J. L. Clemence
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Kirkley_Cemetery_Lychgate.jpg/300px-Kirkley_Cemetery_Lychgate.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Kirkley_Cemetery_Chapels.jpg/220px-Kirkley_Cemetery_Chapels.jpg)
John Louth Clemence (1822, Lowestoft, Suffolk – 1911, Mutford, Suffolk)[1][2] 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.[3]
Architectural practice
Clemence practised in his own right from 1854. He designed the Baptist church of St John, 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.[4] He also designed the Grade II listed Lowestoft Town Hall, which was built on the High Street in 1857.[5]
Clemence designed several buildings in Kirkley Cemetery; the Lychgate,[6] South Western[7] and North Eastern Chapels[8] which were all listed in 1998 as Grade II listed buildings.[9] These were built in 1880.[8]
References
- ^ Antonia Brodie; British Architectural Library; Royal Institute of British Architects (2001). Directory of British Architects, 1834-1914: Vol. 2 (L-Z). A&C Black. p. 475. ISBN 978-0-8264-5514-7.
- ^ http://search.findmypast.co.uk/results/world-records/england-and-wales-deaths-1837-2007?firstname=john%20l&lastname=clemence&eventyear=1911&eventyear_offset=0
- ^ "Hope, Memorial for Laura Lily Wood Greaves from the Recording Archive for Public Sculpture in Norfolk & Suffolk". Racns.co.uk. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
- ^ "Lowestoft St John". Suffolkchurches.co.uk. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
- ^ "TOWN HALL, Waveney - 1279943". Historic England. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
- ^ "THE LYCHGATE AT KIRKLEY CEMETERY - 1119708". Historic England. 20 January 1998. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
- ^ "SOUTH WESTERN CHAPEL AT KIRKLEY CEMETERY - 1119710". Historic England. 20 January 1998. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
- ^ a b "NORTH EASTERN CHAPEL AT KIRKLEY CEMETERY - 1119709". Historic England. 20 January 1998. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
- ^ "South Western Chapel at Kirkley Cemetery - Lowestoft - Suffolk - England". British Listed Buildings. 20 January 1998. Retrieved 16 February 2016.