Howell when he died was well-off and living in the large house, 7 Holmesdale Gardens, but he came from a poor background. He began work very young as an apprentice carpenter, then became a journeyman until starting for himself on some stables for the Local Board in Waterworks Road. In 1857 he began a more expansive life, taking a brickfield at Silverhill and accepting large contracts. He was then one of the town’s largest employers of labour. He would build anything and was always ready for more work. “He made the best use of the time and after several years hard work he retired. All he touched seemed to turn to gold.” By the late 1860s he was perhaps the town’s leading builder.
His most recent work was re-building Robertson Street Congregational Church, with his son. John Howell’s work had included the west side of Warrior Square (1855), the Public Hall, Robertson Street (1859), Holy Trinity Church, Robertson Street (1860), the town’s main drainage works (1866), St Johns Church, Hollington (1868), St Andrews Church, Queens Road (1869), and Emmanuel Church, Priory Road (1873). He also built the London and County Bank (now the Nat West), the St Mary Magdalen Schools, the basement of the Queens Hotel, and the Memorial Chapel, plus many private residences.
He was unsuccessful in bidding for the construction of Hastings Pier (1869-72). One of his biggest jobs was carrying out large-scale development of the Cornwallis Estate in 1873, including Cambridge Gardens, Cornwallis Gardens and Holmesdale Gardens where he was to live. He was based in a large sawmill at the top of Middle Street, running through to Station Road. He was was popular with his workforce for being firm but fair. In later years he set up the company John Howell and Son, his son also being called John. His son was the main force behind the building of Hastings Grammar School (1883) and St Peters Church, Lower Park Road (1883)
(Article about John Howell & Son, a full list, and photos,of their works in Wikipedia)
The grave EDJ26, is of that of Sophia Carless, who was the daughter of John and Anne. Sophia married William Carless, a solicitor of St Leonards, in her father’s church, Holy Trinity in Robertson St. In January 1883 but seems to have died shortly after childbirth in 1889 aged 35. Her newborn son, Robert Howell, followed a few days later. Her husband was buried there many years later in 1920.
