A Tribute to

The Rt Hon John Frederick Cheetham

(1835 - 1916)

The Early Years

John Frederick Cheetham was born in Stalybridge in 1835, the eldest son of John Cheetham, a prosperous cotton manufacturer. The family business had been started by George Cheetham (1757-1826) at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution and was based on mills in Castle Street, Stalybridge, currently being restored, and Bankwood Mills. The family was Nonconformist in religion and Liberal in politics: John served as MP for South Lancashire and later Salford. In the late 1830s he built an imposing residence, 'Eastwood House', in extensive grounds off Mottram Road and it was here that John Frederick grew up. He was the first of the family to have a University education but otherwise he followed in his father's footsteps: he attended Stalybridge Congregational Church, was active in Liberal politics and was fond of foreign travel, making an annual visit to the Alps.

Past Times, Career and Generosity

Sometime in the 1870s he took over control of the family business, which at that time employed 1400 in the two mills. He contested several elections before being returned as MP for North Derbyshire in 1880, a seat he held for five years. His interests included climbing (he had spent six months in the Himalayas soon after graduation), music, sketching and collecting art. Following his father's death in 1886, John Frederick married Beatrice Emma Astley, who was half his age, in October 1887. The ceremony took place at St Margaret's, Westminster and the guests included Octavia Hill, later one of the founders of the National Trust.

His public service was extensive. He served on the Stalybridge School Board for ten years, was President of the Stalybridge Mechanics' Institute, was governor of the Infirmary, a Cheshire County Alderman, a county JP and a Governor of Owens College, Manchester . His business interests included a directorship of the District Bank and a directorship of the Ashton Gas Company.

In 1897 his wife laid the foundation stone of a new public library for Stalybridge which was built at his expense and opened in 1901. Cheetham's commitment to this project was shown in the detailed planning he gave to it. He personally inspected many libraries in London and tried to avoid their mistakes, and worked in close collaboration with his chosen architect, Medland Taylor. The site was chosen with care, as being central but not too noisy. Trinity Street was widened to accommodate the building. The result was a library that has served Stalybridge for over a century and remains one of Tameside's finest buildings. His generosity was recognised when he was made a Freeman of the Borough of Stalybridge in 1897.

In 1905 he laid the foundation stone of the new Congregational Sunday School opposite the Library and gave £1000 towards the cost. He returned to Parliament in the same year when he was returned as Liberal MP for Stalybridge and Dukinfield at a bye election. He was then 70 years old but he did not retire until 1910. In 1911 he was appointed a Privy Councillor and attended the coronation of George V.

Legacy

John F Cheetham's generosity culminated in his will. On his death in 1916 he left his home,'Eastwood House' to the town, along with the extensive grounds and garden, and his remarkable art collection, now known as The Astley Cheetham Collection. All these passed into public ownership in 1931 on the death of his sister Agnes, and Cheetham Park was opened soon after. He was ahead of his time in his concern for the environment. He directed that the woodland on either side of the stream, which fed the mill reservoir, should be a nature reserve (one of the earliest in Britain ) and he left legacies to the Commons Society and the National Trust. His legacy is an enduring one.

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