Stephen Lewin (c. 1822–1913) was an English architect, artist, civil engineer and iron-founder, who was a builder of steamboats and steam locomotives. Initially he worked in Boston in Lincolnshire as a civil engineer with his father William Lewin, who was an assistant to John Rennie the Elder. He should not be confused with his son, Stephen Samuel Lewin (c. 1848–1909), a successful artist who specialized in historical works often featuring cavaliers and figures in 17th-century costumes.
Architectural practice
After working with his civil engineer father, Lewin set up an architectural practice in Boston and simultaneously published a notable series of engravings of Medieval churches in the Parts of Holland in Lincolnshire. He was involved in the civic life in Boston and was Mayor in 1860-2 and 1861-2. His younger brother, Charles Augustus Lewin had moved to Poole in Dorset in 1856 as a timber merchant. In 1863, Lewin, who had entered into a partnership with William Wilkinson, a Boston iron founder, purchased the works of William Pearce, an iron and brass founder in Poole. This was to be managed by Wilkinson and became known as Lewin's Iron Foundry or the Poole Foundry. It appears to have developed rapidly and by about 1866 Lewin left Boston. However, in 1879, partly as the result of a fire in the foundry, Lewin was declared bankrupt.
Locomotives
Only a small number of locomotives were built, including:
The 0-4-0ST locomotive preserved at Beamish Museum is the former Seaham Harbour Dock Company No. 18. It was built in 1877 (Works No. 683) as a well tank, later modified with side 'wing' tanks, and in 1936 outshopped as a saddle tank after extensive rebuilding at the Seaham Harbour Engine Works.
The above dates are a result of new research by the curator currently charged with restoring the locomotive to working order (as a saddle tank) and can be verified against assumptions made in some established texts. The locomotive was supplied to the Londonderry (Seaham to Sunderland) Railway, who operated Seaham Harbour, transferring to the SHDC in 1899 upon the latter's incorporation.
Withdrawn from service circa 1969/70, the locomotive was condemned as a working engine, later being transferred to the collection at Beamish (The North of England Open Air Museum). In 1977, it was 'restored' to its as-built appearance by Laings of Hartlepool, returning to Beamish where it was operated for four years. It was later loaned to a group based at Padiham Power Station, though their restoration attempt failed. Returned to Beamish it was placed on display with some work to restore it being completed before a serious bid was commenced in 2005. Now returned to steam, the loco has run a few times at Beamish, with some fettling still to do. It made a brief visit back to its former home of Seaham in 2011.
Lloyds Bank, Boston. Designed by LewinLloyds Bank, Boston, Lincolnshire
Garfit & Claypon's Bank (now Lloyds Bank), 51 Market Place Boston. 1864. Designed by Stephen Lewin just before he left Boston for Poole. This replaced the original Garfit and Claypon Bank in the High Street which had been founded in 1754. Three storey building with six bay front with ashlar plinth, vermiculated ashlar rustication to ground floor, sill bands, heavy stone cornice, moulded balusters and stone panels to parapet. To left a doorway with elliptical arched head with heavy console keystone dated 1864.
Langton St Andrew, Station Road, Woodhall Spa. Church with bell-cot by Lewin. Destroyed by a bomb in 1943.
Congregational Chapel
Congregational Chapel, Red Lion Street, Boston
Congregational Chapel (1850) Red Lion Street, Boston. On the site of the old Theatre. Described in White's Directory, 1856 as a beautiful specimen of architecture in stone coloured brick, all the columns, caps, bases, cornices, arches buttresses, etc being of bricks moulded and burnt for the purpose. At the north-west angle is an elegant tower, crowned by a short spire; and over the entrance is a large and handsome rose window. The other windows and arches have semi-circular heads, except the school, which occupies the basement storey, and has square-headed windows.
↑Wear R. & Lees E (1978), Stephen Lewin and the Poole Foundry, Industrial Railway Society and Industrial Locomotive Society
↑[Narrow gauge mineral locomotive by Mr Stephen Lewin, Poole, Dorset, Engineer (The Engineer, 1 January 1875).jpg Narrow gauge mineral locomotive by Mr Stephen Lewin, Poole, Dorset, Engineer.] In: The Engineer. 1. Januar 1875.
Antonia Brodie (ed) Directory of British Architects, 1834–1914: 2 Vols, British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects, 2001, Vol2, pg.46.
Antram N (revised), Pevsner N & Harris J, (1989), The Buildings of England: Lincolnshire, Yale University Press.
Wear R. & Lees E (1978), Stephen Lewin and the Poole Foundry, Industrial Railway Society and Industrial Locomotive Society
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stephen Lewin.
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