Rowland Hill Berkeley
Rowland Hill Berkeley | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1849  Handsworth |
| Died | 13 April 1905 (aged 55–56) Birmingham |
| Occupation | Politician, grocer, fabricator |
| Children | Elsie Ann Berkeley |
| Position held | Lord Mayor of Birmingham (1904–1905) |
Rowland Hill Berkeley, J.P. (1849-1905) was an English grocery merchant, factory owner and Liberal Unionist politician, who served as Lord Mayor of Birmingham, dying in office.
Life
[edit]Berkeley was born in late 1849 in Handsworth (then a village in Staffordshire, now a suburb of Birmingham),[1] to Ann (née Hill) and John Berkeley, a coal dealer, both from Worcestershire.
He apprenticed as a grocer in Ashted Row, Birmingham, then set up his own grocery business, eventually operating throughout the city and neighbouring towns of West Bromwich and Walsall.[1] He took up several directorships, including of Birmingham's Grand Hotel.[1] He also owned the metal toy factory previously operated by Messrs. Hull and Collett.[1]
He held a patent, for "Improvements in coal tongs, ice tongs, sugar tongs, fire iron tongs, and other like tongs"[2] and petitioned for another, for the invention of "A new or improved hydraulic apparatus for drawing corks."[3][4]
Politics
[edit]Berkeley served on Birmingham City Council, being elected unopposed to Duddeston ward for the Liberal Unionist Party on 21 November 1892,[1][5] having earlier served as chair of the Duddeston Ward Liberal Unionist Association.[6] He served on the council's Gas Committee and chaired its Lunatic Asylum Commission of Visitors.[1] In the latter role, he was instrumental in the creation of Hollymoor Lunatic Asylum[1] — its official opening was postponed due to his death.[7] He was appointed Lord Mayor in 1904.[1]
He was also Birmingham's chief magistrate.[1]
Death
[edit]During the afternoon of 13 April 1905, Berkeley — a man generally in good health — complained of feeling unwell. He nonetheless continued to work, then attended the induction of a new rector, Denton Thompson, at St Martin in the Bull Ring with his wife and one daughter.[1] He died at his home at 93, Harborne Road, Birmingham,[8][a] that evening from "apoplexy" (now known as a haemorrhagic stroke), within minutes of collapsing.[1][7][10] His dinner guests at the time included Edmund Whitcombe, superintendent of the Birmingham City Asylum, and the Berkeley's family physician and next-door neighbour, Dr Huxley, who despite their efforts were unable to revive him.[1][7] On the evidence of these two medical men, the city coroner decided that no inquest would be necessary.[1][7]
A commemorative service was subsequently held at the non-conformist Carr's Lane Chapel, where Berkeley had worshipped.[10]
Obituaries were published in local newspapers, and in The Journal of Gas Lighting, Water Supply & Sanitary Improvement.[11]
Former Lord Mayor Charles Gabriel Beale was returned to the post for what should have been the remainder of Berkeley's tenure.
Personal life
[edit]Berkeley married Eliza, née Jeffrey, and they had two daughters, Elsie Ann and Kate. All survived him.[1] Eliza lived into her nineties, dying during World War II.[12]
Elsie (died 1967) married Edward Daniel Mason (died 1968) in 1911. Their son, Rowland Hill Berkeley Mason, known as Bill, was a successful documentary film director,[12][13] and father of Nicholas Berkeley Mason, drummer in Pink Floyd.[14]
Notes
[edit]- ^ The house still stands, and is a Grade II listed building[9] (coordinates: 52°28′13″N 1°55′38″W / 52.470156°N 1.927270°W)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Sudden Death of the Lord Mayor". Birmingham Daily Mail. 14 April 1905. p. 2.
- ^ GB 1438, "Improvements in Coal Tongs, Ice Tongs, Sugar Tongs, Fire Iron Tongs, and other like Tongs."
- ^ Brewers' Guardian. Northwood Publications. 1880. p. 158.
- ^ The Commissioners of Patents' Journal. Great Britain Patent Office. 1880. p. 891.
- ^ The Birmingham Magazine of Arts and Industries. Birmingham Magazine Company. 1901. p. 45.
- ^ "The Duddeston Ward Unionists". Birmingham Daily Post. No. 10514. 3 March 1892.
- ^ a b c d "Death of the Lord Mayor". Birmingham Gazette and Express. 14 April 1905. p. 5.
- ^ Donald, Robert (1904). The Municipal Year Book and Public Utilities Directory. Municipal Journal. p. 55.
- ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1076327)". National Heritage List for England.
- ^ a b "Tributes of the Churches". Birmingham Gazette and Express. 17 April 1905.
- ^ "[unknown]". The Journal of Gas Lighting, Water Supply & Sanitary Improvement: 157. April 1905.
{{cite journal}}: Cite uses generic title (help) - ^ a b "Bill Mason". The British Entertainment History Project. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ People of today. London: Debrett's Peerage. 1993. p. 1372. ISBN 978-1-870520-14-0.
- ^ Andy Mabbett (2010), Chris Charlesworth (ed.), Pink Floyd: The Music and the Mystery, Omnibus Press, OCLC 762731304, OL 16228023W, Wikidata Q25766745