The People Who Built Alexandra Park, Oldham
– A Review of the Minutes of the Parks Committee and Other Sources

1. Purpose of this Review
The aim of this review is to find out more about the lives of the people who contributed to the setting up and early development of Alexandra Park, Oldham, to complement existing knowledge about the planning and building of the Park’s gardens and infrastructure.

2. Sources
The starting point was the minutes of the Oldham Park Committee

which are held by Oldham Archives. The Park Committee was a sub-committee of Oldham Borough Council. CBO18/1/1/1, CBO 18/1/1/2, CBO 18/1/1/3 and CBO 18/1/1/5 (part) have been reviewed. CBO 18/1/1/4 is missing. The minutes begin in 1863 and were reviewed up to May 1878. This period covers the acquisition of land, design and building of the park, and its early years of operation. The main purpose of the minutes is to record key decisions and to account to the Borough Council for expenditure.
The people named in the minutes fall into three broad categories:

• employees who worked in the Park as Gardeners and Superintendents
• tradesmen (and one woman) who were successful in obtaining contracts for specific work or goods required to build or maintain the Park
• those who petitioned the Committee or were benefactors of the Park

Newspaper articles, Census records and Birth, Marriage and Death records have been used to build a broader picture of the lives of many of the named individuals. It has not been possible to find likely matches in the records for all the people named so a selection of those for whom most information has been found has been included.

The people who built the Park are from a broad range of backgrounds. Some developed substantial businesses after their involvement with the Park, some were already doing well, whilst others maintained their trade or avoided unemployment with help of Park contracts.

3. The Park Employees
The Park was built as a means of employing distressed operatives of the Borough thrown out of work by the cotton famine caused by the prevention of raw cotton exports from the United States during the American Civil War.

As a newspaper cutting from August 28th 1865 recording the opening of the Park reports:
“a considerable number of cotton operatives have been employed and it is only due to them to record the patience with which they have borne their trials, and the perseverance with which they have applied themselves to the duty of earning their bread, instead of depending on charity.”

The names of the labourers who were involved in laying out the Park are not recorded in the minutes of the Park Committee. On November 25th 1863, the records show that the Committee agreed to pay three pence halfpenny per hour to day labourers employed to undertake manual work. In January 1864, it was resolved that the men be paid 4s per cubic yard for getting earth and filling the tramway. Other than this it has not been possible to find out more about them.

Park Superintendents

William Henderson
William Henderson is named in the minutes of July 6th 1864 as Park Superintendent and is almost certainly the first to hold this post. His wages were £45 for 30 weeks (30/- per week). Unfortunately, it has not been possible to find more information about William Henderson.

Thomas Cannon
Thomas Cannon was the first named person in the minutes of the Park Committee. On 23rd December 1863, he is recorded as being responsible for paying the wages of the manual labourers employed in the construction of Alexandra Park. He has been responsible for wages since week ending 10 December. There is no mention of Thomas Cannon’s job title but he appears to be one of the Park’s first employees. Thomas Cannon continues to be responsible for the wages and presumably the supervision of the manual labourers after William Henderson is appointed Park Superintendent in July 1864. On 31st January 1866, Thomas Cannon was appointed as Park Superintendent and continued to manage wages for manual labourers. He was paid 30/- per week with use of the Gardeners House rent free.
Thomas was born in Lamport, Northamptonshire. He was baptised on 10th August 1828 at Lamport Parish Church. His parents were Thomas and Mary Cannon and his father was a gardener.
In the 1841 Census, Thomas was living in Lamport village with his parents. His father is described as a Gardener/Keeper, aged 45 and his mother Mary is also 45. Thomas aged 12, is the eldest of 7 children. The Cannon’s neighbours have occupations such as Coachman, Groom and Agricultural Workers. It is likely they all worked for the Isham family who owned nearby Lamport Hall. Lamport Hall is still in existence, is open to the public and is run by a Charitable Trust.
By 1851, Thomas had left home and was living in Eversholt, Bedfordshire. He is a Lodger at 76 New End and is a Gardener. According to Wikipedia, most inhabitants of Eversholt were employed by the Duke of Bedford’s Estate, Woburn Abbey. His parents continue to live in Lamport and his father is still working as a Gardener.
In 1861, Thomas is living at 118 East Street, Epsom, Surrey. He is an unmarried lodger and works as a Gardener. At some point in the following two years, Thomas moved to Oldham and was working in Alexandra Park from December 1863.
On 29th November 1866, Thomas Cannon was seriously assaulted and the Parks Committee offered a reward of £5 for information leading to the conviction of the perpetrators. It has not been possible to find out if this led to any arrests. In June 1868, his wages were increased to 35/- per week and in August 1871, his wages were increased to 40/- per week.
In 1868 Thomas married Mary Flower in East Retford Nottinghamshire and the banns for his marriage were read at St Mary’s Oldham. Thomas’s mother was born in East Retford so there may have been a connection between the families.
In the 1871 census, Thomas Cannon is living in Alexandra Park with his wife Mary and his two young daughters, Mary Alexandra and Caroline, both born in Oldham. Thomas is described as a Gardener. His nephew George Cannon, age 16 (born Lamport) is also resident and is described as a Boarder. The Lancashire BMD indexes show Mary Alexandra was born in 1869 and her Mother’s maiden name was Ledger (not Flower). Mary Alexandra was baptised at St. Peter’s Oldham on 6 February 1870 and her father’s occupation is shown as Park Keeper, Alexandra Park. Caroline was born in 1871.
In May 1873, Thomas Cannon made an application for a wage increase. He was awarded an extra 2/6 per week, making his wages 42/6 per week. On 21st February 1877, Thomas Cannon died. A death notice appeared in the Oldham Weekly Chronicle on 24th February. He is buried in Chadderton Cemetery.
His widow Mary married John McNeill at Oldham Register Office in 1878. By 1891 they are living in Hull with Mary’s daughter Caroline Cannon. Mary Alexandra is also in Hull working as a servant.

George Cannon
On February 26th 1877, the Chairman reported to the Park Committee that Mr Thomas Cannon, the Superintendent of the Park died on Wednesday morning 21st and that until the Committee had made final arrangements, he had appointed George Cannon, the nephew of the deceased to look after matters in the Park. On 26th March 1877 George Cannon was appointed Superintendent of Alexandra Park at the salary of £104 per annum with House and coal. George was 21 years old.
He was born in Lamport, Northamptonshire and was baptised in Lamport Parish Church on May 6th 1855. The Baptismal Register notes he was the illegitimate son of Mary Ann Cannon, a single woman. Mary Cannon (sister of Thomas Cannon) was baptised on 25th May 1831, so she was 25 years old when George was born.
In 1861 George aged 6 was living in Lamport with his Grandparents and his mother Mary, who is now listed as Mary Johnson, a Coachman’s Wife. Mary’s husband is not listed in the census as living at the address.
In 1871, George aged 16 is living in Oldham at Alexandra Park with Thomas Cannon, Thomas’s wife Mary and their two young daughters. George is listed as a Boarder.
A year after becoming Superintendent, on April 16th 1878, George married Lucy Mary Ledger at St. Mark’s Church, Glodwick. He names his father as John Cannon, Gardener (deceased). (Note: Thomas Cannon’s wife also has the maiden name Ledger according to Lancashire BMD).
In 1881, George is living at Stoneclough House, Alexandra Park, with his wife Lucy Mary (born Gainsborough, Lincolnshire), a young son and daughter and his cousin Mary Alexandra Cannon. He is listed as a Gardener.
In 1891, George is still at Alexandra Park and is now listed as Park Superintendent. He is living in the top Lodge next to the Vicarage for St. Mark’s Church with his wife Lucy Mary and 2 sons and 3 daughters. They also have a Boarder, Frank Leigh, a Gardener.
In 1901 he remains at Alexandra Park, now listed as Head Gardener. He lives with his wife and six children, 2 sons and 4 daughters.
In 1911, he is living at 111 Abbey Hills Road. His occupation is given as “none Park Gardener disengaged”. Three of his daughters and 1 son Harold are living with George and his wife. Harold is a Gardener for Oldham Corporation. In 1914 George died aged 59.

The Gardeners
On August 8th 1865, just before the Park was opened, the Park Committee agreed to advertise in the Manchester and Oldham newspapers for two Gardeners at the weekly wage of 18/- each, with occupation of the lodges included. A notice appeared in the Oldham Standard on August 12th 1868 stating:

Wanted
The Park Committee at their meeting at 3 o’clock on Wednesday 16th August will proceed to the appointment of two Gardeners who will be required to occupy the Entrance Lodges. Wages 18s per week, lodge rent free. Applications in writing to be sent to the undersigned not later than 12 o’clock on 16th and the candidates may attend in person at the meeting but no expenses will be paid.
JNO PONSONBY Town Clerk

John Faulkner and William Yardley were appointed on August 16th. Faulkner was allocated the Sheepwashes entrance lodge and Yardley the Glodwick Entrance Lodge. They are required to act under the directions of the Council or the Superintendent of the Park and they must be sworn in and act as Constable if required and can be dismissed on a fortnight’s notice or immediately for misconduct.

John Faulkner
John Faulkner was born in Denton, Cheshire on 14 November 1834. He was baptised on 4 January 1835 at St. Margaret’s, Hollinwood. His parents were William and Hannah Faulkner. William was a Hatter. In 1841 he was living at Under Lane, Chadderton with his parents and 3 brothers. His father was still a Hatter.
In 1851 he was living at Manchester Road, Hollins, with his family. John was a weaver.
By 1861 he was married to Mary and living at Millgate, Werneth with his wife and his Mother-in -Law, Hannah Taylor. He was working as a Gardener.
In 1871 he was living at the West Entrance Lodge, Alexandra Park with his wife and two young children, Hannah and William, and was a Gardener. In January 1872 an application was made by the men employed in Alexandra Park for a reduction in hours and attention to the wage rate. Following this, John Faulkner’s pay was increased by 2/- per week. Despite this John Faulkner left the park and was replaced by George Brown in February 1872.
John went on to have a successful career in horticulture.
In 1881 John and his family were living at 2 Clive Street, Werneth. John was working as a Gardener and his son William aged 15 was also a Gardener. John remained at Clive Street for the rest of his life. In 1891 John and William were both described as Gardeners.
In 1901 John and William are both Landscape Gardeners and are described as Employers.
In 1911 John and his son William are now Nurserymen and Florist, and both are listed as Employers.
John died on 22nd April 1912. He left £1,423 3s 6d to his son William. This is equivalent to over £110,000 today.

William Yardley Jeffries
William Yardley’s full name was William Yardley Jeffries. He was born in Cheadle, Staffordshire around 1801. He was living at Lord’s Hill Oldham in 1861, with his wife Maria (born Stockport, Cheshire), three daughters and one son. The eldest daughter, Matilda was born in Stockport around 1832, the other children were all born in Oldham. It has not been possible to trace the family on the 1841 or 1851 census.
In 1863, his daughter Maria Yardley Jeffries married Wilson Whitehead and her father William is listed as a Gardener.
In 1871 William was living in the East Entrance Lodge, Alexandra Park with his wife and one grown up daughter Mary Yardley Jeffries.
William died in Oldham in 1874, aged 70.

4.The Contractors

Over 30 people are named in the minutes as having received payment, sometimes following a tender, for work done or goods supplied to the Park. It has not been possible to find likely matches in the census records for all of them and the amount of information varies. Sadly, it has not been possible to trace the one woman, Sarah Higgins, who supplied beer for haymakers in July 1867.

Squire Ashton
Squire Ashton was paid £27 on August 3rd 1864 for masons work and slating on the Refreshment Room. He was paid a further £19.1.7 for sundry work on August 29th 1866.
Squire Ashton was baptised on 21st September 1826 at St. Peter’s Oldham and married on 8th May 1848 at St. Mary’s Oldham. On marriage, he is recorded as a flagger of Northmoor Oldham.
In the 1861 Census he was living at Barker St, Oldham with his wife Mary and six children. Squire was aged 34 and he was a flagger and slater, employing 9 men and 1 boy.
In 1871 he was still at 25 Barker St but is now described as a Builder & Contractor employing 40 men. His son Herbert aged 20 is a bookkeeper and his son John aged 18 is a mason.
By 1881 he had moved to 45 Queens Road, Oldham on the edge of the Park. He is now 53 and a Contractor employing 97 hands. The household has two servants.
He is still at 45 Queens Road in the 1891 census but is now a retired builder. Two sons, William and Samuel are builders and another son Albert is a surgeon. Directories from the time list his company as S. Ashton &Sons, Cheapside, Oldham.
He died on 28th August 1897 and in the Probate record is described as a Gentleman. His estate was worth £27,255.

Andrew Schofield & Son
Andrew Schofield & Son were paid £284.10.0 on August 3rd 1864 for Carpentry & Joinery work at the Refreshment Room and on August 29th 1866 a further payment of £14.6.8 for joinery work was made.
In the 1841 Census, Andrew Schofield is listed at Woodfield House, Werneth aged 40 and his occupation is given as timber merchant.
In 1851 he is still at Woodfield House but is now a timber merchant employing 45 people.
In the 1852 Whellan & Co Directory, Andrew Schofield is listed as a Magistrate.
In the 1861 Census he is at Woodfield House, Werneth, is aged 63 and is a Timber Merchant & Sawmill Operator born in Oldham and employing 4 clerks, 1 engineer, 1 mechanic, 1 Foreman, 31 Joiners, 6 boys, 27 Labourers, 3 carters, 1 groom. His wife Eliza was born in Saddleworth and his sons John Andrew (age 30) and Charles (age 22) are both Timber Merchants. He also has 2 daughters and a cook and 2 servants live in the house.

George Moorby
On August 3rd 1864 George Moorby was paid £30 for plastering work at the Refreshment Room and on December 7th 1864 he received £34.10.0 for plastering and on July 19th 1865, £34.10.0 for plastering at the Lodges.
In 1852 George Moorby aged 25, plasterer of Barn Fold Oldham was married to Hannah Whitehead at Oldham Parish Church.
In the 1861 Census he is listed at 47 King St, Oldham as age 33 and a plasterer born in Clitheroe, Lancashire. He lives with his wife Hannah born in Oldham. In the 1869 Slater’s Directory he is listed as a plasterer, of King St Oldham.

George Wainwright
On September 4th 1864 George Wainwright was paid £20 for fixing and painting iron bars on the Park bridge and £115 for the iron roof on the Pavilion.
The 1861 Census lists George Wainwright at King St, Oldham. He is head of the household, aged 40 and a Blacksmith born in Oldham. Living with him are his wife Mary and 2 servants.
In the 1871 Census he is still living in King Street but is now shown as a retired cotton spinner. He died in 1894 and the probate records show his address as Britannia House King St, and his estate was valued at £18,121 7s 9d.

Squire Dunkerley
On December 7th 1864, Squire Dunkerley was paid £505.5.0 for stonework on the Glodwick Entrance and Lodge. On August 29th 1866 he was paid £79.11.6 for sundry work.
Squire Dunkerley was born on 27th February 1820 and was baptised on 5th June at Greenacres Chapel.
In 1841 he was living at Polden, Oldham. His father William Dunkerley is a Farmer. Squire is aged 20 and is a Stonemason. In 1847 he married Elizabeth Thompson at St John’s Manchester. His occupation is given as stonemason.
In 1851 he is living on the North side of Manchester Rd in the Parish of St. Margaret’s, Hollinwood. Squire is now aged 29 and is a Stonemason employing 8 men. He lives with his wife Eliza and 3 children.
By the time of the 1861 census he has moved to Featherstall Road and is now 40 and a Master Stonemason employing labour.
In the 1871 Census he is living at 71 Featherstall Road. Squire is aged 51 and a Builder employing 80 men. His son Thomas aged 20 is listed as “assisting his father”.
By 1881, Squire has moved to 4 Ash St, North Meols, Southport. He is aged 61 and his occupation is General Contractor (Master).
He remains at Ash St on the 1891 Census and is a Widower living on his own means.
He died on 23rd July 1894 and was buried in Chadderton Cemetery. His estate was valued at £13,860. Probate was granted to his son Thomas, a Contactor and his daughter Lydia Shaw.

George Healey
On December 7th 1864, George Healey was paid £229 for iron work at Sheepwashes. On July 19th 1865 he was paid £50 for joiners work at the Lodges. On May 9th 1866 his tender for erecting 3 gymnasiums at a cost of £150 was accepted. On May 23rd 1866, he indicated he had made a mistake in the tender for gymnasiums and asked to vacate the contract on payment of £10. This was agreed.
In the 1841 Census, George is shown as aged 20 and is a Joiner living in Dewsbury with his father David who was also a Joiner.
In 1851 George, aged 30 is living at Horsedge St, Oldham. He is a Joiner & Builder living with his wife Sarah and 2 children, Charles aged 4 born Dewsbury and Elizabeth aged 1 born Oldham.
In the 1861 Census, he is listed at Wood St, Westwood. He is a Joiner & Builder employing 16 people. He lives with his wife Sarah, 5 Children and an apprentice joiner.
By the time of the 1871 Census, he has moved to 7 Healey St. Westwood. He is aged 50, a Joiner & Builder and lives with his wife Sarah, son Benjamin aged 19 who is also a Joiner and 3 other children.
In the 1881 Census, he is listed at 277 Park Road, Oldham. He is aged 60 and a Joiner & Builder. His son Charles aged 36 is an Architect and Surveyor. George died in 1898.

Levi Brook
On July 19th 1865, Levi Brook was paid £3.6.10 for shoeing a horse.
In the 1851 Census, Levi is living at Lees Road, Oldham. He is aged 23 and is a Blacksmith Journeyman.
In the 1861 Census he is living at Cross St, Oldham, is aged 34 and is listed as an Engine Smith born in Rastrick, Yorkshire. He is living with his wife Sarah, son Allen aged 20, also a Blacksmith, plus 4 other children. In 1862 his son John was baptised at Oldham St. Peter. In 1870 he died aged 45.

Joseph Siddall
On April 25th 1866, Joseph Siddall was paid £2.8.0 for Smiths work.
In the 1841 Census Joseph Siddall is living at Radcliffe St, Oldham, he is aged 30 and is a Blacksmith. He is living with his wife Elizabeth and 4 children including Joseph aged 5. Joseph was baptised in 1835 at Oldham St. Mary.
In 1851 the family is living at Old Church St, Oldham. The head of the household is Joseph aged 45 a Master Blacksmith, and his sons Robert and Joseph who are both Blacksmiths.
In 1857 Joseph Siddall junior married Sarah Ashton at St. James Oldham. In 1861 Census Joseph Siddall (jnr) is living at Back Grove St, Mumps and is a Blacksmith aged 25 born Oldham, living with his wife Sarah aged 26 a Cotton Reeler. Either Joseph Siddall could be the Blacksmith who worked in the Park.

D. Crossley
On May 23rd 1866, D. Crossley was paid £9.6.4 for paint work.
In the 1861 Census, Douglas Crossley aged 26 is a House Painter, living with his wife Priscilla and 1 child at Hopwood St, Oldham.
In the 1871 Census, the family have moved to 18 Clark St, Westwood. Douglas is aged 37, born Hebden Bridge and a Painter, living with his wife Priscilla and 4 children.
In the 1881 Census, the family are at 22 Trafalgar Road, Oldham. Douglas is now aged 45, is a Painter, living with Priscilla and 8 children.

Robert Howard
On January 26th 1870, a tender from Robert Howard of Rochdale for £14.6.0 for installing hot water pipes in the Propagating House was accepted.
In the 1861 Census, Robert Howard age 36, an Iron Founder employing 20 men was living with his wife Mary and 4 children at Ann St, Rochdale.
By 1871 he had moved to Drake St, Rochdale, was aged 48 was still an Iron Founder. He was living with his wife and 3 children including his son Samuel who was also an iron founder.

William Dodd
On January 26th 1870, William Dodd’s tender of £16.17.0 for joinery, glazing and painting at the Propagating House was accepted.
In the 1861 Census William Dodd age 21 was a Journeyman Joiner living at Maygate Lane. He was a Stepson of the family.
In the 1871 Census William Dodd age 31 is living on Chadderton Road and is a joiner employing 18 men and 4 boys.
In 1879 William Dodd aged 39 and a builder married Mary Jane Booth at St Mary’s Oldham.
In the 1881 Census he is living at 329 Middleton Road, is aged 41 and is a Builder employing 16 men and 4 boys. He lives with his wife Mary Jane and daughter Anna age 7mths.

5. The Refreshment Room Tenants

The Park Committee minutes show that prospective tenants were invited to tender for the management of the Refreshment Room. There were four known tenants in the period 1867-1880. During this period concerns were raised by various groups about opening hours, the sale of alcoholic drinks and even if there should be a Refreshment Room at all. In May 1866, it was agreed that no tenant should be allowed to sell ale, porter or spirits or liquors but that the Refreshment Room should be allowed to open every day except during Divine Service on Sundays. At both meetings of the Committee in June 1866 petitions were submitted from different Christian denominations and from 16 Sunday Schools opposing the opening of the Refreshment Room on Sundays. It is not recorded but it seems likely that Sunday closure was agreed.

John Hibbert
On March 27th 1867, a tender was accepted from John Hibbert for £5 for the Refreshment Room for the period 25th March – 31st December. A possible match from the 1861 Census is John Hibbert age 35, born in Droylsden, a Greengrocer living at Mumps with his wife Ann aged 32. In the 1871 Census John is still living at 32 Mumps, is aged 45 and a Fruit & Potato Dealer employing 8 men, 1 boy, 3 females. He is living with his wife Ann aged 42, 3 children, a niece and nephew and 1 servant.
Thomas Guy Corbitt
On February 5th 1868 it was proposed that the tender should be let on “same conditions as last year, with the exception that the taker be allowed to sell bottled ale and porter on weekdays”. This proved quite a lot of interest from various groups. On February 16th 1868, it was resolved that the Refreshment Room be closed on Sundays but on weekdays the tenant could sell bottles ale and porter and foreign and British wines. A memorial (petition) from the Wesleyan Sunday School, Hollins plus two others opposing opening the Refreshment Room on Sundays was presented to the Committee.
On March 25th 1868, a deputation from the Ratepayers Association presented a petition signed by more than 5,000 Ratepayers in favour of opening the Refreshment Room on Sundays. A deputation of the literary institution urged the conversion of the Refreshment Room into a Museum and a memorial from Oldham Sunday School Union against opening the Refreshment Room on Sundays was presented.
On April 1st 1868, it was resolved that the Refreshment Room be closed on Sundays. A deputation attended to present a petition signed by over 1,000 ratepayers against opening the building as a Refreshment Room.
On April 8th 1868, it was noted that the Borough Council had resolved that the Refreshment Room should be open on Sundays to sell same refreshments as weekdays, with the exception of British and Foreign wines and all other intoxicating drinks.
On April 22nd 1868 a tender of £30 from Thomas Guy Corbitt for the Refreshment Room was accepted. On February 24th 1869 a tender from Mr Corbitt for a further three years at yearly rent of £50 was accepted and on March 6th 1872 another tender for the Refreshment Room at sum of £60 was accepted.
Thomas was a relatively young man when he took on the Refreshment Room. In the 1861 Census he was living at Albert St, Oldham. His father, William Corbitt, was a Railway Station Master and Thomas, aged 16 was a Telegraph Clerk. On 12 August 1865 he married Mary Heaton, a widow at St Mary’s Oldham. In the 1871 Census he is living at the Coach & Horses, 3 Church Lane Oldham, is aged 26 and his birthplace is given as Elland, Yorkshire. He is a Licensed Victualler living with his wife Mary aged 37, 2 stepchildren and 2 children. It seems likely that he ran the Refreshment Room alongside his other role as a publican. On 13th August 1874 he was declared bankrupt and his address was given as the Coach and Horses, Church Lane. In 1875 he joined the Freemasons age 29 and is listed as an Innkeeper, Oldham in their records. In February 1877 he was discharged as a bankrupt.
In the 1881 Census, he is listed at 67 New Radcliffe St, Oldham with his wife Mary and is now a Bookeeper. In 1891 he is living at 1 Siddal St, Oldham as a lodger with the Cooper family. He is still a Bookeeper. In 1896 he died at 113 Horsedge St, Oldham. A notice in the Manchester Courier placed by the 6th Volunteer Battalion Manchester Regiment stated that the Internment of the late Orderley Room Sergeant T. G. Corbitt would take place on 26th October. The Band and E Company were asked to fall in at Headquarters at 1:30pm. Probate records show his estate was valued at £195 18s 11d.
Mr Scholes
The minute book covering the period July 1873 to January 1876 is missing but is appears that a Mr Scholes had the tenancy at some point in this period and died in post. On November 18th 1876, a letter was read from Mrs Mally Scholes, widow of the lessee, requesting surrender of the lease of which one year was unexpired. This was agreed by the Committee. It has not been possible to trace a likely match for Mr Scholes in the records.
James Walker Yardley
The next recorded tenant was James Walker Yardley. On February 5th 1877, his tender for the Refreshment Room for three years at £65 per annum was accepted. On June 18th 1877, a letter from Mr Yardley asking for permission to sell draught ale and porter was read by the Park Committee. On July 2nd, consideration of this request was adjourned for a month and on July 30th, it was resolved that as “the lease will expire in about two years, the Committee did not feel disposed to alter the existing contract.
In 1861 James Walker Yardley aged 24 is recorded as living at King St, Oldham with his wife Hannah and 2 children. He is a Self Acting Minder in the Cotton industry. In the 1871 Census he is still living at King St, Oldham with his wife Hannah and 6 children. He is 36 years old and still a minder.
In the 1881 Census he is living at 73 Eldon St, Oldham, is aged 45 and a Restaurant Keeper presumably at the Refreshment Room, as in the 1891 Census, he is still living at 73 Eldon St, Oldham and is aged 56, and Refreshment Room Keeper. He died in 1899 at Brompton St Oldham. Probate records show he left £962 19s 7d.

6. The Bowling Green
On August 23rd 1871 a Mr Allen and 2 others presented a memorial (petition) in favour of a Bowling Green in the Park, signed by more than 400 Ratepayers. There is no record of any action in the minutes until November 18th 1877 when Councillor Bottomley, Mr James Mills and 4 other gentlemen presented a memorial signed by about 1100 Burgesses asking the Committee to construct a Bowling Green in the Park. The Committee agreed to inspect the Park next Monday, then proceed to Ashton Park to enquire about the cost of constructing and maintenance of their Bowling Green. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to trace a clear match in the records for the three named people who proposed setting up the bowling green.
On December 3rd 1877, following the visit and enquiries to Parks in Manchester and Salford, they found that Greens were opened from Whitsuntide to the end of September and average receipts would be sufficient to pay all expenses including the wages of a man to look after the Green. It was resolved to construct a Bowling Green.

7. Benefactors and Gifts

Joseph Howarth
On April 1st 1868 a statue of Joseph Howarth, Oldham Bellman, funded by public subscription was accepted by the Park and on May 9th 1868 the statue of “Blind Joe” was unveiled by the Mayor. He was bellman from 1820 to 1860 and died on 17 May 1862 aged 76. According to the Alexandra Park Heritage trail leaflet produced by Oldham Council, a bellman collected letters for the mail coach by walking the streets ringing a bell and he was the first Oldhamer to be honoured with a statue.

Clement Hall
On December 1st 1869 a letter from Mr Clement Hall offered the Park Committee a white swan. The gift was accepted.
In the 1871 census Clement Hall was living at Beson Place, Chadderton with his mother Elizabeth. He was unmarried and a Master Cotton Manufacturer. On 22 May 1876, Clement Hall, Cotton Spinner of Oldham was sworn in as a member of the Grand Jury, Salford Hundred at the Assize Court Strangeways.

Henry William Litler
On September 6th 1871 Mr Litler of Frank Hill offered the Committee a statue for erection in the Park which was accepted. Henry William Litler was a Solicitor living at Frank Hill Oldham. He was born in Goostrey, Cheshire in 1816 where his father was a curate. He was living in Oldham in 1844 when he was appointed as Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery.
In the 1861 census, he is recorded as aged 44 and living at Frank Hill with his wife Mary G. Litler and two servants. He is recorded as clerk to the trustees of turnpike trusts; in 1864 for one covering Dryclough, Shaw and Rochdale and in 1876 covering Manchester, Oldham and Austerlands.
He was recorded in the 1871 census as staying in a Lodging House in Leamington Spa whilst his wife remained in Oldham. He died in 1879 in Wallerscote, near Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.

The Barker Family
On October 18th 1871 the Town Clerk reported that he had made a request for an old baptismal font at Frankhill House which was formerly in the old church be offered a place in the Park. The Barker family agreed to the request. Thomas Barker erected the house at Frankhill in 1796. He had joined the hatting company of Thomas Henshaw as a young man and subsequently became a Partner and eventually principal of the Company. He laid the first stone of the Bluecoat School on April 20th 1829, following Thomas Henshaw’s bequest and following his death in 1839, his son James Barker took over Frankhill House.

Joseph Lees
On June 5th 1876, Mr Joseph Lees of Werneth Grange offered a sum of £100 towards providing music in the Park during the Summer months. The Committee thanked Mr Lees, but “the Committee do not at present feel disposed to undertake the organisation of musical entertainments but if he and others can arrange for such entertainment, the Committee will render every assistance”. Joseph Lees was a cotton manufacturer who built Werneth Grange as his family home in 1871.
On the 1881 census he is recorded as aged 49, a cotton spinner and is living at Werneth Grange with his wife Elizabeth, daughters Florence Mary (9) and Ethel Gertrude (5), a Governess and 4 other servants.

Gillian McCarthy
18th January 2023