Thomas Ellis Owen Shaper of Portsmouth, 'Father of Southsea'
Publisher: Tricorn Books
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Portsmouth, England.
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 202
Description: A full colour illustrated biography about a 19th century architect who laid the foundations of modern Southsea. Many original photos, maps and drawings. Stunning contemporary photos of Owen properties in Alverstoke, Old Portsmouth and Southsea.Thomas Owen was twice mayor of Portsmouth and also worked in Ireland with his father Jacob Owen who was Principal Architect of the Irish Board of Works and his brother-in-law, the architect who was Mayor and MP for Belfast: Sir Charles Lanyon. Cost £25. ISBN 9780956249869.
Table of contents: title: Part 1  I  Beginnings  I  1; title: Section 1    I  The backdrop; title: Section 2    I  Family life; title: Section 3    I  Moving to Portsmouth; title: Section 4    I  Family loyalties; title: Section 5    I  ‘J Owen fecit’ (a special uncle); title: Section 6    I  Young architect / developer; title: Section 7    I  Lucky connections, lucky breaks; title: Section 8    I  A fashionable resort; title: Section 9    I  An advantageous marriage; title: Section 10  I  Public works; title: Section 11  I  Laying the first stone; title: Part 2  I  The 1830s  I  26; title: Section 1    I  The backdrop; title: Section 2    I  Married life; title: Section 3    I  An interlude; title: Section 4    I  1830; title: Section 5    I  Churches; title: Section 6    I  Engineer, surveyor and shareholder; title: Section 7    I  The canal; title: Section 8    I  The railway; title: Section 9    I  The docks; title: Section 10  I  Further engineering projects; title: Section 11  I  An honourable candidate; title: Section 12  I  Changing Times; title: Section 13  I Challenging times; title: Section 14  I  Early Southsea; title: Section 15  I  Supporting charities; title: Section 16  I  Early Owen’s Southsea; title: Part 3  I  The 1840s  I  66; title: Section 1    I  The backdrop; title: Section 2    I  The healthy option; title: Section 3    I  Style in Southsea; title: Section 4    I  The growth of Owen’s Southsea; title: Section 5    I  1843: more churches and a workhouse; title: Section 6    I  Working life in Southsea; title: Section 7    I  The politician; title: Section 8    I  The Public Health Act; title: Section 9    I  The contest for mayor; title: Section 10  I  Mayor of Portsmouth; title: Section 11  I  An adversary; title: Section 12  I  Jacob Owen in Dublin; title: Section 13  I  Thomas in Ireland; title: Section 14  I  A new home in Southsea; title: Part 4  I  The 1850s and Beyond  I  122; title: Section 1    I  The backdrop; title: Section 2    I  1850; title: Section 3    I St Jude’s: A controversial decision; title: Section 4    I  Diverse commissions and interests; title: Section 5    I  Deals, debates and war; title: Section 6    I  Aspirations and an assignation; title: Section 7    I  Enjoying the fruits; title: Section 8    I  1855: politics and personal happiness; title: Section 9    I  Further development in Southsea; title: Section 10  I  The final years; title: Section 11  I  Funeral of the mayor; title: Part 5  I  After the end  I  176; title: Section 1    I  The final years: Jacob Owen; title: Section 2    I  Louisa and the rest; title: Section 3    I  A proposed memorial; title: Section 4    I  Unravelling the mystery of Thomas’s remains; title: Part 6  I  References   I  185