John Leigh - Just who was the Park named after?
John Leigh Park was named after John Leigh, the father of Sir John Leigh, 1st Baronet Altrincham.
John Leigh (Sr.) was a successful business man, the son of William Leigh a wheelwright & carpenter, who went on to build up a family firm from very humble beginnings in Newton Heath, Manchester. Many commentators of the day took a dim view of Manchester and its working class inhabitants who were most famously described by Frederick Engels in his book "The Condition of the Working Class in England". Engels named Manchester as a place of "filth, ruin and uninhabitableness". Despite these perceived failings the people of Manchester found a certain freedom and determined it was possible to better themselves by attending night school, worship at the church of their preference, join a union or political society and could receive a relatively good wage in this environment. It is most likely that it was in this light that John Leigh (Sr.) was able to harness his ambition and found a foothold leading to his rise in the cotton industry.
Leigh married Mary Ann Taylor on 18th Dec 1881 at the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in Newton Heath, Manchester. They went on to have two sons John and George.
John Sr. was involved in the Cotton industry and was specifically a 'cotton waste dealer' starting out as a cotton warehouseman in 1871, progressing to a cotton waste dealer by 1881 and a cotton merchant by 1891. Leigh Sr. established the company 'John Leigh Ltd' which was located on Brook Street in Oldham (in the 1870's) after purchasing the cotton spinning operations of Platt and Wilcox. With the help of his sons John (later Sir John Leigh) and George Taylor Leigh, Leigh Sr. continued to grow his cotton waste and reprocessing business.
These days recycled cotton is often combined with recycled plastic bottles to make clothing and textiles, creating a very sustainable, earth-conscious product. Cotton recycling can be made into good quality paper, bank notes, and items like cotton cleaning products or polishing & wiper cloths. It can even be used to grow mushrooms! Interestingly, amongst other things, cotton waste in John Leigh's time was used for the manufacture gun cotton and cordite, a smokeless propellant used in ammunition for the British Army and Navy.
In May 1897, John 's wife Mary Ann (Pollie) died leaving John Sr. to care for his two adolescent sons. In 1905, John (Sr.) remarried Mrs. Louisa Maud New (a widow) and they moved to 'Woodbourne' a large house in Brooklands, Cheshire following the footsteps of many a Manchester cotton baron by leaving behind the grime and smoke of Manchester. By the 1880's Manchester had begun to acquire a reputation for dirt, smoke and grime and the combination of these factors led to enormous changes in Manchester by the early 1900's. During this period amongst the wealthy entrepreneurs and cotton baron's of Manchester there was the money and inclination to move to healthier locations. Certainly the Earl of Stamford was able to capitalise on this by selling land and allowing the building of many of the mansion houses along what is now the Dunham Road in Altrincham. Thanks to the improvements in transport, particularly road and rail, it was possible for people with money to live a distance from their work. Altrincham in Cheshire, only 10 miles from Manchester became an ideal location, particularly as the prevailing winds were blowing the unhealthy air of the City well away from the area! In 1907, John Leigh's company had grow sufficiently that the business was converted to a Limited company with a capital of £70,000. In 1909 it was announced that John (Sr.) was to become one of eight new magistrates for Oldham and during the First World War, he was amongst the first to announce that his workforce would be paid half wages whilst serving in the Armed Forces.
In September 1916 John Leigh (Sr) aged 64 died of heart failure. He was buried in North Manchester at Cheetham Hill Wesleyan Cemetery, leaving John Leigh (Jr) as managing director of the family firm John Leigh Ltd.
John Leigh Sr was buried alongside his first wife in Vault 13AS at Cheetham Hill Wesleyan Cemetery. Cheetham Hill was a favourite burial place for many of the wealthy cotton industrialists of Manchester, a large number who were non-conformist Wesleyans. The cemetery was old, even then being established in 1815. By the time it closed in 1968 it had over 20,000 interments. After the closure of the cemetery it became neglected, overgrown and unfortunately a haven for vandals. In 2004, and against much opposition Manchester City Council sold the land to developers. The remains of those 20,000 interred were moved and then re-interred into six mass graves at Bury Cemetery, Lancashire. Only those who were willing to pay £900 per body for a private re-burial were re-interred and now rest in Southern Cemetery. These names are recorded on two memorial stones at the Cemetery. Unfortunately those involved in the work seemed to have little respect for the job they were tasked to do and many bones were later discovered at the local landfill site where the soil was deposited.
And so, in memory of his father in December 1916, John Leigh purchased 'Townfield House' and grounds in Altrincham, the former home of William Armitage founder of the Armitage & Rigby cotton mill in Warrington. Leigh's intention was to fix it up in order to accommodate 100 wounded officers. In April 1917 the John Leigh Military Hospital was officially opened by Her Grace Katharine Duchess of Westminster, in her role as President of the Red Cross Society, Cheshire Branch.
Adjoining the Military Hospital at Townfield House was twelve acres of land that was once part of the Oldfield Hall Estate and owned by the Earl of Stamford. The land had for sometime been hotly debated in the local press as ideal for redevelopment and was desired by the Council for returning soldiers in order to build 'Homes for Heroes'. Recognising the potential benefits for the soldiers recuperating at the adjacent John Leigh hospital and seizing the opportunity, Leigh purchased the land for £7,000 and gifted it to Altrincham District Council. His only stipulation was that the land should be known as 'Leigh Park' in memory of his father and kept as an open space forever.
Leigh's munificence continued with the donation of his father's former home 'Woodbourne' in Brooklands, Cheshire presenting it in August 1917 to the Government as a hospital for non-commissioned officers and men suffering from neurasthenia arising from shell-shock. It was known as the John Leigh War Memorial Hospital and officially opened in June 1918 by His Royal Highness, The Duke of Connaught KG, one of Queen Victoria’s sons.
Three wonderful tributes provided by Sir John Leigh in memory to his father John Leigh.
Leigh married Mary Ann Taylor on 18th Dec 1881 at the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in Newton Heath, Manchester. They went on to have two sons John and George.
John Sr. was involved in the Cotton industry and was specifically a 'cotton waste dealer' starting out as a cotton warehouseman in 1871, progressing to a cotton waste dealer by 1881 and a cotton merchant by 1891. Leigh Sr. established the company 'John Leigh Ltd' which was located on Brook Street in Oldham (in the 1870's) after purchasing the cotton spinning operations of Platt and Wilcox. With the help of his sons John (later Sir John Leigh) and George Taylor Leigh, Leigh Sr. continued to grow his cotton waste and reprocessing business.
These days recycled cotton is often combined with recycled plastic bottles to make clothing and textiles, creating a very sustainable, earth-conscious product. Cotton recycling can be made into good quality paper, bank notes, and items like cotton cleaning products or polishing & wiper cloths. It can even be used to grow mushrooms! Interestingly, amongst other things, cotton waste in John Leigh's time was used for the manufacture gun cotton and cordite, a smokeless propellant used in ammunition for the British Army and Navy.
In May 1897, John 's wife Mary Ann (Pollie) died leaving John Sr. to care for his two adolescent sons. In 1905, John (Sr.) remarried Mrs. Louisa Maud New (a widow) and they moved to 'Woodbourne' a large house in Brooklands, Cheshire following the footsteps of many a Manchester cotton baron by leaving behind the grime and smoke of Manchester. By the 1880's Manchester had begun to acquire a reputation for dirt, smoke and grime and the combination of these factors led to enormous changes in Manchester by the early 1900's. During this period amongst the wealthy entrepreneurs and cotton baron's of Manchester there was the money and inclination to move to healthier locations. Certainly the Earl of Stamford was able to capitalise on this by selling land and allowing the building of many of the mansion houses along what is now the Dunham Road in Altrincham. Thanks to the improvements in transport, particularly road and rail, it was possible for people with money to live a distance from their work. Altrincham in Cheshire, only 10 miles from Manchester became an ideal location, particularly as the prevailing winds were blowing the unhealthy air of the City well away from the area! In 1907, John Leigh's company had grow sufficiently that the business was converted to a Limited company with a capital of £70,000. In 1909 it was announced that John (Sr.) was to become one of eight new magistrates for Oldham and during the First World War, he was amongst the first to announce that his workforce would be paid half wages whilst serving in the Armed Forces.
In September 1916 John Leigh (Sr) aged 64 died of heart failure. He was buried in North Manchester at Cheetham Hill Wesleyan Cemetery, leaving John Leigh (Jr) as managing director of the family firm John Leigh Ltd.
John Leigh Sr was buried alongside his first wife in Vault 13AS at Cheetham Hill Wesleyan Cemetery. Cheetham Hill was a favourite burial place for many of the wealthy cotton industrialists of Manchester, a large number who were non-conformist Wesleyans. The cemetery was old, even then being established in 1815. By the time it closed in 1968 it had over 20,000 interments. After the closure of the cemetery it became neglected, overgrown and unfortunately a haven for vandals. In 2004, and against much opposition Manchester City Council sold the land to developers. The remains of those 20,000 interred were moved and then re-interred into six mass graves at Bury Cemetery, Lancashire. Only those who were willing to pay £900 per body for a private re-burial were re-interred and now rest in Southern Cemetery. These names are recorded on two memorial stones at the Cemetery. Unfortunately those involved in the work seemed to have little respect for the job they were tasked to do and many bones were later discovered at the local landfill site where the soil was deposited.
And so, in memory of his father in December 1916, John Leigh purchased 'Townfield House' and grounds in Altrincham, the former home of William Armitage founder of the Armitage & Rigby cotton mill in Warrington. Leigh's intention was to fix it up in order to accommodate 100 wounded officers. In April 1917 the John Leigh Military Hospital was officially opened by Her Grace Katharine Duchess of Westminster, in her role as President of the Red Cross Society, Cheshire Branch.
Adjoining the Military Hospital at Townfield House was twelve acres of land that was once part of the Oldfield Hall Estate and owned by the Earl of Stamford. The land had for sometime been hotly debated in the local press as ideal for redevelopment and was desired by the Council for returning soldiers in order to build 'Homes for Heroes'. Recognising the potential benefits for the soldiers recuperating at the adjacent John Leigh hospital and seizing the opportunity, Leigh purchased the land for £7,000 and gifted it to Altrincham District Council. His only stipulation was that the land should be known as 'Leigh Park' in memory of his father and kept as an open space forever.
Leigh's munificence continued with the donation of his father's former home 'Woodbourne' in Brooklands, Cheshire presenting it in August 1917 to the Government as a hospital for non-commissioned officers and men suffering from neurasthenia arising from shell-shock. It was known as the John Leigh War Memorial Hospital and officially opened in June 1918 by His Royal Highness, The Duke of Connaught KG, one of Queen Victoria’s sons.
Three wonderful tributes provided by Sir John Leigh in memory to his father John Leigh.
