ROBERT LAYLAND
Mayor of Wigan Nov 1895 – Nov 1896
Robert was first elected to the Town Council in 1884 as a representative of St. George’s Ward. He was an Estate Agent by profession and head of the prominent local firm Hilton and Layland. Robert often expressed the pride he felt at being a son of the Ancient and Loyal Borough of Wigan. He was born in the Standishgate area where his family had lived for generations, his father John was a shoemaker. His grandfather James had been a tailor.
Robert was born 28th November, 1852, he was the seventh of eleven children born to John Layland and his wife Mary, his baptism took place at All Saint’s Parish Church, Wigan on 25th January 1853. The family lived in the Standishgate area of Wigan. Their entry in the 1861 Census shows Robert, parents and seven siblings living at No. 3 Marsh Lane, Wigan.
Robert had an uncle, Ralph Hilton for whom he began working in October, 1866 when he would have been 13 years old, a family and business relationship which would have a marked influence upon him and his future.
Ralph Hilton had established himself as an Estate Agent some years earlier and was operating from premises in the locality fairly close to the Layland family home; he was also involved in local affairs having been an elected member of the Wigan Board of Guardians since 1863. (He would in 1868 join the town council as a representative for St. George’s Ward and be elevated to the Alderman’s bench in 1875).
In 1868 just two years after Robert began working for his uncle, his father John Layland died. The family continued to live in the same area, but had relocated by the time of the 1871 Census, Robert now aged 18 is recorded with widowed mother and five siblings living at 3 St George’s Terrace.
On 25th October, 1876 Robert married Mary Smith; the wedding ceremony took place at St Catharine’s church, Wigan. The couple’s first child John was born 1877, this also being the year that Ralph Hilton, Robert’s uncle and employer, suffered a severe stroke which resulted in his partial paralysis and as a consequence, in Robert becoming more prominent in the operations of the estate agency business.
Robert and Mary have additions to their family also, for on 3rd August, 1878 their second child a daughter was born, she was baptised Miriam Hilton Layland at All Saint’s Wigan, on 1st September 1878. Two years later, on 24th October 1880, the couple’s third child and second son Ralph Hilton Layland was born.
The Wigan Directory of 1881 (page 57) now demonstrates and confirms Robert’s enhanced status in the Estate Agency which had been founded by his uncle, for it now trades under the name of Hilton and Layland. The business address given as 1 Powell Street, Wigan. Which at the time of the 1881 Census, is also shown to be the home of Robert, his wife Mary and their three children
Sadly the health of Ralph Hilton, Robert’s uncle and business partner continued to decline this leading to his death aged 55 at his home in Southport on the 3rd January 1882.
Robert is now left to head up and run the Estate Agency which has many important and influential clients; the most prominent of these being the Wigan M.P. Sir. Francis Sharp Powell, the business had for many years the responsibility of managing his property interests.
On 19th April, 1884 another daughter is born, to Robert and wife Mary, she is baptised Cicely Hilton Layland at St. Catharine’s church on 28th May, 1884.
The example set by Robert’s late uncle, business associate and mentor, Ralph Hilton in terms of involvement in local affairs, may well have been the inspiration for Robert deciding to become similarly involved. He had been a member of the Wigan Conservative Club for some time and had as a young man assisted his uncle in canvassing for the Wigan Municipal Elections. In 1884 Robert stood in the council elections as the Conservative representative for the St. George’s Ward, and was successful. His involvement in Local and Council affairs now proceeds in parallel to the ongoing development of his business interests.
18th February, 1887 and third son, Francis Powell Layland is born, he is baptised at St, Catharine’s church on 23rd March 1887 and on 11th July 1888 a third daughter Elizabeth Jenny Layland is born, baptism taking place on 29th July 1888 once again at St Catharine’s.
The family home and business location remains at 1 Powell Street, Wigan, where they are in residence at the time of the 1891 census.
Robert’s council involvement deepens over the period 1891 to 1895 initially with his appointment as a Borough Magistrate; this is followed two years later by his elevation to serve as an Alderman and in November of 1895 he is elected as Mayor of Wigan.
Robert and his family moved to a new home in 1893, this was, The Mount, Appley Lane, Wrightington, where he subsequently became involved with the local Parochial Committee.
Robert and Mary’s seventh child Gladys Mary Layland was born 18th September, 1897 she was baptised locally at Douglas Parish Church, Parbold on 20th October 1897.
Robert served as an active member of many council committees including thirteen years on the Wigan Board of Guardians, also the Watch Committee of which he became chairman
Amongst his other interests he was an active member The Wigan Amateur Operatic Society.
One of the highlights of Robert’s life, career and public work must surely have taken place on Thursday 10th July, 1913 when as part of the arrangements during the Royal visit to Wigan of King George V and Queen Mary, he was formally presented to the Royal Couple at a ceremony conducted on a pavilion which had been especially erected for the event in Market Place.
Although he had moved his residence from 1 Powell Street, Wigan, this continued to be the location for his estate agency business and is the address given on his letter dated 5th October, 1920, in which he gave notice of his resignation from the Town Council, upon which he had served as a member for some thirty six years.
Seven years after his retirement from the Town Council, Robert fell ill and after suffering from illness for a period of approximately four months; he died at home on Wednesday 14th March, 1928, his funeral took place on 19th March, at Douglas Parish Church, Parbold.
Robert’s wife Mary continued to live in Wrightington until she passed away on 3rd September 1931, her funeral was also conducted at Douglas Parish Church, Parbold.
Sources
Ancestry 1861 Census Wigan, Lancashire
Ancestry 1871 Census Wigan, Lancashire
Ancestry 1881 Census Wigan, Lancashire
Ancestry 1891 Census Wigan, Lancashire
Ancestry 1901 Census Wrightington, Lancashire
Ancestry 1901 Census Lancaster, Lancashire
Ancestry 1911 Census Wrightington, Lancashire
Ancestry C of E Baptisms 1897, Douglas in Parbold
On-Line Parish Clerks Lancashire, Marriages 1876, St Catherine’s Wigan.
On-Line Parish Clerks Lancashire, Baptisms 1877 - 1888, (All Wigan)
Wigan Examiner supplement 3rd/4th January 1896 page 1
Wigan Examiner 4th February 1906
Wigan Examiner 17th March11928 page 5ab
Wigan Examiner 19th March 1932 page 7f
Wigan Observer 9th October 1920 page 4c.
Wigan Observer 17th March1928 page 11fg
Wigan Observer 12th September1931 page 9d
Wigan Observer 12th December 1931 page 9f
Parents and siblings:-
Ancestry 1851 Census Wigan, Lancashire
On-Line Parish Clerks Lancashire, Marriages 1840, St Peter’s Bolton.
On-Line Parish Clerks Lancashire Baptisms 1841 to 1864 All Saints Wigan
Grandparents and family:-
On-Line Parish Clerks Lancashire, Marriages 1816, St Mary the Virgin Leigh.
On-Line Parish Clerks Lancashire Baptisms 1817 to 1825 All Saints Wigan