California1918Carnegie Library Golden Gate Valley1801 Green Street, San Francisco, CaliforniaPrayer Book CrossGolden Gate Park, San Francisco, California
Churches +Churches by CoxheadYearNameAddressNotes1887Church of the EpiphanyLos Angeles, California1888Episcopal Church of the AscensionSierra Madre, California1889Episcopal Church of the MessiahSanta Ana, California1890Holy Innocents Episcopal ChurchSan Francisco, California1891Chapel of St. John the EvangelistMonterey, California1891St. John's Episcopal ChurchPetaluma, California1891St. Peter's Episcopal ChurchRed Bluff, California1905Sausalito Presbyterian ChurchSausalito, California1914Christ Episcopal ChurchLos Altos, CaliforniaPresently known as Foothills Congregational Church.
References
External links Finding aid to the Ernest Coxhead Collection Collection at the Environmental Design Archives, University of California, Berkeley Description of 53 extant Bay Area buildings by Coxhead (Bay Area Architecture and Public Art Documentation Project)