Williams
Howell J. Williams

Sir Howell Jones Williams DL JP (died 13 August 1939), was a Welsh Progressive politician and a prominent London builder. He represented Islington South on the London County Council from 1898 to 1925.

Background

Williams was born in Merioneth, Wales, but spent his adult life in London. He was a prominent builder and city council member. Williams success in London did not remove him from his Welsh roots. He was an active member of the London Welsh community; this is highlighted by his 1923-1924 presidency of the London Welsh Trust. Additionally, he acted as the Sheriff of Merionethshire in 1917.[1]

Williams was married and had three sons.[2]

His sons were Howell Williams (circa 1895), Captain Arthur Ifor Meakin Williams (1895 - 9 October 1918), Meyrick Richard M Williams (1900 - 1967)

Building

Some of the more noteworthy buildings constructed by Williams are the Daily Mail and Evening News Offices on the Thames Embankment, Rotherhithe Town Hall, and a substantial number of buildings along Gray's Inn Road.[3] Of particular note are buildings for the Benchers of Gray's Inn and the London Welsh Centre.[4][5]

The London Welsh Centre was built on a 15,000 square foot lot that Williams purchased for this purpose. Upon completion of the building, he gifted it to the Young Wales Association for their use.[4]

While not constructed directly by Williams, the David's Wing of the Royal Northern Hospital was built with donations from Williams. With donations of £158,000, Williams was the hospitals largest benefactor.[6] The building has since been demolished but a memorial wall of plaques remains; one of these plaques recognizes Williams' contribution to the building.[7][8]

Political career

Williams was Progressive candidate for the Rotherhithe division of Southwark, at a by-election on 31 March 1894. He was elected to the London County Council (LCC), holding the seat for the party.[9] He served until the full elections in 1895. He was Progressive candidate for the Islington South division at the 1898 LCC elections. He was elected, holding the seat for the party. He was re-elected for Islington South at the next seven elections. He was a Justice of the Peace in the County of London. He was a Deputy Lieutenant and served as High Sheriff of Merionethshire from 1917–18.[10] He was knighted in 1921. He was Deputy Chairman of the London County Council in 1921.[2]

Electoral record

Rotherhithe in London 1885-1918
Islington South in London 1885-1918
1901 London County Council election: Islington South[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Howell Jones Williams unopposed n/a n/a
Independent George Samuel Elliott unopposed n/a n/a
Progressive hold Swing n/a
Independent hold Swing n/a
1910 London County Council election: Islington South[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Howell Jones Williams 2,855 26.7
Progressive George Dew 2,841 26.6
Municipal Reform S Lambert 2,515 23.5
Municipal Reform Violet Douglas-Pennant 2,475 23.2
Majority
Progressive hold Swing
1913 London County Council election: Islington South[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive George Dew 3,197 26.6 +0.0
Progressive Howell Jones Williams 3,195 26.6 -0.1
Municipal Reform A Dingli 2,829 23.5 +0.0
Municipal Reform William Hunt 2,807 23.3 +0.1
Majority 366 3.0
Progressive hold Swing -0.0
Islington South in London 1918-49
1919 London County Council election: Islington South[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Howell Jones Williams Unopposed n/a n/a
Progressive George Dew Unopposed n/a n/a
Progressive hold Swing n/a
Progressive hold Swing n/a
1922 London County Council election: Islington South[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Sir Howell Jones Williams 4,916 25.6 n/a
Progressive George Dew 4,882 25.4 n/a
Municipal Reform A Hudson 4,735 24.7 n/a
Municipal Reform G Hampton Lewis 4,665 24.3 n/a
Majority 147 0.7 n/a
Progressive hold Swing n/a
Progressive hold Swing n/a

References

  1. ^ "No. 29982". The London Gazette. 13 March 1917. p. 2509.
  2. ^ a b ‘WILLIAMS, Sir Howell Jones’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2016; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014 ; online edn, April 2014 accessed 24 Jan 2017
  3. ^ "Welshmen Known in London. - X. Sir Howell J. Williams, L.C.C." No. 66 Volume 3. The London Welshman. 30 December 1905. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  4. ^ a b "History". London Welsh Centre. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Rotherhithe Town Hall- The Opening Ceremony". Building News and Engineering Journal. 30 April 1897. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  6. ^ Baggs, AP. "Islington: Public services". British History Online. Victoria County History. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Howell Jones Williams Plaque with id 3972". John Yugin's plaque website. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Plaque: RNH - St David's Wing". London Remembers. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  9. ^ County Council Election, The Times, 2 April 1894, p. 11.
  10. ^ 13 March 1917. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
  11. ^ "London County Council Election." Times [London, England] 4 Mar. 1901: 7. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 22 Sept. 2016.
  12. ^ London County Council Election." Times [London, England] 7 Mar. 1910: 7. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 1 May 2016.
  13. ^ London Municipal Notes, 1913
  14. ^ a b London Municipal Notes - Volumes 18-23, London Municipal Society
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