Comments on: James Fowler ~ Church Restorer & Mayor of Louth

Comment on James Fowler ~ Church Restorer & Mayor of Louth by: Rod

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:24:24 +0000

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

Comment on James Fowler ~ Church Restorer & Mayor of Louth by: John Wickstead

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 07:55:38 +0000

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.

Comment on James Fowler ~ Church Restorer & Mayor of Louth by: Rod

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:49:36 +0000

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

Comment on James Fowler ~ Church Restorer & Mayor of Louth by: Amiguru

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:35:57 +0000

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

Comment on James Fowler ~ Church Restorer & Mayor of Louth by: Rod

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 19:00:50 +0000

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

Comment on James Fowler ~ Church Restorer & Mayor of Louth by: Peter Mullins

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:54:47 +0000

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.

Comment on James Fowler ~ Church Restorer & Mayor of Louth by: Rod

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:23:13 +0000

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

Comment on James Fowler ~ Church Restorer & Mayor of Louth by: Amiguru

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:03:27 +0000

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

Comment on James Fowler ~ Church Restorer & Mayor of Louth by: Rod

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:09:43 +0000

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

Comment on James Fowler ~ Church Restorer & Mayor of Louth by: Peter Mullins

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:23:32 +0000

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.