Colonel William Irving Holdsworth



Colonel William Irving Holdsworth of Greenroyde, Halifax and Shaw Lodge was the eldest son of John Holdsworth.

Born 9th January 1821.

He was educated at Clifton and Bradford.

After his brothers died, he carried on the family business – John Holdsworth & Company Limited – alone.

Later he was joined by his two nephews Walter and Clement.

He was the principal benefactor of the new parish of All Saints, Salterhebble, created in 1846. He laid the foundation stone of All Saints' Church, Salterhebble in 1857.

He unveiled the Prince Consort Memorial, and he took a leading part in the construction of new reservoirs as the town expanded.

He was a member of Halifax Town Council [1860-1869] / Alderman for Market Ward [1866] / Mayor of Halifax [1863-1865] / Colonel of the 4th Yorkshire West Riding Rifle Volunteers / Major of the 4th Yorkshire West Riding Rifle Volunteers [10th May  1861] / Vice-President of the Halifax Church Institute / President of the Halifax Glee & Madrigal Society.

He was recorded as being

... proud of his town and county ... an excellent speaker, an enlightened employer and popular with his work-people

Several times, he was invited to stand as MP for the town, but always declined.

In 1874, he married Mary Greenwood [1823-1884] at St Martin in the Fields, London.

He acquired a collection of paintings which were sold at Christie & Manson's gallery in London and realised £30,000 in 1881. His brother Tom died whilst attending the sale. The paintings are listed in the Foldout.

Mary died 7th November 1884.

William Irving died 13th December 1885.

The couple were buried at All Saints' Church, Dudwell in the Holdsworth family tomb



© Malcolm Bull 2021
Revised 15:24 / 24th May 2021 / 4145

Page Ref: QQ_187

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