Thwaites, Daniel 002

Daniel Thwaites, M.P., J.P., 1817-1888.rnDaniel Thwaites, somtime Member of Parliament for Blackburn, millionaire brewer and deputy-lieutenant for the county of Leicestershire, was born at 32 Cleaver Street, Blackburn on August 15th 1817. The house, which no longer exists, was on the Larkhill side of the street, its garden within the area of the brewery, so that its back entrance gave direct access to the brewery yard.rnEanam Brewery, which has achieved world-wide fame, was erected on the vicars glebe soon after 1797, when Vicar Starkie obtained a special act of Parliament enabling him to lease the church lands for 999 years. One of the founders was Edward Duckworth whose daughter Betty married Daniel Thwaites the elder, who subsequently became a partner. The Brewery bounded by Skye Street, Cleaver Street, Larkhill Street and Brook Street with its southern angle abutting on the Blackburn to Accrington turn-pike at Eanam, is shown on Gillies map of 1822 as a group of small buildings.rnDaniel Thwaites married in 1869, his wife being Eliza Amelia daughter of Mr Gregory, of Repton Priory, Derbyshire and they took up their residence, first at Beardwood Cliff and later Billinge Scar. Of this union was born a son, who died in infancy, and a daughter Elma Amy, known to a later generation as Mrs Yerburgh.rnDaniel began his public life in 1851, the year of the town's incorporation, when he and his two brothers, Thomas and John were elected members of the first town council. His political career was brief but eventful. He fought three elections in six years, losing the first by fifteen votes to William Edward Briggs in 1874.rnIt was lord of the manor of Mellor he remained in the public eye. Stanley House a three-storied 16th century farm to the north of Woodfold, is reputed to be the ancient manor-house, but when Henry sudell purchased the estate towards the end of the 18th Centruy, he erected a substantial modern mansion with handsome pillared entrance at Woodfold, enclosing its park with a wall four miles in circumference. Here for many years he maintained the old customs and rights, appertaining to the title, holding the immemorial Court Leet until the year 1826, since which time the old feudal laws have either become obsolete of fallen into disuse. When Henry Suddell became bankrupt he settled the manor of Mellor on his daughters who sold it four years later to John Fowden Hindle, only a few months before his death. His son and namesake resided at Woodfold for many years, dying in 1849. He was suceeded by his brother William, whos two daughters inherited on his death. One of the latter Mrs G.F Gregory, was sister-in-law to Mrs Daniel Thwaites, who was thus induced to purchase one half of the estsate and ultimately the remainder. He was a careful and conscientious landlord and it is affirmed that he spent over £50,000 on improving the estate without increasing the rents of his tenants by a penny piece. He had a passion for demolishing or improving old property, of which we have tangible evidence in Thwaites Arcade, erected on the site of some ancient tenements in Church Street.rnHe Died on the 21st of Spetember, 1888, at his home at Barwhillanty, Kirkudbrightshire, and was interred in the family vault in Mellor Churchyard, where his wife, who survived him for 19 years also lies.