Alfred Bower or Bowyer Clayton

In his early years Alfred Bower Clayton studied with the intention of practicing as an historical painter, under Etty, who always expressed a high opinion of his talents. However, he ultimately determined to follow the profession of an architect. He firstly entered the office of D R Roper before moving to the office of George Smith about 1827 where he acted as assistant to Smith on the Corn Exchange Mark Lane, London, (1827-1828). He exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy between 1814 and 1837 and in 1831 published a set of lithographed drawings of the newly opened Liverpool and Manchester Railway “made on the spot by Alfred Clayton.”

In 1834 he moved to Manchester and entered into a brief partnership with T W Atkinson. He remained for a time in Manchester, moving to Ormskirk about 1840, and Liverpool about 1844.

He married (1) on 31 January 1824 at St. Mary's, Lambeth, Surrey Sarah Hawey (born 1807). She died on 4 September 1829, aged 22, having given him three children. Married (2) Elizabet Thorn on 25 June 1834 at Saint Luke Old Street, Finsbury, London by whom he had a further six children. She died on 12 October 1881 at Balmain, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales.

Alfred Bower Clayton died on 10 May 1855 having never fully recovered from a fall from West Derby Workhouse where he was supervising works in January of that year. At the time of his death he was Bridgemaster

 Address
1929: Pengewood Cottage Norwood London
1836-1839: Garside Street, Manchester
1840-1842:Ormskirk
1845: Alfred Bower Clayton, architect, Queen Anne Street Liverpool
1847: Everton
1855: Alfred Bower Clayton 10 Everton Village (Gores Directory)

Obituary: Builder 5 May 1855 page 216
Reference: Colvin, H M A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840, 3rd edition 1995