John Gould Irwin

John Gould Irwin was born in Manchester in 1804, the elder son of John Irwin and Mary Sterndale (nee Gould ), and was baptised on 26 December 1804 in St Ann's Church in Manchester. He was trained as a land surveyor, probably by Benson and Royle in their office at 23 Charlotte Street. Thomas Royle was initially listed in the Directories as a land surveyor but by 1829 had added the title of architect.

Irwin enjoyed a particularly close relationship with Thomas Royle(qv) who was one of the witnesses to his wedding to Hannah Whitehead at Manchester Cathedral in 1826. During 1828, Thomas Royle took him into partnership but this partnership can have been in existence for little more than a year when Royle died.  John Gould Irwin is included in the “additions and amendments” to the 1830 Directory, the address given being formerly that of Thomas Royle. He was twice married. He married Hannah Whitehead on 23 February 1826 in Manchester Collegiate Church, and they had five children. He married secondly Amelia Lowe on 12 December 1837, and they had a son.

J D Gould was also in partnership with his brother Richard under the name of R Irwin and Company, Dealers in Water-Proof Fabrics, with premises in Piccadilly. Although this partnership was dissolved in 1841 both men were caught up in bankruptcy proceedings the following year and for a time, J D Gould was held in the debtors ‘prison at Chester Castle. The bankruptcy ruined his business reputation and significantly damaged his architectural career.

Address
1828-30: Royle & Irwin, architects etc. 23 Charlotte-street
1830: John Gould Irwin. architect, surveyor etc. 26 Fountain Street  (listed under new firms, alterations etc.)
1834: John Gould Irwin, architect Charlotte Street (Pigots Lanc & Ches Commercial)
1841: John Gould Irwin, architect and surveyor. 83, Fountain Street Manchester
1851: John Gould Irwin, architect (Irwin & Chester). 69 Fountain-street
1854-1865 5: John Gould Irwin, architect (Irwin & Chester). 1, Lloyd-street/Cooper-street.

Residence
1828-1830: John Irwin land surveyor. House 12, Back Lloyd-street
1839-1841: John Gould Irwin, architect and surveyor.  Residence: Ducie Lodge, Stangeways
1851: John Gould Irwin, architect (Irwin & Chester)  1, Queen's Terrace, Rusholme
1855: John Gould Irwin, architect and surveyor.  89 Rumford-street, Chorlton-on-Medlock.
1861: John Gould Irwin, architect and surveyor. Bloomsbury (part of Oxford Road, near All Saints)
1863: John Gould Irwin, architect and surveyor.  4, Derby Terrace, Stretford Road.