Charles Kershaw

[1819-1903]



Charles Kershaw was the son of Richard Kershaw.

He was born in Wyke / Birstall [18th August 1819].

He was a gardener in Brighouse; a gardener employing 3 labourers [1851]; a market gardener of 4 acres [1861]; a farmer of 5? acres employing 3 men [1861]; a nurseryman employing 12 men [1871]; a retired nursery gardener [1901]; a nurseryman and landscape gardener [1891].

He created and transformed the gardens at the Rydings.

He also laid out the gardens at several other houses in and around the district, including Lightcliffe Golf Course [1895], Stoneleigh, Brighouse, Crossley & Porter Orphanage, Elm Royd, Stoneleigh, Ye Farre Close, and Hornby Castle.

He regularly attended Brighouse Parish Church.

He acquired the Slead Syke estate. He and his sons developed a gardening business there, Slead Syke Nurseries. He regarded

every tree and shrub almost as a friend

In 1845, he married Betsy Underwood Hirst [1819-1880] from Howden, daughter of butcher Jowett Underwood, in Halifax.

Children:

  1. (possibly) Alice [b 1846]
  2. Sarah Ann [1847-1927] who married [1871] John   Smithson
  3. John Henry
  4. Tom
  5. Charles Swinbank [1852-1874]
  6. Albert
  7. Ambrosine [b 1857] who married [1888] Richard  Love [1854-1???]   surgeon of Wakefield  Road, Bradford
  8. Hugh
  9. Alice Mary [b 1863] who married [1889] James  Tillotson King

The family lived at

Living with them in 1881 was grandson Oliver Smithson (aged 8),

In later life, he suffered from deafness and eye problems, and latterly, from weakness which caused him to withdraw from the business.

Elizabeth died in 11th August 1890. He died 17th May 1903.

In his obituary, the Brighouse Echo described him as

highley esteemed ...

... one of the oldest inhabitants of Brighouse

Members of the family were buried at Brighouse Cemetery


This & associated entries use material contributed by Carole Edwards Caruso, David Kershaw & Alan Longbottom



© Malcolm Bull 2024
Revised 16:28 / 8th April 2024 / 5113

Page Ref: WW_26

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