Richard Kershaw JP was born at Wyke [1st December 1832], son of Richard (Dickey) Kershaw.
He was known as Dickey Pop.
He was educated at Heaton's School
In 1851, Richard left the family marker garden business to sell fruit and vegetables. In 1864, he left the greengrocery business.
In his business life, he became a silk spinner employing 230 hands [1871]; a silk spinner [1881, 1891, 1901]. He bought the silk business from Burrow & Monk and moved into the silk industry, setting up as a silk spinner at Victoria Mills.
He was in partnership with Francis Holmes and John Cheetham as Richard Kershaw & Company. The partnership was dissolved on 14th May 1870. Cheetham went on to run the business.
In 1876, he bought a part of the Wellholme estate and in 1877 he began to build the Woodvale Silk Mills.
In 18??, he moved to Brooksmouth Mill. In 18??, he bought Calder Bridge Mill.
In public life, he was elected to the Brighouse Local Board [1872] and continued to serve until the Borough was formed in 1893; an Alderman; proposed as first mayor of Brighouse Council in 1893, but withdrew his name on the death of his wife; Mayor of Brighouse [1895-1898]; a JP [1896].
In his political life, he was a Conservative; vice-president of Brighouse Conservative Association; active in the Conservatives of Lightcliffe, ^hipp^, and Elland.
In his religious life, he was connected to St John the Evangelist, Clifton; St Martin's, Brighouse; St Matthew's Church, Lightcliffe.
He was a governor of the Waterhouse Charity.
On 18th March 1862, he married Sophie Baines at Brighouse Parish Church.
Children:
The family lived at
He acquired the Hoyle House estate from John Kershaw.
He owned Giles House from 1875 to 1916, but never lived there. He installed the Royal Arms granted to William Kershaw.
He owned Sheard Green, Hipperholme [1904].
He was involved in a couple of court cases with Rev Hamilton Young, his son-in-law.
He discovered beds of stone on the Granny Hall estate.
He established stone mining at Granny Hall, Crow Nest and Giles House.
In 1882, he ran a carriage race with Hanson Ormerod.
He was a Freemason in Brighouse [1892].
He was a keen cricketer and was associated with Shibden Hall Rovers and Brighouse Cricket Club.
In 1896, he had quarries at Giles House Quarry, Lightcliffe and Park Quarry, Lightcliffe.
He retired in 1905.
In 1913, he was one of the subscribers to The Old Halls & Manor Houses of Yorkshire.
He died at Crow Nest, Lightcliffe [3rd August 1917].
Probate records show that he left effects valued at £25,550 8/11d. Probate was granted to son Richard Kershaw Gentleman and daughter Sarah Elizabeth Young
See Carriage race: Kershaw vs Ormerod, St Martin's Church, Brighouse and Young vs Kershaw
This & associated entries use material contributed by Margaret Elliott, Chris Helme, David Kershaw & Jeffrey Knowles
Page Ref: WW_27
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