Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

Architect, of Dublin. John Howard Louch, who was born in 1797, was the second son of RICHARD LUCIUS LOUCH[1]  RICHARD LUCIUS LOUCH[1] and his wife Martha Collins.(1) He was articled to WILLIAM FARRELL  WILLIAM FARRELL in 1813.(1) After serving his articles, he joined the civil branch of the Royal Engineers' department and was stationed at Clonmel and Cahir in Co. Tipperary. During his time there he married Sarah Elizabeth), daughter of Maurice Fitzgibbon of Castle Grace, Co. Tipperary  According to the 'Statement of the Louch family' written by his eldest son, FITZGIBBON LOUCH FITZGIBBON LOUCH , it was after Fitzgibbon Louch's birth at Castle Grace in1826 that his father left the Royal Engineers and set up in private practice in Dublin The earliest designs by John Howard Louch which are known at present are for Howth Castle and date from 1828.(2) By 1849 he had taken Fitzgibbon Louch into his office at 78 Harcourt Street. Both John Howard Louch and Fitzgibbon Louch joined the RIAI at the beginning of 1853, but John Louch's membership was soon called into question. At a meeting of the Institute on 7 May 1853 he successfully moved that a clause should be added to Bye Law No. 5 which would specifically exclude builders from associate membership, allegedly declaring that he 'would not dine with a builder'; a few days later, in a case brought against him in the court of Common Pleas, it emerged that he had borrowed money from a builder named Alexander Rosborough. It was suggested to Louch that he should resign from the Institute, but whether he did so or not is not recorded.(3) In 1857 Fitzgibbon Louch left Dublin for Derry, while John Louch gave up the office he had shared with his son in Harcourt Street and his house in Rathgar and moved his office and residence to 15 Molesworth street. In 1859 he was chosen as architect for a proposed Grand Parade, running from Dame Street to the Kingsbridge railway terminus; the scheme, which was projected by an independent group rather than by the Corporation, was described in a circular published in April 1861.(4)

Louch died in his seventieth year on 20 August 1867 at his home in Molesworth Street.(5) He was buried at Mount Jerome cemetery on 22 August.(6)   His widow survived him until 1884.  Five sons attended the funeral, including Fitzgibbon Louch, WILLIAM LOUCH WILLIAM LOUCH , THOMAS KINGSTON LOUCH  THOMAS KINGSTON LOUCH and RICHARD LUCIUS LOUCH[2] RICHARD LUCIUS LOUCH[2] . William Louch and Thomas Kingston Louch carried on their father's business until William was declared insolvent in 1871.(7)

The National Library of Ireland holds five plans by Louch for 'Captain Meyler's property at Sandycove and Dalkey', dated 1866.(8)

RIAI: elected fellow, 3 Jan 1853.(9)

Addresses:(10) 69 Blessington Street, 1821-29, 3 College Street, 1830, 25 Nassau Street, 1831-33 and 65 Dawson Street, 1835-1837; 14 D'Olier Street, 1838-46; 21 D'Olier Street, 1847-48; 78 Harcourt Street, 1849-1857; 15 Molesworth Street, 1858 until death.
Home: Garville Ave, Rathgar, 1839-1847

See WORKS and BIBLIOGRAPHY. BIBLIOGRAPHY.



References

All information in this entry not otherwise accounted for is from Mrs Dorothy Anderson (née Louch), great-great-granddaughter of John Louch, 7/88 Clowes Street, South Yarra, 3141, Australia, and from the family tree and history compiled by John Lascelles, 2009 (copy in IAA, Jones file L73);  the history includes a transcript of Fitzgibbon Louch's 'Statement of the Louch family from their transplanting to Ireland in 17--'.  An obituary of Louch is in IB 9, 1 Sep 1867, 219. 

(1) Letter from Rolf Loeber to E. McParland, 9 Nov 1973 (IAA, Edward McParland files, Acc. 2008/44).
(2) NLI AD 1826-1829.
(3) Frederick O'Dwyer, 'The Foundation and early years of the RIAI', 150 Years of Architecture in Ireland: RIAI 1839-1989 (1989), 13-14; see also RIAI Minute Book No. 1, 120,122,123.
(4) B 16, 28 Aug,16,30 Oct 1858, 590,699,723; DB 1, 1 Jan 1859, 3; IB 9, 1 Sep 1867, 219; 65, 21 Apr,5 May 1923, 295-6,318(illus.)
(5) Irish Times, 21 Aug 1867.
(6) Information from Joe Langtry, Mount Jerome Cemetery records.
(7) IB 13, 1 Aug 1871, 204. The death of Louch's third son, also called John Howard Louch, in Sydney, Australia, was announced in the Irish Times, 19 Aug 1905. 
(8) RIAI general meeting minutes, 20 Nov 1852, 107; council meeting minutes, 27 Nov 1852, 107; special general meeting minutes, 3 Jan 1853, 110.
(9) Manuscript maps: 16 G. 14
(21) ; see National Library of Ireland Sources, http://sources.nli.ie/Record/MS_UR_045302 (last visited, Sep 2011).
(10) From Wilson's, Post Office and Thom's directories.


35 work entries listed in chronological order for LOUCH, JOHN HOWARD


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Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, HOWTH CASTLE
Date: 1828
Nature: 4 plans.
Refs: 4 plans at Howth Castle (negative photocopies in NLI AD 1826-1829).

Building: CO. WEXFORD, WEXFORD, CUSTOM HOUSE QUAY, BANK OF IRELAND
Date: 1832
Nature: JL prepares plans.
Refs: Bank of Ireland minutes, 24 Jan 1832 (IAA, Edward McParland files, Acc.2008/44)

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, COLLEGE GREEN, TRINITY COLLEGE, MUSEUM, LECTURE ROOMS & CAMPANILE (PROPOSED)
Date: 1833-34
Nature: Competition entrant. Design exh. RH, 1849.
Refs: RHA 1849, no. 401,404; Frederick O'Dwyer, The Architecture of Deane and Woodward (Cork University Press, 1997), 132

Building: CO. DOWN, NEWRY, TREVOR HILL, BANK OF IRELAND
Date: 1835
Nature: JL does measuring work.
Refs: Bank of Ireland minutes, 10 Mar 1835 (IAA, Edward McParland files, Acc.2008/44)

Building: CO. CARLOW, CARLOW, BANK OF IRELAND
Date: 1836
Nature: JL prepares plans.
Refs: Bank of Ireland minutes, 29 Mar 1836 (IAA, Edward McParland files, Acc.2008/44)

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, HAROLD'S CROSS, CHURCH (CI)
Date: 1836-38;1853
Nature: New church. FS laid 10 Mar 1836; opened Feb 1838. cost of church and school £4,600. Designed by JL and enlarged, 1853, by Mssrs. Louch. (Closed, Jun 2001.)
Refs: 'Annals of Dublin' (upaginated) in Pettigrew & Oulton's Dublin Almanac (1847); B 11, 30 Apr 1853, 279; Obituary in IB 9, 1 Sep 1867, 219;  'Statement of the Louch family from their transplanting to Ireland in 17--' by Fitzgibbon Louch, Jun 1894 (copy in IAA) .

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DALKEY, CHURCH OF ST PATRICK (CI)
Date: 1837
Nature: Louch's plan and estimate accepted by committe of Dalkey Episcopal Church, Sep 1837.
Refs: MS record of special meeting of committee of Dalkey Episcopal Church, 26 Sep 1837 (RCB Library, photocopy in IAA, Jones file L74);  'Statement of the Louch family from their transplanting to Ireland in 17--' by Fitzgibbon Louch, Jun 1894 (copy in IAA, Jones file L73).

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, BOW LANE, ST PATRICK'S HOSPITAL
Date: 1837-1849
Nature: 'Various abortive plans' for alts.
Refs: Plans in St Patrick's Hospital archives, F/9/1;  M.J. Craig, 'Swift's Heirs' in The Legacy of Swift: a Bi-centenary Record of St Patrick's Hospital, Dublin (Dublin, 1948), 38.

Building: CO. KILDARE, MOORE ABBEY (MONASTEREVIN)
Date: 1845
Nature: Adds., for Henry Francis Seymour, Marquess of Drogheda. FS laid June 1845.
Refs: Commemorative trowel advertised for sale in Irish Arts Review 2, No. 3 (1985), 9(illus.);  'Statement of the Louch family from their transplanting to Ireland in 17--' by Fitzgibbon Louch, Jun 1894 (copy in IAA)

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, HAROLD'S CROSS ROAD, MOUNT JEROME CEMETERY
Date: 1849
Nature: Approach, gates and lodge.
Refs: Design for lodge exh. RHA 1849, no. 405; DB 1, 1 Feb 1859, 18;  'Statement of the Louch family from their transplanting to Ireland in 17--' by Fitzgibbon Louch, Jun 1894 (copy in IAA) .

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, WELLINGTON SQUARE, CHURCH OF ST MATTHIAS (CI)
Date: 1850-52
Nature: Additions, new transepts and school house.
Refs: B 8, 24 Aug 1850, 403; 10, 3 Jan,23 Oct 1852, 13,677;  'Statement of the Louch family from their transplanting to Ireland in 17--' by Fitzgibbon Louch, Jun 1894 (copy in IAA)

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, ABBEY STREET LOWER, NO. 027 (MECHANICS' INSTITUTE)
Date: 1851
Nature: Improvements, alterations, including new lecture hall, gas fittings &c.under direction of Mssrs. Louch, who gave services free.
Refs: B 9, 1 Feb,21 Jun 1851, 77,393

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, BURGH QUAY, NO. 012-013 (CORN STORE)
Date: 1852
Nature: Conversion of Conciliation Hall into corn store. By Louch & Son(?s)
Refs: B 10, 21 Feb 1852, 123

Building: CO. LAOIS, ABBEYLEIX, SCHOOL
Date: 1853
Nature: Designs for 'Blue Gate School' by John Louch & Son.
Refs: Plans, signed and 4 Aug 1853, sold by Mealy's, Castlecomer, 3 & 4 Dec 1997 (Lot 460)

Building: CO. WICKLOW, DELGANY, HOTEL
Date: 1853
Nature: New hotel on lands of Killincarrick, adjoining proposed railway station. By Mssrs. Louch
Refs: B 11, 14 May 1853, 315

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, GRANTHAM STREET, NO. 2A (WIDOWS' ALMSHOUSE)
Date: 1858
Nature: New 3-bay, 3 storey building in brown brick.
Refs: B 16, 30 Jan 1858, 73;  Christine Casey,The Buildin gs of Ireland: Dublin (2005), 662.


Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, KINGSBRIDGE, RAILWAY STATION (GREAT SOUTHERN & WESTERN RAILWAY TERMINUS)
Date: 1858
Nature: Unexecuted proposal for new street called Grand Parade, linking terminus with west end of Dame St.
Refs: B 16, 28 Aug,16,30 Oct 1858, 590,699,723; DB 1, 1 Jan 1859, 3; IB 9, 1 Sep 1867, 219

Building: CO. WESTMEATH, TUDENHAM
Date: 1858
Nature: Proposed alts. to 'Rochfort'. For Arthur Loftus Tottenham?
Refs: Drawings in NLI, AD 3312,3320,3369,3371

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, GRAFTON STREET, NO. 102 (EDWARD HIGGINBOTHAM)
Date: 1859
Nature: Internal alts. to premises.
Refs: DB 1, 1 Nov 1859, 145

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, GRAFTON STREET, NO. 102-103 (JOSEPH MANNING)
Date: 1859
Nature: New premises.
Refs: DB 1, 1 Nov 1859, 145

Building: CO. DUBLIN, BLACKROCK, AVOCA AVENUE, HOUSE
Date: 1860
Nature: New house and offices. Builder: Mr Strahan, Rathfarnham.
Refs: DB 2, 1 Nov 1860, 363

Building: CO. WICKLOW, WICKLOW, MURROUGH, RAILWAY & MARINE HOTEL
Date: 1860
Nature: New hotel on the Murrough close to railway station. under patronage of William Dargan.  Building erected by Loan Fund Society before 1842 as the Free Industrial School but converted into hotel at expense of £5,000.  Architect:' Mr Louch'.
Refs: DB 2, 1 Jan 1860, 181;  JRSAI 98 (1968), 171-190(illus.).

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, WAPPING STREET, CORN STORE
Date: 1860
Nature: Large corn store. Architect: Mr Louch. Cost £6,000.
Refs: DB 2, 1 Feb 1860, 203

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, WELLINGTON SQUARE
Date: 1861
Nature: JL in charge of laying out N, S & E sides of square and ground opposite Harcourt St railway terminus.
Refs: DB 3, 1 Jan 1861, 394

Building: CO. LAOIS, STRADBALLY HALL
Date: 1867
Nature: Proposed remodelling, for Robert G. Cosby. Not executed.
Refs: Plans, elevations, details, signed and dated 18 Jan 1867, in collection of Cosby family, Stradbally Hall (photographs in IAA).

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUN LAOGHAIRE, HAIGH TERRACE, MARINERS' CHURCH (CI)
Date: ?
Nature: 'vestibule and two houses'.
Refs: 'Statement of the Louch family from their transplanting to Ireland in 17--' by Fitzgibbon Louch, Jun 1894 (copy in IAA)

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUN LAOGHAIRE, HAIGH TERRACE, MARINERS' CHURCH (CI)
Date: ?
Nature: 'vestibule and two houses'.
Refs: 'Statement of the Louch family from their transplanting to Ireland in 17--' by Fitzgibbon Louch, Jun 1894 (copy in IAA)

Building: CO. DUBLIN, DUBLIN, HAROLD'S CROSS ROAD, MOUNT JEROME CEMETERY
Date: ?
Nature: Survey and layout.
Refs: Obituary in IB 9, 1 Sep 1867, 219

Building: CO. LAOIS, EMO COURT
Date: ?
Nature: Works at same, for Lord Portarlington.
Refs: 'Statement of the Louch family from their transplanting to Ireland in 17--' by Fitzgibbon Louch, Jun 1894 (copy in IAA)

Building: CO. LAOIS, ABBEY LEIX
Date: ?
Nature: Works at same, for Lord de Vesci.
Refs: 'Statement of the Louch family from their transplanting to Ireland in 17--' by Fitzgibbon Louch, Jun 1894 (copy in IAA)

Building: CO. KILDARE, DUNMURRY
Date: ?
Nature: Works at same for Edward James Medlicott.
Refs: 'Statement of the Louch family from their transplanting to Ireland in 17--' by Fitzgibbon Louch, Jun 1894 (copy in IAA)

Building: CO. MEATH, CLIFTON LODGE (ATHBOY)
Date: ?
Nature: Works on Lord Darnley's estate.
Refs: 'Statement of the Louch family from their transplanting to Ireland in 17--' by Fitzgibbon Louch, Jun 1894 (copy in IAA)

Building: CO. GALWAY, MARBLE HILL (LOUGHREA)
Date: ?
Nature: Works, for Sir Thomas Burke.
Refs: 'Statement of the Louch family from their transplanting to Ireland in 17--' by Fitzgibbon Louch, Jun 1894 (copy in IAA)

Building: CO. WEXFORD, SAUNDERS COURT
Date: ?
Nature: Works at same, for 4th Earl of Arran.
Refs: 'Statement of the Louch family from their transplanting to Ireland in 17--' by Fitzgibbon Louch, Jun 1894 (copy in IAA)

Building: CO. DOWN, TOLLYMORE PARK
Date: ?
Nature: Works at same, for 3rd Earl of Roden.
Refs: 'Statement of the Louch family from their transplanting to Ireland in 17--' by Fitzgibbon Louch, Jun 1894 (copy in IAA)

Author Title Date Details
Louch, John Hints on ventilation 1860 Privately printed., 1860. (Extract on the ventilation of hospitals published in DB 3, 15 Jan 1861, ?)