PR E FACE . ir s Powell o hims elf S Franci dev ted , heart and so l to ub lic a nd of s u , p life , the greater part thi Memo ir deals with his public work a nd achievements . ' The writer s a im h a s been to let these spea k f or f thems elves and sh owwhat ma nner o man he wa s . O h is s s a re s his nly main intere t de cribed here , but lov e a n d patient ma stery of deta il frequently ‘ ena bled him to turn a s ide eff ectively fromthes e o and to d o much us eful w rk by the way . Character i stic ins ta nces of such work are given in the reminiscences kindly contributed by Profess or H ull Sir Francis was constantly giving away large f o f or os Co a a s ums o m ney public purp es . mp r tively s H i few of the e gifts are menti oned here . s method of a a o giving is well illustr ted by an necd te , which of a a oo a t h a s the authority C non Le ch . S n f er the ’ ’ o s o of a s C Sir a s c n ecrati n All S int hurch , Fr nci to or was to o princely gift Bradf d , it decided pr ceed with another of the ten new churches required by a s a o Mr C a s H o to . A the t wn , mem rial h rle ardy . ques tion wa s ra ised in committee a s to whether s f or 500 or 6 so s s itting 00 per ns hould be provided . Sir Francis ha ppened to be there a nd a sked tha t s o o f the deci i n sh uld be pos tponed . Within a ew days he wrote to the Secret a ry : I have been to s ee the ground ; the sight of that p opul a ti on is s m f irresi tible ; the Church u s t be or 600. This o os of £500 f or I means an additi nal c t , which will ! ou J send y my cheque in anuary . The frontispiece a n d the ph oto gra ph of h is s a a s s M o o t tue at Wig n , pre ented with thi em ir , b th c c s o s w depi t Sir Fran i late in life , as m st reader ill PREFAC E . z best remember him . A small copy in bron e of his statue a t Wigan h as been presented by Lady o to G Ma n P well the Art allery in nni gham Park , B a o now . H e was of r df rd , and may be seen there s oa medium height, with a ma sive head and br d o Hi s fi one of sh ulders . gure was long the most H o s of o o was familiar in the u e C mm ns , where he f or hi s r liked and respected cheery manner, ha d o k of o of w r , and independence outlo k , by all typ es politician . In busines s matters he was stem and s o o o re lute , if pp sed ; but , when he had appeared os o o s m t irrec ncilable , he s metimes yielded at la t , t r unexpectedly , and with the mos charming g ace . ’ s co c Pres cuttings , re rding Sir Fran is sp eeches and public appearances from 1863 until the end of a u o his life , have been c ref lly c llected by Lady Powell in eight quarto volumes . These have ff o of o o f or h as a rded a mine inf rmati n , which it to w been impossible give references . The riter “ has also received much generous help from friends of o s o o in need , many wh m are per nally unkn wn to I n o to s o the him . additi n helper menti ned in k t i v in G . L e s o . text , his best than are due Dr D g, ’ f or information with regard to Sir Francis career a t ’ C — o t Joh n s ambridge they were contemp raries at S . - a nd o s to Mr. M i Tilb life l ng friend ; art n y, Secretary of the Central Church Committee ; to the R ev . H . H M of o W Keeling , ead aster Bradf rd G H o m oo to Mr. J . se ra mar Sch l ; A Fowler, u Ma s f or ter at Sedbergh , much kindness and help ; Mr to . e H o of Com o s Brian Fell , Cl rk in the use m n ; to Mr. l f or to A derman Layland , many years agent Sir Francis at Wigan and his devoted admirer ; PREFACE . f o oo s to R ev C . H r . L ulbert , help with the pr f ; and to many pers onal friends . Th e etchings of Sedbergh are reproduced by Cc . f . H . o permis sion o W Beyn n , Cheltenham The old School H ouse shows the School as Sir o b o . I t an to Francis f und it , when a y there is me t o w be c ntrasted ith its latest development , the o H one of o of P well all , which is the large gr up s chool buildings built under h is auspices . The plate of H orton Old H a ll is from a large p en and M r. I s 570 ink drawing by aac Watts , , Wakefield R oa B h a s n d , radford , and bee reproduced by his k s ind permi sion . Finally the writer hopes that those wh o have kindly interested themselves in his book will excuse the unforseen delay in its appearance . This delay gives him the opportunity of recording that ’ J of S B o the ubilee All aints Church , radf rd , has just been celebrated . The preachers were the h o s of a nd W s R o Bis p Bath ell , ichm nd , Whalley and Knaresborough the Archdeacons of Richmond a nd R ev . H on . R . and Craven ; the the Parker, ’ R ct of o S e or Wem, f rmerly Curate at All aints . s o of a Kennion . e The Bi h p B th and Wells , Dr , s cond ’ of to o flo Vicar All Saints , preaching an ver wing ’ o on S h ow congregati n All aints Day, said fitting it “ o w uld have been if the wise , generous and ! wh o farseein g man , had founded the Church , could have been present and there were naturally to many other sympathetic references Sir Francis . B ri xwo'rth N ortha m t , p on . N ovem r 91 . be , 1 4 T CO N EN TS . d H s o . o a n o Family i t ry Sch ol C llege. Main Events of after Life Churches and Church Work . ’ Saints Church a nd Paris h H o o o rt n , Bradf rd Nineteen Parliamentary Elections n Do . Conti ued . — Education Elementary an d Second — a o G s ary Br df rd , Wigan , iggle wick Sedbergh a nd Technical University Education . University S ocial and sanitary work M i o o unicipal l fe at Bradf rd . Freed m of the City a . o of o o ! . Wig n Freed m the B r ugh and a nd public statue E t ! I . Foreign Travel The Near as and the Far West s Private life and character . La t da ys Appendices ILLUSTR AT ION S . s a o . Ph oto Portrait of Sir Franci Sh rp P well , Bart ( gra ph by London S tereoscopi c Co .) H o o G rt n reen , ld oo Th e O Sch l , Sedbergh o M sn Statue of Sir F . S . P well in e es Park , For Fulli a r read a r 21 ne a 6 . g Full g , p . li For ha ra c ter rea c a ra c ter . 56 ne 21 . d h , p li For Mr K . E . e e r M Ke ea r C . e ne 7 . E mp d . E mp , p . li ea 2 see . 3 1 5 R d ( pp p . 3 line 28 For o ostion rea o os t on 53 ne 14 pp d pp i i , p . , li . For cha ter rea c a ters . 90 ine 4 . p d h p , p l F or ecre rea ecre t 1 1 . d pid d d pi , p . 34 line CH A PTER I . R FAMILY HISTO Y . O SCH OL AND COLLEGE . - MAIN EVENTS OF AFTE R LI FE . R ANCIS SHAR P PO WELL o f Horto n O ld H a ll o was o ; Bradf rd , b rn at Wigan on 2 th 1 82 a o f June 9 , 7 , the ye r the public ’ a o Keb le s a nd ti on of J hn Christian Year , was i so H is the eldest surv ving n of eleven child ren .