Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

English 'landscape engineer', who worked as an assistant to JOSEPH PAXTON JOSEPH PAXTON . During the 1860s, Howe produced designs for five gardens in Ireland: at Straffan, Co. Kildare, at Lyrath, Co. Kilkenny, at Temple House, Co. Sligo, at Powerscourt, Co. Wicklow and at Castle Leslie, Co. Monaghan. According to Lamb and Bowe, 'All of his designs are marked by vigorous scroll-work patterns emphasised by panels of coloured gravels in a manner which was typical of the high Victorian style in England, but the gorgeousness of which was eschewed by Ninian Niven and the Irish designers of the same period.' A heavy drinker, Howe succumbed to delirium tremens while he was working at Castle Leslie. He was sent back to England and died shortly afterwards at his home in Sydenham.

See WORKS.



References

All information in this entry is from Keith Lamb & Patrick Bowe, A History of gardening in Ireland (1995), 128.


5 work entries listed in chronological order for HOWE, JAMES #


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Building: CO. SLIGO, TEMPLE HOUSE
Date: 1862
Nature: Designs garden improvements, parterre for Alexander Perceval.
Refs: Drawing, s. & d. 3 Dec 1862 at Temple House; Keith Lamb & Patrick Bowe, A History of gardening in Ireland (1995), 128

Building: CO. KILKENNY, LYRATH
Date: 1863
Nature: Grounds designed by JH for Sir Charles Cuffe. Nelson attributes design to Nesfield, whose name is written in pencil on the back of drawing signed by Howe.
Refs: Drawing, s. & d. May 1863, in National Botanic Gardens, Dublin (IAA neg. C4/677); DB 5, 15 Apr 1863, 69; E.C. Nelson, 'A Nesfield plan for Lyrath', Garden History 13 (1985), 156-159; Keith Lamb & Patrick Bowe, A History of gardening in Ireland (1995), 128,222 (note 97)

Building: CO. KILDARE, STRAFFAN HOUSE
Date: 1863a
Nature: Designs parterre in front of house for Hugh Barton.
Refs: Gardeners' Chronicle 1863, p. 167, cited by Keith Lamb & Patrick Bowe, A History of gardening in Ireland (1995), 128.

Building: CO. MONAGHAN, CASTLE LESLIE (GLASLOUGH)
Date: 1866
Nature: Garden improvements, for Col Charles Leslie.
Refs: Leslie MSS (PRONI microfilm MIC.606/G/2/6A); Keith Lamb & Patrick Bowe, A History of gardening in Ireland (1995), 128

Building: CO. WICKLOW, POWERSCOURT
Date: 1866
Nature: Proposal for terraces for 7th Viscount Powerscourt.
Refs: Drawing, signed and dated March 1866, in IAA, Powerscourt Album 1/51/1; Keith Lamb & Patrick Bowe, A History of gardening in Ireland (1995), 128