I often wonder about the people behind the street names which we often drive and walk along, this is the story of one such man - Henry Fishwick.
Born in Rochdale on March 9th 1835, the son of Henry Halliwell Fishwick of Brownhill (near Falinge). The family were well known in the town and at one time owned an extensive colliery business. Many of their mines were flooded which had began the decline of the business.
The Fishwicks originally came from an area bearing the same name near Preston, for almost two centuries their ancestral home was Bulsnape Hall near Goosnargh.
From a very early age Henry took a great interest in public affairs, at the age of 18 he became the secretary of Rochdale Young Mens Christian Association, then at the age of 25 he made an unpopular decision and joined the Volunteer Force, becoming a Lieutenant, he became a great advocate for the military and along with others, namely Captain J. Fenton and Ensign Phillipi attended Queen Victorias Levee for volunteer officers on March 6th 1860.
Lieutenant Fishwick eventually became commandant of the Volunteer force, a post from which he resigned in 1869 at the rank of Major.
The following year he was gazetted as a Major in the 56th Lancashire (Salford) Volunteer Rifles, by 1871 he had taken command of the regiment and was gazetted as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1871.
As well as an active interest in the military, he held a lifelong passion for education, as far back as 1862 he was a founder of the Rochdale Lyceum that had at its core, a wish to, "the diffusion of knowledge to all classes".
Becoming a member of the town council in 1871 as conservative member for Castleton, thus began a 43 year long association with the council. He served on 5 committees, Waterworks, General Purposes, Public Libraries and Art Gallery, Education and Distress. he also served on 8 sub-committees.
In 1903, after nearly 30 years service on the council he was invited to take over as Mayor from Alderman Samuel Taylor, he was reluctant to accept the honour at first and politely declined, thus followed a meeting at which all other 43 councillors unanimously decreed that he was the right man for the job - Henry accepted.
During his term of office as Mayor he presided over two notable events for the town.
Firstly was the opening of Falinge Park, gifted to the town by Alderman Samuel Taylor. It was thought that Royalty may have come to open the park but King Edward VII, who at the time of the opening of Falinge Park was still Prince of Wales, was unable to attend due to him going away on a foreign tour.
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| Henry Fishwick |
Secondly, was the celebration of the towns municipal jubilee in 1906, at which along with Sir Clement Royds (another street name), Alderman S. Turner and Mr James Ogden, he was given the freedom of the Borough.
Henry Fishwick was an accomplished author, he wrote numerous books including, "History of the Parish of Rochdale", a volume in the "Popular Counties Histories" series, he also edited a great many other works.
A member of many societies, including being the president of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society, he sat on the council of the Chetham Society and the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, and was a long time member of the Rochdale Literary and Scientific Society.
In his business life he was the chairman of the Rochdale Manor Brewery Company, and was for some time a director of the Manchester, Bury and Oldham Steam Tramways Company. He had been a magistrate since 1874 serving both in the Borough and at County level.
He generally had a brusque manner which led many people to think he was a hard man, he was in fact a sympathetic and kindly man, but would not suffer fools gladly.
Henry Fishwick died at home, The Heights, in September 1914 at the age of 80, he had been poorly for some time but his death still came as a shock to those in the town.
His wife, had pre-deceased him by some years, she had been the daughter of Dr. W.H. Bullmore, surgeon to the Royal Cornwall Artillery Militia. He left behind 4 children, a son in Canada and three daughters.
He had another daughter, Caroline Fishwick, she was a nursing sister and died in South Africa during the Boer War.
Henry Fishwick was laid to rest in Rochdale Cemetery on Saturday 26th September 1914.
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