James Fowler (architect)


James Fowler JP, FRIBA, known as 'Fowler of Louth', is best known as a Victorian English church architect and associated with the restoration and renovation of churches. However, he was also the architect of a wide variety of other buildings. A listing of his work compiled in 1991 traced over 210 buildings that he designed or restored. He is known to be the architect for 24 new churches and his work also included 40 vicarages or rectories, 13 schools, four almshouses, a Savings Bank, a convalescent home and hospital as well as country houses and estate housing. Most of Fowler’s work was in Lincolnshire and particularly around Louth, but it also included work in the East Riding of Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Suffolk, London, Sussex and even Devon.

Career and architectural practice

Fowler was born in Lichfield. He was a pupil of Lichfield architect Joseph Potter junior. At Louth he was initially in partnership with Joseph Maughan, a surveyor and lithographer in Grimsby. The partnership lasted from 1851 until June 1859..On dissolution it was agreed that the Surveying Department will hereafter be conducted by Mr. Maughan, and the Architectural Department by Mr. Fowler, at their usual places of business in both towns. Fowler had probably continued the practice of Charles John Carter, a Louth architect and surveyor, who had died in 1851. Fowler was elected FRIBA in 1864. Amongst his pupils was Ernest William Farebrother, an architect who worked in Grimsby. He was a Surveyor for the Diocese of Lincoln between 1871 and 1886, and was for five terms the mayor of Louth. The Grimsby architect John James Cresswell worked as an articled assistant and then principal assistant to Fowler between 1877-84.

Works

Domestic buildings

Houses

New or completely rebuilt churches, arranged by date of construction

Renovated and partially rebuilt churches