George Ackroyd, JP

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George Ackroyd, JP

Watercolour portrait of George Ackroyd JP, painted by John Sowden in the late 19th century. George Ackroyd was a Bank Manager in Bradford.

from John Sowden's notebooks:

"Mr Ackroyd a highly esteemed citizen was born at Dudley Hill, Bradford in 1819 and on the death of his mother, during his boyhood, was placed under the care of his grandfather. Through the interest of Mr Henry Leah, of Bierley Hall, a partner in the Bierley Ironworks Company he obtained at the age of 13 a situation as junior clerk under the Bradford Banking Company Ltd, under the management of the late Mr Samuel Laycock.

By steady promotion he eventually succeeded Mr Laycock in the management of the concern and in July 1881, after celebrating his jubilee in the company’s service, he retired from Active duty. During these years Bradford had made rapid strides towards its present commercial position. It is stated that, in some years, not less than a hundred millions sterling of money changed hands in Bradford annually. Mr Ackroyd was one of the earliest teachers at St John’s Sunday School, Bowling and he took an active part in the formation of the Bradford Mechanics’ Institute.

He was an active supporter of the Ten Hours Bill and with Mr Matthew Balme(?) in endeavouring to amelioriate the condition of the factory workers of this district. He was president of the Church Institute in 1879 and was its treasurer for upwards of 20 years. He was also a valuable friend to the Bradford Library. He took special interest in the Bradford Children's Hospital and was a liberal contributor to the funds of many local charitable institutions.

He was a governor of the Bradford Grammar School and was appointed a Justice of the Peace, but he did not qualify for the position, the nomination had been made against his wish. For a number of years he was a member of the Bradford Board of Guardians. He was a great lover of books, a voracious reader and a good patron of Yorkshire literature, and he was himself a writer in verse that was of sufficient merit to show that he was a true poet of nature, a number of his poems were set to music and have frequently [been] used at Saint Jude's Church. He married Miss Elizabeth Harris, a Warwickshire lady and had two sons. He died in 1901 aged 82 years."

Year

1888

Creator

Sowden, John

Image filename

sowden-40

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