He was articled to Samuel Dutton Walker of Nottingham in 1867 becoming chief assistant and managing clerk, and from 1879 entered partnership with him as Walker and Howitt up to the time of Walker's death in 1885, based in Severn Chambers, 10 Middle Pavement, Nottingham.[2] He later set himself up in partnership with his son as J. Howitt and Son.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1890 and was president of the Nottingham Architectural Society from 1894-95. He died on 9 June 1923 and left an estate valued at £6,768[3] (equivalent to £487,600 in 2023).[4]
Organ case, Friar Lane Congregational Chapel, Nottingham 1884[7] (with Walker)
Nottingham Savings Bank, Clayton’s Yard, Nottingham 1884-85[8] extension of the banking room, new boardroom, consulting room and strongroom (with Walker)
^Brodie, Antonia (20 December 2001). Directory of British Architects 1834-1914: Vol 1 (A-K). Royal Institute of British Architects. p. 965. ISBN0826455131.
^"S. Dutton Walker and Howitt". Nottingham Journal. England. 19 January 1880. Retrieved 19 March 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"A Nottingham Architect". Nottingham Evening Post. England. 7 December 1923. Retrieved 19 March 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.