1903-1904, Charles Butler Holmes Mayor of Wigan

Charles Butler Holmes

Mayor of Wigan 1903/04

By Peter Walker

Built Wigan Market Hall.

Third member of his family to be Mayor of Wigan.

Born in 1835 the seventh son of Thomas and Nanny Holmes, a BookKeeper living in Wallgate, Wigan. Educated in Wigan he chose to learn the building trade as a career and in 1861 established his business as a building contractor. His business interests also included builder’s merchant and licensed victualler. His firm became one of the largest in the area and he was responsible for the erection of many local buildings including the Market Hall in 1877 (“one of the finest in the kingdom”), St John the Baptist New Springs,  St Mark Newtown, many elementary schools and other notable buildings.

Married in 1868 at St John Bagguley, Cheshire, to Mary, daughter of Lawrence Lord (deceased) manufacturer, they had a son, Thomas, who died in infancy, and five daughters. Following  their marriage  they lived in Caroline Street before moving to Dicconson Street and later Swinley Road.

In 1872 he was elected as a member of the Wigan School Board of Governors, later becoming chairman and he became a member of Wigan Town Council in 1885 representing Queen Street Ward, when the Borough was divided into five wards. Following changes in the number of wards to ten he was successfully elected to St Andrew’s Ward before being made an Alderman in 1903. One of his principle concerns was the Gas Committee, becoming chairman in 1891, under his leadership became profitable.

In 1891 he was appointed a Justice of the Peace for the Borough and also served as chairman of the Wigan Permanent Benefit Building Society . He became a Freemason in 1866, was a prominent member of St Thomas Church and Superintendent of the Sunday School before moving to the Swinley district when he started worshipping at St Michael’s parish church.

His first wife died aged 48 in 1882 and in 1884 he married Annie Hewett of Warrington.

When he was elected Mayor of Wigan in 1903 he was the third member of his family to bear the office. His ancestor Ralph Holmes was mayor in 1667 and another ancestor Richard Holmes in 1748, 1752 and 1760.

Following a period of poor health Alderman Holmes died at his home in Swinley Road, Wigan, in June 1908 leaving an estate worth over £34,400. Following a funeral service at St Michael’s Church he was interred with his first wife in Wigan (Lower Ince) Cemetery. His second wife, Annie, died in 1917.

Sources:

WO 13 June 1980 p9b,c Obituary

WO 17 April 1917 p2d