Friday 18th September, 2009
The Early Years
Francis Sharp Powell was born at Bellingham Lodge, Wigan, on June 29th, 1827. He was the eldest surviving son of the Rev. Benjamin Powell, vicar of St. George's Church,Wigan. Despite his relatively low paid position, Benjamin Powell was a landowner and a wealthy man. On his death in 1861, much of his property was inherited by Francis.
Anne, nee Wade, was Francis' mother. She named her eldest son after Francis Sharp Bridges, a wealthy Yorkshireman, with whom she had family connections. Eventually the Bridges' estates were inherited by Francis and he lived most of his life, while not performing his parliamentary duties, in Horton Old Hall, Bradford. This was the former home of his namesake and benefactor. His reputation as a philanthropist is at least as great in Bradford as it is in Wigan.
The 1841 census shows that Francis lived at Bellingham Lodge with his father, mother, brother Thomas and three younger sisters, Elizabeth, Mary and Jane. Also in the household were four servants and a tutor.
Francis began his education at Wigan Grammar School. He was later transferred to Uppingham School, Leicestershire. This is a prestigious school which was founded in 1584 and is still in existence.
At the age of sixteen he went to Sedbergh Grammar School, Cumbria. This, also, is a very reputable establishment which is still extant. At both places Francis was joined by his brother Thomas. In later life Francis became a benefactor to Sedbergh School, and in 1916 a new house there was named after him.
Sedbergh School had connections with St. John's College Cambridge so a move to this location was the next logical step for Francis. While there he suffered an attack of smallpox which affected his grades.
After leaving Cambridge in 1850, he studied law in London and was accepted into the Inner Temple (one of the four inns of court). In 1851, he was lodging in St. John's Street, Cambridge and is described as “BA of Cambridge, Inner Temple”, aged 23.
While he was practising as a barrister on the northern circuit he met his wife, Annie Gregson of Toxteth Park, Liverpool. They were married, at St. Michael's Church, Toxteth Park on 26th August, 1858.
The wedding was a huge event. The couple had ten bridesmaids and ten groomsman. They honeymooned in Germany, Austria and Italy.
This was the entry in the Births, Marriages and Deaths section of the Southport Visiter newspaper.
“August 26th St Michaels, Toxteth Park, Francis Sharp POWELL Esq. M.P, for Wigan of Bellingham Lodge, Wigan and Horton Hall, Bradford to Anne, 2nd dau of Mathew GREGSON Esq, Toxteth Park”
It will be noticed that Francis Sharp Powell is now associated with both Bellingham Lodge, Wigan and Horton Hall, Bradford and that he is no longer a barrister but a Member of Parliament for the town of his birth, Wigan.
The Statue with the Shiny Foot
Francis Sharp Powell, Politician
Francis Sharp Powell, Bradford's Benefactor
Francis Sharp Powell, Wigan's Benefactor