1899, James Thorp, the Charter Mayor

1899, James Thorp, Charter Mayor

A native of Leigh, James was born on the 24 October 1840. He was the second son of the late John Thorpe, cotton spinner.

Educated at Leigh Grammar School, James entered the spinning trade through his uncles John & James Hayes at Victoria Mills and later became the managing director.

He married Sophia Howarth of Runcorn and went to live at “Stone House”, Leigh.

Many of James’s victories included being elected to Chair of the Pennington Local Board. He was a strong advocate for the amalgamation of the three boards of Bedford , Pennington and Westleigh. He used his influence in getting the townships united in one solid body and thereby becoming the Leigh Local Board. James was Chair of the Leigh Local Board from 1876 to 1894, a time in which Leigh developed rapidly and saw improvements such as new police courts, a piped water supply and decent sewage disposal.

In 1894, Leigh Local Board became Leigh Urban District and from 1894 until 1899 James held the position of Chair. He stepped down in 1899 due to ill health. During the Incorporation of Leigh, James became the Charter Mayor.

A keen Wesleyan, James helped to build the Pennington Wesleyan King Street Methodist Church. He was also a trustee of the Westleigh Wesleyan Church. In his youth it has been said that James was a teacher in one of the Bible classes at the Leigh Bridge Wesleyan Sunday School.

James promoted the Leigh Technical School and the Free Public Library in Railway Road. Both premises opened in 1894. James also provided cash prizes for diligent scholars.

James had many hobbies and was a member of the Leigh Golf Club and vice president of the Leigh and Tyldesley Cricket Clubs. He enjoyed travel and travelled to places with beautiful scenery such as Switzerland. As a youth it is believed he enjoyed ice-skating and was said to glide ‘gracefully’ along the stream known locally as the Atherton Canal.

He died 10^th February 1914 at his home “Holly Bank”, Orchard Lane, Leigh. He left two sons and two daughter. His funeral took place at the Pennington Wesleyan King Street Methodist Church. He was buried at Leigh Cemetery.

Written by Evelyn Walls

References

Biographical cuttings - James Thorp, available at Leigh Local Studies