John Bowen (alderman)
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Alderman John Bowen JP (16 December 1844 – 16 April 1926) was a British businessman and was High Sheriff of Worcestershire. Bowen's father was a blacksmith from
Rochford Rochford is a town in Essex, England, north of Southend-on-Sea, from London and from Chelmsford, the county town. At the 2011 census, the Civil parishes in England, civil parish, which includes the town and London Southend Airport, had a popu ...
, Worcestershire. In 1875, he founded the firm of builders, John Bowen and Sons, in Birmingham, which was subsequently responsible for several notable buildings, not least
Victoria Law Courts The Victoria Law Courts on Corporation Street, Birmingham, England is a Grade I listed red brick and terracotta building that now houses Birmingham Magistrates' Court. History Designed by Aston Webb & Ingress Bell of London after an open compe ...
, and several others, on Corporation Street in that city. He served as a
magistrate The term magistrate is used in a variety of systems of governments and laws to refer to a civilian officer who administers the law. In ancient Rome, a '' magistratus'' was one of the highest ranking government officers, and possessed both judici ...
in Worcestershire, was elected as an alderman for the county in 1892, and was High Sheriff of Worcestershire in 1916–17. Bowen is buried, with his second wife, at
Brandwood End Cemetery Brandwood End Cemetery is a cemetery located in the Brandwood ward of Birmingham, England. History Until the early 19th century the Church of England church yards and burial grounds were the only major places available for burials. By that tim ...
. In 2014 the Birmingham Civic Society unveiled a
blue plaque A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place in the United Kingdom and elsewhere to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person, event, or former building on the site, serving as a historical marker. The term i ...
in his honour, with the intention of affixing it to another of his buildings, a school now known as The Ark Academy in Tindal Street, in the city's Balsall Heath. The unveiling was attended by three High Sheriffs, for the West Midlands ( Tim Watts), Powys (
Philip Bowen Philip Bowen is a British actor who has appeared in a number of British film and television roles including in ''The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous'', ''Agatha Christie's Poirot'', ''Kavanagh QC'' and ''Soldier Soldier''. He was born in Sutton Cold ...
), and Worcestershire (Michael Hogan), as well as Deputy Lord Lieutenant David Bradnock. Bowen once lived on Tindal Street, and later lived in Moseley, in a house called Rochford (; since demolished), on Strensham Hill. A biography, ''Alderman John Bowen J.P. 'Honest John'' by Bowen's great-grandson, Anthony Collins, was published in 2014.


References


Further reading

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External links


Anthony Collins' site about Bowen
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bowen, John 1844 births Place of birth missing 1926 deaths Place of death missing People from Birmingham, West Midlands Business people from Worcestershire High Sheriffs of Worcestershire