Ben Stocks (1838-1911)
Ben Stocks was an architect, local councillor and alderman.
Biography
He was born on 12 March 1838, the son of contractor and builder John Stocks.
He studied architectural drawing Mechanics' Institute before joining the firm of John Kirk in 1863.[1]
His brother, John Ainley Stocks, was a mason and architect.
He married Jane Roebuck, daughter of manufacturer Robert Roebuck, on 18 November 1867 at St. Mary's Church, Honley. The couple had four known children:
- Edith Eliza Stocks (1870-1955)[2]
- Herbert Stocks (1871-?)[3]
- Lucy Stocks (c.1875-?)
- Jessie Stocks (1879-?)
In 1868 he left Kirk to set up his own architectural practice on Bankfield Road, later moving to Union Bank Yard (prior to 1881) and then St. Peter's Street (circa 1901).[1]
He was initiated into the Huddersfield White Hart Lodge of Freemasons (No. 290) on 8 March 1871.
His daughter Edith Eliza married yarn spinner Walker Thomas Priest (Mayor of Huddersfield from 1929 to 1931) in 1896.
Ben Stocks died on 27 February 1911. His estate was valued at £11,082 13s. 11d.
Selection of Local Works
- Liberal Club, Market Street, Paddock Foot (1874)[4]
- Digley Mills, Austonley (circa 1875)
- Masonic Hall, Slaithwaite (opened 1880)[5]
- completion of Huddersfield Town Hall following the death of architect John Henry Abbey in 1880
- New North Road Baptist Church Sunday School (1881)
- Sunday School for Dogley Lane Independent Chapel (1882)[6]
- Burlington House, Park Drive, Huddersfield[7]
- Outlane Board School (1886-87)
- Primitive Methodist Church Schools, on corner of Northumberland Street and Lord Street (1888-90)
Notes and References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Christopher Marsden's "Huddersfield Architects".
- ↑ Born 2 April 1870 and baptised 2 October 1870. Died 5 February 1955
- ↑ Born 3 December 1871 and baptised 17 February 1872.
- ↑ Designed for free.
- ↑ British architect (09/Jul/1880)
- ↑ Corner and memorial stones laid 5 August 1882.
- ↑ Source: "John Edward Shaw (1849-1916): Huddersfield Methodist New Connexion Photographer and Freemason" by Brian Haigh.