1890-1892 and 1893-1894, Ralph Fletcher JP, Chairman of Atherton Local Board

1890-1892 and 1893-1894, Ralph Fletcher JP, Chairman of Atherton Local Board

An old-fashioned Tory and a benefactor whose generosity to the established church was legendary, the industrialist Ralph Fletcher was one of Atherton’s most interesting personalities.

A member of the famous Fletcher family, who ran the successful Atherton Collieries mining company and the founder of Howe Bridge Spinning Company, he used much of his wealth to help the less fortunate and the church, to which he dedicated much of his life.

“Young Rafe”, as he was affectionately known, was born into an old Bolton family. He was the son of Ralph Fletcher, and the grandson of Colonel Fletcher, who was in command of the Bolton Volunteers in 1805, when they were called up to oppose Napoleon’s proposed invasion of England, and later commanded the Bolton Militia.

Ralph Fletcher Snr began his association with Atherton Collieries at the age of 18 when he joined the company to learn the business of colliery management. Subsequently Abraham Burrows – another of the town’s foremost industrialists – was made a partner and the firm became known as Fletcher, Burrows and Co.

Young Rafe followed in his father’s footsteps when he joined the company and was general manager for a number of years before being taken into partnership and going on to become chairman – a position he held until his death.

In addition to his success in the mining industry – Fletcher, Burrows had a reputation for being one of the best-managed collieries in the South Lancashire coalfield - he was founder of Howe Bridge Spinning Company.

True to his forebears’ military background, Ralph and his family were involved in the formation in 1860 of the 60^th Lancashire (Atherton) Rifle Volunteers. He was appointed ensign at the age of 17 and remained in the Corps for a number of years until his business commitments caused him to end his association.

As a representative of West Ward from 1873, he served on the Leigh Board of Guardians, on which he took a keen interest in the welfare of the poor. He was made a County Magistrate in 1879.

During his time on the Atherton Local Board he was chairman from 1890 to 1892 and from 1893-1894, when Atherton Urban District Council came into being – the first meeting being held on December 31, 1894 – and remained on the council for a number of years.

But it was as a devoted churchman that he left his greatest legacy to the town of Atherton.

He loved the established church and schools with a passion and fervour and held almost every office open to a layman. He represented the Manchester Diocese on the Representative Church Council (known as the House of Laymen) and was a regular attender of the Church Congress.

It was said that he gave 10 per cent of his income to charity, but he was also reported to have made large donations anonymously.

It was owing to the generosity of Young Rafe and his father that Howe Bridge Church was erected in 1876 at a cost of £7,000, and he also made substantial gifts to other churches in the Atherton district with Atherton Parish Church, St George’s, St Phillip’s and Hindsford churches all benefiting from his generosity. He also built Howe Bridge Schools and later added the Infants School in memory of his late second wife.

Ralph Fletcher, who lived at The Hindles in Howe Bridge and at Crow How in Ambleside, died at the age of 73 in a Manchester nursing home following an operation. He left a widow, his third wife, and seven sons and a daughter (all children from his second marriage).

His funeral service was held at Howe Bridge Church and he was buried in Atherton Cemetery.

Written by Gordon Sharrock

References

Biographical cuttings – Ralph Fletcher, available at Leigh Local Studies.