Bowden, John

Bowden, John (fl. 1798–c.1822), architect, was possibly born in Blessington, Co. Wicklow; nothing is known of his family. He was educated at the Dublin Society school of architectural drawing (1798–c.1801), apprenticed to Richard Morrison (qv), and employed in Morrison's office. He lived in Dublin but practised mainly in Ulster. In about 1814 he was appointed architect to the board of first fruits of the Church of Ireland. He produced glebe houses and attractive ‘gothick’ churches, mostly to a standard design, as in the parish churches of Eglinton (1821), Aghanloo (1823), and Bovevagh (1823), all in Co. Londonderry. Considered one of the most accomplished Irish neo-classical architects of his time, he designed St Stephen's church (the ‘Pepper canister’), Upper Mount St., Dublin (completed 1824), and St George's church, High St., Belfast (completed 1816), incorporating the magnificent portico consisting of a steep pediment borne by four huge Roman Corinthian columns from the unfinished palace of Frederick Augustus Hervey (qv), the earl-bishop of Derry, at Ballyscullion, Co. Londonderry. Other buildings include Old Foyle College, Derry (1814), and Derry courthouse (completed 1817), finely detailed and built of Portland stone. He was architect to the board of education by 1818. Nothing is known of his family life. He died c.1822.