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Sculptures of some of the Former Mayors of Preston

Sculptures of some of the Former Mayors of Preston 


Recently, I was fortunate to able to look at some of the marble sculptures created by Thomas Duckett on display at Preston's Town Hall.  I visited with a recently formed Local Heritage Pressure Group called 'Preserving Preston’s Heritage', of which I am a founder member.  We were invited to have a look at the inside of the building and the Mayor's parlour with current Mayor, Councillor Philip Crowe, who is Preston's 696th Mayor. 


They are of:

Alderman Thomas Miller (1811–1865) 

Mayor 1820, 1826 & 1835 - sculpted in 1870

This sculpture is thought to have been damage during the fire that destroyed the old Town Hall in 1947.

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Alderman William Taylor (died 1852) 

Mayor 1842 - 1843 - sculpted in 1852

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Alderman John Addison (1791–1859) 

Mayor 1832 & 1843 - 1844 - sculpted in 1861

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Alderman Thomas German (died1847) 

Mayor 1845 - 1846 - sculpted in 1847


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Alderman Thomas Miller (1811–1865) 

Thomas Miller ran the Horrocks company after the death of Samuel Horrocks having inherited his fathers share. His wealth grew and from 1852 he developed Singleton Hall and the villages of Singleton and Thistleton, near Blackpool. Building school, church, pub (The Miller Arms) and housing and drained the local land. He owned some 4000 acres of land in the Fylde. He also bought fine art and maintained his town house in Winckley Square. He bequeathed the land on which the ornamental Miller Park is located. On his death he was buried in Lytham. 


Alderman Thomas Miller (1811–1865) - Preston Mayor 1820, 1826 & 1835 - sculpted in 1870
Alderman Thomas Miller (1811–1865) - sculpted in 1870

This sculpture is thought to have been damaged during the fire that destroyed the old Town Hall in 1947.  For more about that Town Hall, read the post, "The Remains of Preston's Third Town Hall".


Alderman William Taylor (died 1852) 

I can find very little biographical information about William Taylor, but I understand him to be a Preston mill owner who had previously worked for Horrocks, Miller and Co.


Alderman William Taylor (died 1852) - Preston Mayor 1842-1843 - sculpted in 1852
Alderman William Taylor (died 1852) - sculpted in 1852


Alderman John Addison (1791–1859) 

John Addison J.P. was an Alderman and Mayor of Preston in 1832 and 1843. He was also a Judge of the County Court. 


Alderman John Addison (1791–1859) - Preston Mayor 1832 & 1843-1844 - sculpted in 1861
Alderman John Addison (1791–1859) - sculpted in 1861


Alderman Thomas German (died1847) 

Thomas German, twice Mayor of Preston (1837-38 and 1845-46). He was a Flax Spinner and in the 1841 Census was living with his first wife Ellen at his mansion, The Cliff, overlooking the Ribble and what is now Miller Park. Ellen died two years later in 1843 and Thomas, 55, married Helena Fisher, 40, of Walton’s Parade, at St John Church on September 18th, 1844.

A tablet was installed in St Peter’s Church (now part of UCLan) to the memory of Thomas German who bequeathed the money for St Peter’s tower and spire to be erected in 1852.


Alderman Thomas German (died 1847) - Preston Mayor 1845-1846 - sculpted in 1847
Alderman Thomas German (died 1847) - sculpted in 1847


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Thomas Duckett Senior (1804–1878)

Thomas Duckett Senior was born in Claughton (known as Claughton-on-Brock) during 1804 (no specific date is given), and he died on 13th February 1878.  He was active as a sculptor between 1841 & 1871.  He was recognised as a sculptor and architectural sculptor.

Born in Claughton, from farming stock, he was apprenticed to a plasterer. Duckett Senior then worked successively for Gillow and Co in Lancaster, Franceys and Spence in Liverpool and then Francis Webster and Sons of Kendal where he managed the sculpture department. He set up a studio in Preston and created a number of works for his home town, of which the most famous is the statue of Sir Robert Peel (1852). His son, Thomas Duckett Junior was a sculptor of promise who died in Australia in 1868. Thomas Duckett Senior died after a long illness.

The very interesting and unusual headstone of the local sculptor, Thomas Duckett, and his wife (Winifred Ellwood). It can be seen in the Preston Cemetery in Ribbleton.


Headstone of the local sculptor, Thomas Duckett, and his wife (Winifred Ellwood) in the Preston Cemetery in Ribbleton.
Headstone of Thomas Duckett in the Preston Cemetery at Ribbleton


Thomas only appeared to have worked locally. Two of his notable works were the Coat of Arms at Fulwood Barracks and the statue of Robert Peel in Winckley Square Gardens.  There is a very good article about him on the Friends of Winckley Square Gardens website:

https://www.winckleysquarepreston.org/heritage/thomas-duckett-senior/


If you want to see it for yourself: ///wool.pest.crowned

It might not be the exact spot, but it should be near enough to locate it.  This what3words address refers to a 3 metre square location. Tap the link or enter the 3 words into the free what3words app to find it.

https://w3w.co/wool.pest.crowned


It was odd, I didn't have a clue were to look, and didn't have a great deal of time. I got to the Miller Road entrance/exit, after almost giving up on finding it. However, I had an urge to go back and have 'one last look' in the 5 minutes that I had spare. It was almost like somebody was pulling (guiding) me back, and I hit the correct spot straight away.


The related Facebook post on the Preston History Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/historyofpreston/permalink/564464172836629/



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Further reading and sources of information

'Thomas Duckett Senior', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011

https://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=ann_1291674021

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Thomas German, Mayor of Preston, Lancashire by T. Duckett, 1845

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bolckow/6776670702

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John Addison JP (1791 - 1859)

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Addison-1931

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On this day … 24 June 1865 ~ Peter Smith (Preston History)
Thomas Miller, the leading cotton king of Preston, died aged 55

https://prestonhistory.com/2023/06/24/on-this-day-24-june-1865/

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Social and Political Leadership in Preston 1820-60 published by Peter Smith (Preston History)
From a transcript of the Lancaster University M.Litt thesis the Preston historian Nigel Morgan submitted in 1980. 

https://prestonhistory.com/sources-2/social-and-political-leadership-in-preston-1820-60/social-and-political-leadership-in-preston-1820-60-introduction-4c/

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COTTON IN PRESTON - Made in Preston

http://www.madeinpreston.co.uk/Cotton/cotton.html

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Location: Town Hall, Lancaster Rd, Preston PR1 2RL, UK

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