Howel Davies was born on 13 June 1846 in Wrexham, he was the son of Hugh Davies and Mary Jones.
In 1851 the family was in Queen Street, his father was a builder and timber merchant with his own business. Howel had 6 siblings and 2 older half siblings as Hugh had been married before.
In 1861 Howell was living with his aunt Catherine Davies in Hope Street, he was a carpenter’s apprentice. He became an architect and on 20 February 1871 he married Louisa Mary Jones at St Giles, her father was Elias Jones a book keeper. They moved to Albert Street in Hightown and by 1881 they had 5 children, Herbert Howel 8, Harold Clement 6, Hugh Jackson 4, Louisa Mary 2 and Llewelyn just 3 months old. In September 1884 their baby daughter Minnie died, she was only 3 weeks old.
In 1891 Howel was away from home, he was in Aberwyswyth and possibly working there as he was described as a contractor builder.
Louisa and her family were living in Bodhowel on Chester Road, by now she had more children Arthur 7, Hannah Melza 5 and Lily Dorothy (infant).
Howel was in partnership with Llewellyn, his half brother in the firm Messrs. Davies Brothers. They were was brought in to work on many of the large buildings in the town, including schools and churches, he built St Paul’s Church in Pentre Broughton and was the architect for Saint David’s Welsh church in Rhosddu Road. The firm became very successful and in 1892 were the contractors for the Wrexham and Ellesmere Railway .
THE NEW RAILWAY. Although just now public attention is chiefly engaged with political affairs nearly everyone in town feels an interest in the progress of the Wrexham and Ellesmere Railway. Messrs Davies Brothers, the contractors, have a large staff of men busy at work. The old Mount House is being demolished, and at Hightown Road, preparations are being made for the bridge. Further on a numerous gang of navvies are engaged in excavating and preparing the ground for tipping with the engine “Dorothy” which stands near the road under steam ready for action. Already one wagon load of soil has been brought out by way of an earnest. The work is watched by large spectators, who critically regard the operations. It was finally opened in 1895.
25th June 1892
The family stayed in Bodhowel , but in 1901 Hugh Jackson was a patient at the Manor House home for epileptics on Sefton Lane , Maghull, he was classed as “not insane” as were all the other patients there. Sadly Hugh Jackson died at his parents’ home later that year.
Another son – Herbert Howel Davies had attended Grove Park School, and in 1901 was a school master at Framlingham College, Suffolk. In 1902 he was appointed principal of the Colvin Taluqdars school in Lucknow.
On 17 May 1910 Herbert Howel died at Mussoorie, India, he was 38.
PRINCIPAL H. H. DAVIES, INDIA. The relatives in Wrexham of Principal Herbert Howel Davies, M.A., who for the last eight years had been principal of Colvin Talangdar College, Lucknow, India, have received a cable gram informing them of his death after an attack of malarial fever. Principal Davies, who was a graduate of St. John’s College. Cambridge was the eldest son of Mr Howel Davies, of Wrexham. The deceased was 36 years of age. He died at the hill station of Massoorie, in the North-West Province of India.
Wrexham Advertiser 28th May 1910
Their son Llewellyn played for Wrexham and Wales, also Everton and West Bromwich Albion. He played on an international level which was even noted in his marriage announcement.
7th June 1907 Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald.
At Wrexham Parish Church on Wednesday. Mr Llewellyn (Davies (international football player), was married to Miss Jessie Loxham.
Another son also played for Wrexham, Arthur had been transferred to Middleborough.
FOOTBALL. LLANGOLLEN AMATEURS V. WREXHAM OLD BOYS. This match was played on the ground of the former on Saturday last. The Wrexham team included Arthur Davies, the Welsh International and ex-Middlesbrough professional. The game started in a blinding snowstorm and the ground was in an awful condition and the players were unable to stick on their feet. The game ended in a two goal draw.
24th December 1909 Llangollen Advertiser.
Howel had retired by 1911 and moved to 14 Foster Road, the census shows they have had 9 children but 3 had died. The only children still at home were Harold Clement and Arthur now both builders, Mary Louisa and Hannah Melza, all were still unmarried.
Howel Davies died on 11 March 1913 in 14 Foster Road; Louisa remained there until her death on 21 February 1916. Their second son Harold Clement, died 14 January 1921 aged 46 and was buried with his family.
Researched by Annette Edwards. June 2019,
Many thanks to the Davies family for the photograph.
IN MEMORY OF MINNIE, INFANT DAUGHTER OF HOWEL AND LOUISA MARY DAVIES, (BODHOWELL, WREXHAM) WHO DIED IN INFANCY SEPT 9TH, 1884. ALSO HUGH JACKSON, THEIR SON, WHO DIED NOV 4TH, 1901, AGED 24 YEARS. ALSO OF HOWEL DAVIES, FATHER OF THE ABOVE, WHO DIED MARCH 11TH, 1913, AGED 67. ALSO LOUISA MARY, WIFE OF HOWEL DAVIES, WHO DIED FEB 21ST, 1916, AGED 68 YEARS. ALSO HAROLD CLEMENT, 2ND SON OF THE ABOVE, WHO DIED JAN 14TH, 1921, AGED 46 YEARS.
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Grave ref: Wrexham Cemetery E-01083
