Name

John Lowe

Designation
architect
Born
1828
Place of Birth
Manchester
Location
Manchester
Died
1920

  • Born: January 1828
  • Died: 26 January 1920 

Born in January 1828 in the reign of George the Fourth, John Lowe died in January 1920 within four days of his ninety-second birthday, in the reign of George the Fifth. Born two years before the first railway was opened, he lived to see aeroplanes a recognised means of transit. John Lowe, architect (for this he prided in calling himself), was born in Chorlton-upon-Medlock, and save for a short period in early professional life he lived and worked in his native Manchester. [Manchester City News. 7 February 1920; obituary]

John Lowe was one of Manchester’s most prolific church architects during the second half of the nineteenth century. It has been perhaps his misfortune that so many of his commissions were for churches, chapels, parsonage houses and schools in the densely populated inner-city areas of Ancoats, Ardwick, Collyhurst and Chorlton-on-Medlock: areas which were subject to the wholesale slum clearances and parish rationalisations of the 1960s and 1970s. It is a sad truth that architectural merit is often of little importance in determining the survival or otherwise of church buildings. Architecture is a non-transportable art form. Buildings rise and fall in the place ascribed to them, their fate ultimately determined by economic and demographic factors. Although John Lowe “never soared into the troublous regions of aesthetic architecture, he was eminently matter-of-fact and practical. It was said that his estimates were invariably reliable; that his work was thoroughly sound.” Notwithstanding this assessment, a number of his surviving buildings are now listed. He was articled to Richard Lane in whose office both Alfred Waterhouse RA and the Popplewell Pullan FRIBA were contemporary pupils. After acting as an assistant in various offices he commenced independent practice at St Ann Street in Manchester about 1851. In 1860 John Lowe married Caroline, the youngest daughter of John Lees of Newton Solney, Staffordshire, and thus became brother-in-law to Archdeacon Birch, to John Medcalf, head of the old firm of Medcalf, Musgrave and Company., to John Robinson of the Atlas Works, and afterwards of Westwood Hall, Leek, and to the Rev. William Doyle, of St Stephen’s, Chorlton-on-Medlock, and afterwards of the Stowell Memorial Church, Salford. These family connections would prove invaluable in his later professional career. Early in the 1860’s the rebuilding of the old Manchester Exchange was contemplated and no fewer than fifty-three architects from all parts of the country competed for the work. The drawings were on view in the Exhibition Room of the Old Exchange, and were inspected by more than 8,000 persons. The first and second premiums were awarded to Mills and Murgatroyd of Manchester, and the third premium of one hundred guineas to John Lowe. All the premiated designs were in the Italian style, but a Gothic design, submitted by Alfred Waterhouse found many admirers, and was secured from him by the promoters of a rival scheme intended to be located elsewhere. During his career John Lowe entered a number of architectural competitions including Ellesmere Memorial Worsley (2nd); Manchester Exchange, (3rd); Manchester Abattoir, (unplaced); Baths and Wash-Houses, New Islington, Manchester (3rd); Bootle Town Hall (2nd); Board School in Moss Side (2nd). The Town Hall at Eccles was his only success. On 3 November 1873 he was elected a Fellow of the RIBA., proposed by Edward Salomons, Alfred Waterhouse, and Thomas Worthington.By 1881 John Lowe was employing 5 clerks and 3 pupils, his major clients including J Robinson, JP, Westwood Hall, Leek; E P Stewart, London (£22,000); Rev. Canon Birch, Prestwich, Manchester; Ven. Archdeacon Birch, Blackburne; Mr J W MacClure, JP, Manchester; Manchester Carriage Company; Phoenix Fire and Life Office, Manchester.

John Lowe died on 26 January 1920 at his residence, Briarfield, Priory Road, Sale, within a few days of his 92nd birthday and was interred at St. Saviour's Church, Chorlton-on-Medlock on Friday 30 January 1920.

Buildings and Designs

Building Name District Town/City County Country
Two Houses and other Premises, Alderley   Alderley Edge  Cheshire  England
St Stephen’s Church Chorlton-on-Medlock Chorlton-on-Medlock  Manchester  GMCA  England
Rectory and Schools: St Stephen’s Church Chorlton-on-Medlock Chorlton-on-Medlock  Manchester  GMCA  England
Ellesmere Memorial, Leigh Road, Worsley (Architectural Competition) Worsley  Salford  GMCA  England
St Peter & St Paul Halvergate Norfolk   Halvergate  Norfolk  England
St Luke’s Schools. Chorlton-on-Medlock Chorlton-on-Medlock  Manchester  GMCA  England
Church of St Luke, Bedford Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester Chorlton-on-Medlock  Manchester  GMCA  England
Enlargement: St Stephen’s Church, Milton Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock Chorlton-on-Medlock  Manchester  GMCA  England
Albert Memorial Church Schools. Lamb Lane, Collyhurst Collyhurst  Manchester  GMCA  England
Albert Memorial Church, Queens Road, Collyhurst Collyhurst  Manchester  GMCA  England
Alteration and Enlargement: St Paul's Church, Wilmslow Road, Withington Withington  Manchester  GMCA  England
Alterations: St Anne’s Church, Church Road and Trinity Road, Sale Sale  Trafford  GMCA  England
St Jude, Mill Street, Ancoats Ancoats  Manchester  GMCA  England
Christ Church, Thorley Lane, Timperley, Cheshire Timperley  Altrincham  GMCA  England
All Saints Church, Main Street, Staveley near Knaresborough North Yorkshire   Staveley  Yorkshire  England
Manchester Exchange (Architectural Competition)       England
Gates, gate piers and elaborate screens to Bank Hall   Chapel-en-le-Frith  Derbyshire  England
Christ Church, Liverpool Road, Patricroft Patricroft  Eccles  GMCA  England
Christ Church Schools, Nelson Street, Patricroft Patricroft  Eccles  GMCA  England
Reredos: Christ Church. Bradford Near Manchester.     GMCA  England
St. Philip's Infant School, Alderley   Alderley Edge  Cheshire  England
St Jude's Church, Gatesgill, Raughtonhead, Cumberland     Cumbria  England
Richmond Chapel Schools and Lecture Hall, Broughton Road, Salford   Salford  GMCA  England
Oak Estate near Alderley: Main Sewer   Alderley Edge  Cheshire  England
Police Station, Longsight Longsight  Manchester  GMCA  England
Police Station, Prestwich       England
Abattoir and Carcase Market, Water Street, Manchester (Competition)       England
St Andrew Winterbottom Street/Middleton Road Westhill Oldham       England
Bradford Memorial Schools Haworth Street Bradford-cum-Beswick  Manchester  GMCA  England
Albert Memorial Church Branch Schools, Sanderson Street, Miles Platting Miles Platting  Manchester  GMCA  England
St Mary’s Home for Female Penitents. 62 Dickenson Road, Rusholme Rusholme  Manchester  GMCA  England
St James Church, Bugsworth Derbyshire   Bugsworth  Derbyshire  England
Stowell Memorial Church Schools, Holland Street, Salford Weaste  Salford  GMCA  England
Reredos: Stowell Memorial Church, Eccles New Road, Salford Weaste  Salford  GMCA  England
St. Andrew's Church, Middleton Road, Werneth, Oldham Werneth  Oldham  GMCA  England
Alterations and additions to Christ Church Rectory, Salford.   Salford  GMCA  England
St James Church parsonage and schools Teignmouth Street, Collyhurst Collyhurst  Manchester  GMCA  England
Additions: St Paul’s Schools, Higher Temple Street, Manchester   Manchester  GMCA  England
St Mary’s Schools Drayton Street, Hulme   Manchester  GMCA  England
Phoenix Fire Insurance Building. Cooper Street/Lloyd Street, Manchester   Manchester  GMCA  England
North-East Tower and Spire: Church of St Oswald, Rochdale Road, Collyhurst Collyhurst  Manchester  GMCA  England
St Oswald’s Schools Forest Street, Collyhurst Collyhurst  Manchester  GMCA  England
Lever Chapel, Manchester Cathedral Central  Manchester  GMCA  England
Welsh Calvinist Methodist Chapel, Moss Lane and Lloyd Street, Moss Side   Manchester  GMCA  England
St Margaret’s Middle Schools, Great Western Street and Hulton Street, Moss Side   Manchester  GMCA  England
Church of St Andrew, St Andrew's Road, Radcliffe   Radcliffe  GMCA  England
Almshouses. Raby Street, Moss Side Moss Side  Manchester  GMCA  England
Bispham Endowed School Bispham  Blackpool  Lancashire  England
Manchester Baths and Wash Houses, New Islington, (Architectural Competition) 3 New Islington  Manchester  GMCA  England
Wesleyan School Chapel, Raby Street, Moss Side Moss Side  Manchester    England
School and Caretaker's Residence Queen Street, Bradford (Manchester) Bradford  Manchester    England
Manchester Adult Deaf & Dumb Institute, Grosvenor Road, All Saints All Saints  Manchester    England
Church School, Davyhulme Davyhulme      England
Chapel of Ease, Winton Winton  Eccles  GMCA  England
New schools and mission-room, St. John's Church, Oxford Road, Kilburn. Kilburn  London  Greater London  England
Wesleyan Schools, Blackley near Manchester Blackley  Manchester    England
Eccles Town Hall Liverpool Road, Eccles   Eccles  GMCA  England
Christ Church Schools, Patricroft. Alterations & Additions Patricroft  Eccles  GMCA  England
Board School Marlborough Road Salford (Architectural Competition)   Salford  GMCA  England
Bootle Town Hall (Architectural Competition) Bootle  Liverpool  Merseyside  England
New Schools Pinxton Derbyshire   Pinxton  Derbyshire  England
Congregational Chapel Stockport Road, Levenshulme Levenshulme  Manchester    England
Church of St Philip, St Philip’s Street, Witton, Blackburn   Blackburn  Lancashire  England
Parish Room, Newcastle Street, Hulme Hulme  Manchester  GMCA  England
Condlyffe Almshouses, Condlyffe Road, Leek   Leek  Staffordshire  England
Premises St Edward Street, Leek   Leek  Staffordshire  England
Redecoration St Mary’s Church, Hulme Hulme  Manchester  GMCA  England
New Vicarage. St Peter's Church, Bury   Bury  GMCA  England
All Hallows’ Church, All Hallows Road, Bispham, Blackpool Bispham  Blackpool  Lancashire  England
Chancel: Church of St James, Barry Street Oldham,   Oldham  GMCA  England
Minister’s House, Sale Sale  Trafford  GMCA  England
St George’s Parish Church Stalybridge   Stalybridge  GMCA  England
Friends Schools, Byrom Street, Manchester   Manchester  GMCA  England
Additions: St Anne’s Church, Sale Sale  Trafford  GMCA  England
Church of St James Princess Road, Alexandra Park, Moss Side Moss Side  Manchester  GMCA  England
Mill Street Day Industrial School, Mill Street, Ancoats Ancoats  Manchester  GMCA  England
Mission Room St James Church Moss Side Moss Side  Manchester  GMCA  England
Enlargement: St Margaret’s National Schools, Whalley Range Whalley Range  Manchester  GMCA  England
Congregational Sunday Schools, Palatine Road, Withington Withington  Manchester  GMCA  England
Church of St George: Heap Bridge, Bury Heap Bridge  Bury  GMCA  England
St Mary’s Mission Room, Cadishead Cadishead  Salford  GMCA  England
St James’s Schools, Great Western Street, Moss Side Moss Side  Manchester    England
Board School and School Board Offices, Princess Road, Moss Side (Competition) Moss Side  Manchester  GMCA  England
church of St. Philip, Griffin, Blackburn Griffin  Blackburn  Lancashire  England
Memorial Window, Blackley Parish Church Blackley  Manchester  GMCA  England
Congregational Chapel, Wilmslow   Wilmslow  Cheshire  England
Alterations: Christ Church Timperley Timperley  Altrincham  GMCA  England
St. Philip's British Workman Building, Hulme, Manchester Hulme  Manchester  GMCA  England
Private School, Withington Road, Whalley Range, Manchester. Whalley Range  Manchester  GMCA  England
Langworthy Gallery, Peel Park Museum and Library, Crescent, Salford (Architectural Competition)   Salford  GMCA  England