James Fowler ~ Church Restorer & Mayor of Louth
Restored in 18.. by James Fowler of Louth
That’s a phrase I’ve come across time and time again, the name James Fowler has become synonymous with churches in Lincolnshire so it’s about time I took a look at the history behind the name.
The ubiquitous James Fowler was born in 1828 and first surprise . . not in Lincolnshire but Staffordshire. It was in his home town of Lichfield that he was educated and began his training to become an architect - eventually moving to Louth in Lincolnshire.
It was here he worked on several projects as well as going into partnership with another local architect. Eventually he went on his own and hung his plaque outside 102 Upgate.
Subsequently, he also lived in Gospelgate before moving into Grove House in Westgate which he designed himself and still stands today.
He married, had three children and nurtured a great interest in theological studies. Possibly it was this interest in the study of the history of Christian religion and the church that lead to his appointment as a church surveyor and eventually to all those restored churches we keep coming across in Lincolnshire.
It would be interesting to know just how this position affected the work he did or on what basis he did some of his work.
Sixhills Church Rebuilt in 1869 by James Fowler in the Early English Style
I’ve found myself defending him in the past when the quality of his work has been called into question by various commentators. I feel these occasional comments are unfair as we do not necessarily know the context in which the work was carried out.
Clearly he has overseen some excellent work, the picture above is proof positive of that, and likewise some work is noted as quite the opposite. My opinion / guess would be much of it was budget related. His work seems to have ranged from small additions such as entrances to full restorations and rebuilds - I imagine he did the best he could with the money available for the particular job.
There’s an obvious difference is the patronage enjoyed by some churches in Lincolnshire so I’ve no doubt this bias showed itself when the collection plate was rattled for the restoration fund !
You’d be forgiven for thinking he only worked on churches given the number of buildings he’s associated with but he did find time to work some schools, including De Aston in Market Rasen not to mention being involved in Grimsby’s Town Hall as well as many other building and design projects.
Talk of Town Halls brings us to the other aspect of his life - he was Mayor of Louth no fewer than 5 times !
He must have been well thought of locally as he became mayor relatively early in his Council career and his record of longevity in the elected post remains unrivalled.
Testament to this comes from David Kaye who says that on his death in 1892 (aged only 63 and four days after Alfred Tennyson) he was ‘greatly mourned’ and many of the townsfolk lined the streets of Louth as his funeral procession made its way to St James’ church, where he was a church warden incidentally.
You can see plenty of examples of his work still standing and many of the churches he’s worked on have been visited and recorded by myself. I should very much like to get a picture of the man to illustrate this brief biography but I cannot find one though there is one in Louth Town Hall I believe - any help in that area would be appreciated.
If you know any more about James Fowler of Louth then please do leave a comment - likewise if you’ve any opinions on his work or have visited any of ‘his’ churches.
Restoratively Yours
Rod
Peter Mullins said,
June 15, 2010 @ 5:23 pm
I’m not sure it is so much the quality of his work which people call into question as the way in which it (and the volume of it) wiped out what was there before - a Victorian standardising rather than true restoration in church after church across the county. How much more interesting St Nicolas, Great Coates looks in the eighteenth century Natters print (with porch and clerestory) than it does now because Fowler got at it - and I guess that this is even more so indside. Canon John Wickstead of Holbeach is the one I know who has done research on Fowler and may well be able to provide you with his sabbatical study and/or reading list.
Rod said,
June 15, 2010 @ 8:09 pm
Peter,
I agree with what has been lost but that’s a tricky one as we today look at these things as we’d want them now rather than as people saw them in the day.
History is littered with things undervalued at the time so consequently lost/allowed to go which becomes a matter of regret for later generations.
My point about the work was the quality really as some is genuinely bad and clearly a bodge job with presumably limited funds. I thought it unfair that his work has been questioned at these times.
Best
Rod
Amiguru said,
June 16, 2010 @ 12:03 pm
Rod,
When I was up in Lincs last August, my sister and I had a half day in Louth and after enjoying an absolutely scrumptious and healthy ostrichburger on the market we visited the town museum. A charming little museum with, as is often the case, some amazing surprises.
The point of my literary excursion is to suggest making enquiries there regarding portraits of Fowler. Apart from the portrait in the town hall I expect you are aware that there is a relief portrait in St. James church.
Regards,
Neville
Rod said,
June 16, 2010 @ 5:23 pm
Neville,
I’ve seen a picture of a plaque which I’m now guessing is the one you mention.
Next time I’m near Louth I’ll swing by and try to get pics of both
Ostricburgers . . . whatever next
Best
Rod
Peter Mullins said,
June 16, 2010 @ 7:54 pm
I take both points: historic judgements are always ambiguous; Fowler was often doing his Victorian best with limited funds. Nevertheless I cannot tell you how much my heart sinks when I hear the words ‘restored by Fowler’.
The meat for the burgers probably comes from the Ostrich Farm near Revesby; I’ve bought seriously big eggs from there and meat from there at Farmers’ Markets.
Rod said,
June 16, 2010 @ 8:00 pm
Peter,
I with you all the way there, the heritage lost is enough to make you cry - quite literally.
The worst thing is we haven’t leant a thing, we only value what’s gone - look at things like the WWII HAAites I’ve visited - nobody really cares about them or looks after them - one day they’ll be ancient history too.
I dread to think what’s been lost in the name of ‘progress’
Cheers
Rod
Amiguru said,
June 17, 2010 @ 5:35 pm
Rod,
I don’t wish to be judgemental about Fowler as I have seen little, knowingly, of his work. Just out of interest here is something Ihave just come across of a contemporary assessment by an obviously besotted admirer in The Lincoln Architectural Society’s Report for 1887. The Society had had a day trip which included St. Swithin’s Church, Lincoln:
“The whole design of this steeple has been evidently thought out very carefully by Mr. Fowler, who may be congratulated
on having produced a work of such rare excellence. From his long residence at Louth, in daily view of what Sir Charles
Anderson has justly termed ” the finest pyramid in England, except the Queen of Spires at Salisbury,” Mr. Fowler has drunk in a sense of form and proportion which is far from being as common as might be wished in modern architects.”
Regards,
Neville
Rod said,
June 17, 2010 @ 7:49 pm
Neville,
I think that illustrates my point about contemporaneous thought.
Look at Sixhills church in the original article. That’s a nice solid well crafted piece of work by him both architecturally and build quality.
We may lament the loss of the medieval building but I wonder whether most of those directly involved were pleased to see the back of an old crumbling and badly built church for example - I’m sure that was often the thought process.
Best
Rod
John Wickstead said,
July 27, 2010 @ 8:55 am
John Wickstead’s research was on Charles Hodgson Fowler of Durham - an architect whose work he considers to be far superior to that of Fowler of Louth. For proof, simply compare St. Swithin’s Lincoln with its neighbour, All Saints, Monks Road.
James Fowler was a “restorer” of churches - i.e. he was of that generation which was quite prepared to knock out a good Perpendicular window and replace it with an Early English lancet, if he thought that is what might “originally” have been there. Hodgson Fowler decried such practices, and instead of “restoration” preferred to talk about “reparation.” This year (2010) sees the centenery of his death.
Rod said,
July 27, 2010 @ 11:24 am
Hi John,
thanks for the comment and welcome to the site - hope you’ll return.
I was a little confused by it at first but eventually fouind it referred to Peter’s comment.
I’m sure many would have wished to see more of Hodgson in Lincolnshire than James !
All the best
Rod