Chasing clouds

Did you know that the Latin names given to clouds used globally were invented by a Tottenham resident?

Luke Howard was born 28th November 1772 in London. He spent much of his life in Tottenham, recording the weather from homes on Tottenham Green, and from numbers 4 and 7 Bruce Grove, where he spent his final years. It is at his last home that the only English Heritage Blue Plaque in Tottenham exists: “Luke Howard, Namer of Clouds”.

His system of identifying and classifying clouds named three main categories using Latin – Cumulus (heap), Stratus (layer), Cirrus (curl of hair), as well as the rain cloud, Nimbus (rain). The quest to explain and understand clouds was centuries old. Clouds were spoken of as ‘essences’ floating across the sky and believed to be impossible to categorise and name. Luke Howard recognised the need for a universal language for this global phenomenon and chose Latin, the language used by Carl Linnaeus for his classification of plants and animals.

The great German philosopher, diplomat and poet, Johann Wolfgang Goethe, recognised the importance of Luke Howard’s scheme for naming clouds. It chimed with his own interest in observing and recording the forms of clouds, and provided the key to understanding nature which he had been seeking. He wrote a poem In honour of Mr Howard and noted:

To find yourself in the infinite,

You must distinguish and then combine;

Therefore my winged song thanks

The man who distinguished cloud from cloud.

John Constable used Luke Howard’s terminology to describe his cloud studies. Incidentally, JMW Turner, known for his dramatic sky vistas, visited his patron BG Windus across from Luke Howard’s home on Tottenham Green.

Under The Five Mile Act (1665) the Quakers, who opposed state interference in religion, were forced to worship outside of the City of London. Tottenham with its clean air, water and good educational facilities, but close to the City, was particularly attractive to such nonconformists. Quakers, like other dissenters, were barred from English universities and most professions, so business was a natural outlet for their talents.

Luke Howard, a Quaker himself, became a manufacturing chemist but was fascinated by clouds and the weather from childhood. For over 30 years he made and recorded accurate meteorological observations: pressure, temperature, humidity, precipitation and evaporation. However, there was no means of recording wind velocity except by direct observation. He identified a phenomenon now known as the urban heat island effect; that urban areas were warmer than rural areas due to human activity. The data from his weather measurements is used by urban climate scientists to this day.

Luke Howard was a deeply religious man with a strong sense of duty towards those less fortunate than himself. He was involved in the anti-slavery movement, and he was a prominent member of the Society Against Capital Punishment, Society Against Cruelty to Animals and a founding member of the African Institution. He led Quaker relief efforts in the German states after the Napoleonic Wars. In Tottenham, he was on the committee of the Lancasterian School as well as overseer of the poor in 1820 (an elected official who administered relief such as money, food, and clothing for those in need).

That the final home of this inspiring figure, 7 Bruce Grove, has been allowed to fall into decline is a disgrace.

Anniversary weekend activities

LordshipRec Eco-Hub N17 6NU

Saturday 26 November: Looking up – celebration of clouds, art and science

10.30–12.30: Exciting activities for young people with cloud wheels, kites and performance

Sunday 27 November: Clouds – past, present and future!

10.30am Energy and climate change workshop

1.00pm: Talks by Luke Howard’s biographer and speakers from the Met Office and Cloud Appreciation Society

Launch of Lordship Rec as the first official Cloud Appreciation Park

Lordship Rec with its vista offers the ideal location to study the sky. The Luke Howard Weather Station will record the weather, just as he did all those years ago, and new cloud interpretation boards will enable us to learn about the clouds which form, float and disappear overhead.

Appeal to create a legacy of Luke Howard, Namer of Clouds

Money raised will go towards the costs of the Cloud Interpretation Boards, resources and activities over the year and Lordship Rec event costs. Funding for the Luke Howard Weather Station and public digital display has already been obtained.

Donate at: gofund.me/093f7fef

Other events, including talks, exhibitions and poetry are being organised by Bruce Castle Museum and The Room, Holcombe Road N17.

To find out more about Luke Howard, all of the events and the appeal go to: tottenhamclouds.org.uk