James Jerman was born was born in Exeter, Devon, England in 1848 and was the son of a master builder also called James Jerman. He was articled to Edward Ashworth (1814-1896) from 1867 and remained with him as his assistant until 1872. He also attended University College, Exeter. He then worked as Clerk of Works to Exeter School Board and County Justices. He commenced independent practice as an architect in Exeter in 1875. He was Architect and Surveyor to Exeter Freemasons’ Hall Company; official architect to Sir Stafford Northcote, later the Earl of Iddesleigh; and Treasurer of the Exeter Diocesan Architectural and Archaeological Society. In the early 1920s.he was in partnership with T. R. Radford as Jerman & Radford.
Jerman was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1876 and a Fellow of the Royal institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1887. He was also a member of the Devon and Exeter Architectural Society and its President in 1894-95
His address was given as 19 Queen Street, Exeter, Devon in 1876; 4 New Buildings, Gandy Street, Exeter in 1877; 33 Paul Street, Exeter, Devon in 1883 and 1887; and 1, Bedford Circus, Exeter, Devon in 1914 and 1923. He died in Exeter, Devon on 21 September 1925.
Architectural projects by Jerman included alterations to Exeter Baths and Washhouses (1875); four houses and other buildings in Northernhay Street, Exeter (1877); a gardener's house at Pynes, Exeter (1877); three cottages at Stevenstone, Upton Pynes (1878); alterations tothe North-east wing at Pynes’ for Sir Stafford Northcote (1879); two semi-detached houses at Upton Pyne, (1881); additions at Staplake Mount, Starcross for Mr Henry Drew (1883); alterations at Barnfield House for the Exeter Literary Society (1885); altering and enlarging Powhays Mills, Bonhay Road, Exeter (1885); additions to a residence and a new ‘chemical laboratory’ at All Hallows School, Honiton (1886); a new school premises at Pennsylvania Road for the Exeter Episcopal Trust (1888); the Masonic Hall in Sidmouth, Devon (1889); repairs and additions to St Paul’s Place , Exeter (1890); twelve houses in Exeter for the West of England Institute for the Blind (1891); a temporary building’ to be used as a ‘Reception Hall on the occasion of the Prime Minister’s visit to Exeter in 1892 (1891); additional classrooms and other work at the National Schools in Honiton, Devon (1893); a gymnasium at the Institute for the Blind at St David’s Hill, Exeter (1894); additions to the infants School’ for St Sidwell’s Parochial Schools in Exeter (1894); new school buildings for boys at Paradise Place, Exeter (1895); a classroom’, for Thorverton National Schools (1895); Sidmouth Drill Hall (1895); alterations at the Episcopal Schools (1899); the rebuilding of a shop and residence at 29 Paris Street, Exeter (1899); extension of the College Hostel Vineyard at Castle Street, Exeter (1901); Episcopal Schools work (1910); extension of the Episcopal Modern School for Girls at Pennsylvania, Gloucestershire (1912); new wing at the Royal West of England Institute for the Deaf and Dumb (1913); and Manual Instruction Centre at the Newtown Boys’ School in Exeter (1914).
Other projects by Jarman [dates not known] include Dental Hospital, Exeter; University College hostel for Women, Exeter; and Gidleigh Rectory, Devon.
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001