Edward William Godwin, architect and designer, was born at 12 Old Market Street, Bristol, on 26 May 1833, to William Godwin and Ann Jones Davies. In 1856 Godwin went to Ireland, and designed a number of small cottages and three small Gothic revival churches in county Donegal.
Two of Godwin's most important domestic commissions were Dromore Castle (1866–73), for the third earl of Limerick, and Glenbeigh Towers, county Kerry (1868–70), for the Honourable Roland Winn. Apart from his architectural skills, Godwin was an innovative designer of furniture, wallpaper, textiles, carpets, metalwork, stained glass, and ceramics.
Edward William Godwin died on 6 October 1886 in his rooms, 6 Great College Street, Westminster, from complications following an operation to remove kidney stones. He was buried at Northleigh, near Witney, in Oxfordshire.