John Mowlem and Co
c.1823 John Mowlem (1788–1868) responded to a growing demand for improvements to London's streets by setting up business as a paving contractor and stone merchant. After several years his business was soundly established.
1839–40 Mowlem undertook his first work of national importance, paving Blackfriars Bridge with granite sets, of which he was the first manufacturer. Leaving his ordinary business to be managed by his wife's nephew, George Burt, and Burt's brother-in-law, Joseph Freeman, he moved to Guernsey in November 1839 to ensure the vital supplies of granite.
Mowlem leased and bought quarries; he introduced tarpaulins to protect the workers, raised piece-rates, brought quarrymen from the mainland, and reduced his charge for dressing stones.
As a result he won the paving contract for St Clement Danes from the existing contractor
1842 Mowlem recovered the St Martin's paviour's and mason's contract.
1845 he took George Burt and Joseph Freeman into partnership.
1845 John Mowlem retired to Swanage, although he kept a close eye on the metropolitan paving contracts.
1851 the firm was "very successful" in bidding for the contracts of the London vestries, which constituted nearly all of the firm's work into the 1870s.