Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

Town surveyor for Lisburn, Co. Antrim, 1889-1914.  According to the 1911 census, James Johnston was born in Co. Antrim in 1833 or 1834.  Before his appointment to the Lisburn town susrveyorship post, from 1875 or earlier, Johnston had been an assistant county surveyor for Co. Antrim.(1) In 1910 he was threatened with suspension from the Lisburn town surveyorship; at a meeting of the Urban Council in September 1910, it was resolved that 'before the question of suspension of the surveyor be dealt with he be asked if he would consent to a reduction of his salary and duties, and contribute a sum towards the loss the council had sustained in the action of Arthur v. the Council, which had resulted in damages against the council amounting to between £800 and £900'.(2) Johnston was not suspended but retired on a pension in 1914. He died in 1927, having been 'of robust health until the last months of his life'. Despite the cloud over him in 1910, he is described in his obituary notice in the Irish Builder as having been 'a very efficient and extremely considerate official'.  At the time of the 1911 census he had been married for twenty-seven years to his wife, Annie, but had no children.

Address:  2 Bachelors Walk, Lisburn, 1911.



References

All information in this entry not otherwise accounted for is from the brief obituary of Johnston in IB 69, 2 Apr 1927, 229.

(1) Thom's directories for 1875 and 1883.
(2) Building News 99, 16 Sep 1910, 418.
(3)