Appreciating our past benefactors
 

In a modern world where 'Please' and 'Thank you' are rarely part of the vocabulary; and so many facilities are taken forgranted by the younger generation, I do wonder how much of their attitude is down to us older folk. After all, if we don't promote what we know, how can we expect it to be appreciated?

My case in point concerns one of Accrington's greatest benefactors from the mid 1800s - Mr. Benjamin Hargreaves. If we were to record all that he did for Accrington and its people we would be a very long time. Known affectionately as 'Mr. Benjamin' in the town, he never tired of helping the poor and supporting those institutions that benefitted them.

As well as taking a lead in providing the Town Hall, Benjamin Hargreaves was the first President and prime supporter of the library. He almost single handedly provided the funding for St. John's Church and was a man of great benevolence in his support of several other religious establishments in the Town. As one of the Town's main employers, he was most respected by his employees. As it is recorded, rather than accumulate wealth from his various business interests he found a greater joy in sharing what he had with those who were in need.

For sure there is the Benjamin Hargreaves memorial Primary School on the junction of Barnside Road and Plantation Street, but where are the worthy accolades or placades celebrating this most munificent of Accrington's benefactors in the town? Even the Accrington Library that owes its very beginnings to Benjamin Hargreaves bares no trace of his fellowship, let alone his magnificent contribution in its formative days.

If the council can afford to place such monstrocities as the latest memorial to a virtually unknown man outside the Yorkshire bank on Blackburn road, [no disrespect to the person intended] then they would have done well to commemorate the fine figure of Mr. Benjamin Hargreaves who did so much for Accrington.

Younger generations learn by example and if we fail to give worthy recognition to those previous generations who have made such tremendous contributions to the development of Accrington, then we needn't be surprised or disappointed when our own efforts are so quickly forgotten.

I say, let's resurrect the name of Benjamin Hargreaves and give him the recognition in Accrington that he deserves and is long overdue. :hidewall:

Re: Appreciating our past benefactors
 

I think we should record our history.

However, perhaps this philanthropic benefactor was an altruist, and didn't want statues, windows etc. dedicated to his memory.

Re: Appreciating our past benefactors
 

There are no public statues in Hyndburn.

If there was to be one, rather than some wealthy industralist, I think it would be more fitting if there was one of a worker connected to the textile industry.

A ten year old child, on the way to the mill.

Shawl.

Barefoot.

Clogged if they were lucky.

Somehow, I get the feeling that should we club together for a statue, we would only be allowed to erect one in honour of our overly modest yellow ribboned Council leader, (and he would create a bottle-neck junction with it's positioning so that we all sit staring at it for at least 10 minutes every day).

Re: Appreciating our past benefactors
 

Have a word with Ken I'm sure he will take no time in sorting it out for you Less, maybe opposite the Railway would be an ideal place:D

Re: Appreciating our past benefactors
 

Well said , and I think the Luddites would agree . ;)

Re: Appreciating our past benefactors
 

The Luddites real enemy wasn't advances in machinery, but the fact that there is always some poor sod in the world, who'll work for less pennies than you.

Thus keeping those that pay the pennies happy.

:rolleyes:

Re: Appreciating our past benefactors
 

I think the problem with benefactors, is that the young folk of today do not see their relevance.

The days of Benjamin Hargreaves were not the days when the government of the day provided things......if a community required something, it had to damn well fund it by public donations or find someone who was rich enough to fund it....and the community went around feeling grateful for what they had been given.
Today it seems that there is very little gratitude because it seems that everything comes so easy.......and is usually disposable.
People(in the main) do not go without anything, in order to save up for something important.....there is no make do and mend.......everyone expects to be able to have what they want, when they want it.
Benfactors have gone right out of style.

Re: Appreciating our past benefactors
 

Oh yawn, yawn and triple yawn.

you poor little faithful hound no matter how much he kicks you, you lick his...

hand.

Re: Appreciating our past benefactors
 

Isn't there a statue, erected for him in Edinburgh?

:rolleyes:

Re: Appreciating our past benefactors
 

apart from War Memorials this is the only "statue" I can think of in a public place in Hyndburn , "an Angel and her Mop " in Gt. Harwood cemetry, can't decide if she was a neat freak or her husband had a wry sense of humour

Re: Appreciating our past benefactors
 

Some interesting, and amusing posts, in this thread.

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...ccy-16592.html

:D

Re: Appreciating our past benefactors
 

Absolutely spot on Margaret, as usual you hit the nail on the head

Re: Appreciating our past benefactors
 

It may be that benefactors have gone out of style, but unfortunately so have things like libraries and books. Any effort to pass on information is a good thing to my mind. How to do that in a relevant way is another story entirely.

Re: Appreciating our past benefactors
 

I think that we need to consider that some 'benefactors' accrued their wealth by using child labour and low wages paid to adults.

Re: Appreciating our past benefactors
 

^^ Agreed MargaretR. There is a danger of rose-tinting things, especially with regards to statues; where context is not immediately apparent.

Other methods do allow for a 'warts and all' approach though.

Re: Appreciating our past benefactors
 

I'm sure that those employers who happily used child labour were just as unlikely to be benevolent outside of their required reponsibilities. Former town's benefactors like the Hargreaves and the Grimshaws were held in high esteem by their employees as a mark of respect they received from their employers.

This interest in the Hargreaves and Grimshaw families stems from a project I am currently working on. A video about the history of Plantation road and the properties in this area. So, if anyone has any photographs of Arden Hall, Owl Hall, Plantation House, cottages, mill, I would be most grateful if you would get in touch with me.

Some of you may remember the fire at Owl Hall of 2007. It devestated what had been a lovely property. Well, anyone like myself that cares about the preservation of our historical buildings will be pleased to learn that someone from Haslingden has bought the property and work is underway restoring it to its former glory. There will be an additional 2 or 3 cottages on the same land as Owl Hall.

Re: Appreciating our past benefactors
 

It's a fact that in 1870, at the height of our local industrialists' benefaction, 9.6% of children employed in the cotton mills were aged under thirteen years old.

Perhaps they did gave as true alruists, and apart fron the odd thing named after them, they didn't want lasting memorials to glorify their generosity. For instance when paying for stained glass windows in our local churches, such as St. John's.

Or perhaps they might have felt uncomfortable listening to sermons in church, in which Jesus said 'Suffer the Little Children to Come Unto Me', knowing their fortune was in part thanks to the suffering of child labourers.

Re: Appreciating our past benefactors
 

Alruists should of course read altruists.

Why do glaring mistakes only magically appear, after the edit button has vanished?

:rolleyes::D

Re: Appreciating our past benefactors
 

How's this campaign going?

I've found a few old French francs, if you want them for your statue fund.

:)