Ambler, Thomas

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Ambler, Thomas

Watercolour portrait of Thomas Ambler J P age 79.

From John Sowden's notes:

"Mr Thomas Ambler was identified with Manningham from boyhood, but was a native of Wilsden, where his father Mr James Ambler was a worsted spinner early in the past century. In the year 1819 he was engaged as manager to Mr Hargreaves at Frizinghall Mill. Mr Thomas Ambler was brought into active connection with the worsted Industry which at that time was just emerging from the old process done partly by hand labour and partly by the use of steam power. The introduction of cotton warps gave a great stimulus to worsted manufacturing; but up to 1837 no worsted mill had been built in Manningham. In that year Mr EC Lister MP of Manningham Hall built a mill for his sons, Mr John Cunliffe Kay and Mr SC Lister (later Lord Masham) and took James Ambler as a partner with his sons. This was the origin of Manningham Mill in 1838. Mr Thomas Ambler was principally engaged in buying and selling for the firm.
After some time he commenced business on his own account but about two years afterwards he joined Mr SC Listerr and his father in partnership at Manningham Mill where a successful business in woolcombing was being done.
This partnership continued until 1859 when Mr Thomas Ambler withdrew from the firm and commenced business in the wool trade with his youngest son James. About the same time he purchased the Atlas Mills and at this juncture Mr John Ambler the elder son of the declared(?) joined his father and brother. Both his sons predeceased him and he himself retired in 1888. He was a councillor for Manningham Ward from 1850 to 1856 but never took an active part in public affairs. In 1856 he was made Alderman and continued to fill that position until 1862
He was also a magistrate for the borough and attended the Borough Court very regularly. He was a churchman and was the first churchwarden of Saint Paul’s Church of which he was a liberal supporter. Mr Ambler died in 1893 in the 84th year of his age."

Year

1888

Creator

John Sowden

Image filename

sowden-31