J. L. Clemence
{{Short description|British architect}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2016}}
File:Kirkley Cemetery Lychgate.jpg
File:Kirkley Cemetery Chapels.jpg
John Louth Clemence (1822, Lowestoft, Suffolk – 1911, Mutford, Suffolk){{cite book|author1=Antonia Brodie|author2=British Architectural Library|author3=Royal Institute of British Architects|title=Directory of British Architects, 1834-1914: Vol. 2 (L-Z)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GkThQYLb3ZUC&pg=PA475|year=2001|publisher=A&C Black|isbn=978-0-8264-5514-7|page=475}}{{Cite web|url=http://search.findmypast.co.uk/results/world-records/england-and-wales-deaths-1837-2007?firstname=john%20l&lastname=clemence&eventyear=1911&eventyear_offset=0|title = Search Results for England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007}} was an English architect, active in Suffolk, particularly Lowestoft.
Early life
Clemence learnt his trade from 1839 to 1843 in the London offices of C.R. Cockerell. He then worked for Sir Morton Peto and the Lucas Brothers, who were Lowestoft-based building contractors.{{cite web|url=http://www.racns.co.uk/sculptures.asp?action=getsurvey&id=1141 |title=Hope, Memorial for Laura Lily Wood Greaves from the Recording Archive for Public Sculpture in Norfolk & Suffolk |website=Racns.co.uk |accessdate=16 February 2016}}
Architectural practice
Clemence practised in his own right from 1854. He designed the church of St John the Baptist, Lowestoft in 1853, which was demolished in 1978 and replaced by Levington House, a block of flats. As a child, the composer Benjamin Britten visited with his mother. They lived about a mile away in Kirkley, and his mother was the organist, so it is probable that he also played the organ. All that survives is the organ, which in 1979 was installed at nearby St Andrew, Gorleston.{{cite web|url=http://www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/lowesjohn.html |title=Lowestoft St John |website=Suffolkchurches.co.uk |accessdate=16 February 2016}} That organ is a 1904 instrument by the Norwich organ builders Norman and Beard; when it was installed it was rebuilt by Wood Wordsworth & Co of Leeds.{{Cite web|url=https://www.npor.org.uk/NPORView.html?RI=N06289|title=National Pipe Organ Register: N06289|access-date=10 April 2021}}
He also designed the Grade II listed Lowestoft Town Hall, which was built on the High Street in 1857.{{cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1279943|title=TOWN HALL, Waveney - 1279943|website=Historic England |accessdate=31 July 2017}}
Clemence designed several buildings in Kirkley Cemetery; the Lychgate,{{cite web|url=http://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1119708 |title=THE LYCHGATE AT KIRKLEY CEMETERY - 1119708 |publisher=Historic England |date=20 January 1998 |accessdate=16 February 2016}} South Western{{cite web|url=http://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1119710 |title=SOUTH WESTERN CHAPEL AT KIRKLEY CEMETERY - 1119710 |publisher=Historic England |date=20 January 1998 |accessdate=16 February 2016}} and North Eastern Chapels{{cite web|url=http://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1119709 |title=NORTH EASTERN CHAPEL AT KIRKLEY CEMETERY - 1119709 |publisher=Historic England |date=20 January 1998 |accessdate=16 February 2016}} which were all listed in 1998 as Grade II listed buildings.{{cite web|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-469208-south-western-chapel-at-kirkley-cemetery#.Vr5awGHcvug |title=South Western Chapel at Kirkley Cemetery - Lowestoft - Suffolk - England |publisher=British Listed Buildings |date=20 January 1998 |accessdate=16 February 2016}} These were built in 1880.
List of works
{{incompletelist|date=January 2023}}
- St. Michael's Church, Geldeston, Norfolk
- Church of St. John the Baptist, Lowestoft, Suffolk
- Lowestoft Town Hall, Lowestoft, Suffolk
References
{{Reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clemence, John Louth}}