Holdsworth William

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Holdsworth William

Watercolour painting by John Sowden of Alderman William Holdsworth

Biographical note in Sowden's notebook:

Alderman Wm Holdsworth J.P.
Mr Holdsworth was born in 1846 and was the eldest son of Mr. Squire Holdsworth, Contractor of Wyke. He was apprenticed to a cotton spinner at Brighouse, but subsequently joined in his father's business & after the death of his father in 1877 he continued the business for a time with his brother Mr W. Holdsworth. The firm erected some notable buildings in the city & the Town Hall, Wakefield. He was Chairman of the Bradford Master Builders Association for about 20 years and in 1899 he was president of the National Master Builders Association of Great Britain & Ireland. He was elected to the Town Council in 1880 for Bowling & sat continuously for 30 years, during which time he was never called upon to face a contested election. He was returned 3 times unopposed as a Councillor and his elections as an Alderman began in 18888. he was deputy chairman & chairman of the tramways & baths' committees, deputy chairman of the street & drainage committee & also of the water Works Committee. He was made Chairman of the Water Committee in 1890. In 1889 the Council decided to adopt the Nidd Valley Scheme, and in 1890 the Corporation obtained powers to carry over the scheme. Mr Holdsworth firm grasp of the whole situation & his powerful advocacy convinced the Council of the advantage of the gravitation scheme. The history of this magnificent undertaking has been his personal history for years. He retired from the Council in 1910 on account of unsatisfactory health and died in 1911 in his 65th year.

Year

1897

Image filename

sowden-118