Welford Road Cemetery
Leicester

James Windram

James Windram
of Leicester
Died 25 March 1849
aged 49 years.
He is interred at St Margaret's Church
Also of the above named
James Windram
who died November 29 1861
aged 66 years.

One of the most unusual sales that James Windram conducted was that of selling the Corporation Plate in 1836. The new Reform Council had just been elected and one of their first actions was to rid themselves of all signs of the corrupt ways of the old Tory Corporation and to this end they decided to sell off all the 'paraphernalia and appurtenances which symbolized the dignity and extravagance of the old order'.

Commencing on Wednesday 27 January at 10 o'clock 'to the minute' the sale took place in a crowded Guildhall. Examples of items that went under the hammer included a silver cup and cover, which had been presented to the Corporation by Sir Nathan Wright who had been Borough Recorder in 1680. This cup was purchased by one-time mayor James Rawson for twenty guineas. A tobacco box, which had been presented by George Bent, mayor in 1681 and founder of Bent's Hospital, was sold for eleven pounds thirteen shillings and fourpence. The three silver waits' collars were knocked down to William Derbyshire, a silversmith of Gallowtree Gate, for five pounds and fourteen shillings.

The most historic of all the items sold was the large silver topped mace which had been purchased for £24.6s.6d to replace the one stolen by the king's troops in 1645. This 'gilded bauble' was sold, amidst considerable excitement and some laughter, for £85 to Mrs Laughton, the landlady of the George III Inn, Wharf Street. Local tradition has it that Mrs Laughton, who was well known in the town for her staunch conservative principles, walked home preceded by the mace, carried by the erstwhile mace-bearer. If we can believe the story the mace also preceded the worthy lady to church on Sundays!

Joseph Winks 1788-1860

In / loving memory / of / Joseph Fowles Winks / upwards of forty years publisher
of magazines and books for the young / who died May 28 1860
in the 72nd year of his age.
Also of Ellen his wife / dearest daughter of / the late Rev Joseph Goadby of [.....]
who died April [...] 1864 / in the 67th year of her age.

Joseph Winks (1788-1860) was born at Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.
In 1823 he became a Baptist lay-preacher, first at Killingholme and then at Melbourne, Derbyshire. Wanting to make Christian literature more widely available, in 1825 he set up a printing press at Loughborough where he produced Christian magazines and books for children. In 1835 he moved his operation to Leicester, where he rented extensive premises in High Street, next to the Huntingdon Tower, on the
site of the present Shires shopping centre.

In 1839 Joseph Winks was appointed pastor at Carley Street Baptist Church,
a post he held until his death. In his capacity as a Poor Law Guardian, he became the
first dissenting minister to be allowed to preach in the workhouse. He was also one of the first men in Leicester who spoke out publicly against cock fighting (outlawed in 1849),
bull running (outlawed in 1835), dog fighting and badger baiting (both of which not
being outlawed until the twentieth century).

In 1836 Winks had his best coat stolen, an occurrence that was reported in the
ultra-Tory Leicester Herald with the unkind comment that it had been made in Birmingham for fashion while his waistcoat had been made in Leicester for cheapness. The Herald, which referred to Winks variously as 'Gibbet Parson Winks' or 'The Loughborough Renegade', continued its attacks on him commenting, two weeks later, that 'Winks struts past his old acquaintances with his beak pointing upwards,
like a bantam cock'.

John Winterton

In remembrance
John Winterton
who departed this life
February 16 1870
in the 74th year of his age.
He was severely wounded at
the Battle of Waterloo
And after lying three days
and two nights on the field
had his left leg amputated
at Brussels.
May he rest in Peace.

When he was 20 John Winterton enlisted in the 95th Foot. He served for four years and two months. After he recovered from his horrendous injuries he became landlord of
the Admiral Duncan in Fleet Street.

William Winterton 1819-1892

William Winterton, who lived in Prebend Street, was first elected a councillor for
East St Mary's ward in 1871. Three years later he was appointed an alderman and Justice of the Peace. 1880 was an eventful year for Winterton - he was appointed High Sheriff of the County and unsuccessfully stood as a candidate for the Borough
in that year's general election.

Edward Wood 1839-1917

The inscriptions on the monument read:

Left panel: In ever loving memory of / Louisa Emma / the beloved wife of
Robert Hyslop / Died August 30 1918 / aged 51 years.

Centre panel: In affectionate remembrance / of Edward Wood Knight / Justice of the Peace for the County and Borough of Leicester. / For many years the Chairman of the / Board of Governors of the Leicester Royal Infirmary. / For thirty years an active member / of the Leicester Town Council and four times Mayor of / this Borough.
Born 16 January 1839 / Died 22 September 1917.
It was his earnest desire to / serve the community in his / day and generation.
Also / Annie / his beloved wife / died October 16 1907 / aged 76 years.

Right panel: In ever loving memory of / dear Mary / the beloved daughter of / Robert and Louisa Hyslop / died February 27 1915 / aged 28 years. / Also / of her dear other sister / Annie Louisa / died March 4 1909 / aged 4 months.
Also of / Sergeant Robert Edward Hyslop / of the Suffolk Regiment
beloved eldest son of the above / Died in France in the service of his country
November 21 1916 / aged 27 years.

Edward Wood was born at Derby and moved to Leicester when he was 11.
He held several jobs before being apprenticed to William Baines, hosier and outfitter
in the Market Place. In the 1860s he joined Pickering & Statham boot and shoes manufacturers in Marble Street. After a short while he left the partnership and established his own business, E Wood & Co. In 1878 he sold the business to three of
his associates - Messrs Freeman, Hardy and Willis. Wood, who stayed on as Chairman and Managing Director of the new limited company, saw the business soon expanded
with outlets all over the country - from 40 in 1881 to 820 in 1926.

In politics Wood was a Liberal and was first elected to the Town Council, as a member
for East St Mary's ward, in 1880. He served the town four times as Mayor
(1888, 1895, 1901, 1906) and was knighted in 1906.

William Woodcock

Sacred
to the memory of
William Woodcock MD
MCRC FLAC London
Member of the Medical Board of
New York
and Montreal
and Mid Aberdeen
He died December 10 1853
aged 45 years.

Charles Woodford

In loving memory of
Charles Stanley
the dearly loved son of
Charles Thomas and Emma Woodford
Passed away
October 29 1916.
Also of
Charles Thomas Woodford
passed away November 18 1951.
Also of Emma
beloved wife of the above
who died April 21 1951.
aged 65 years.

Thomas Wright 1838-1905
The inscription reads: In memory of / Sir Thomas Wright / JP twice Mayor
of this Borough / 1887-88, 91-92 / Born February 15 1838 / Died August 5 1905.
Also / Geogina Elizabeth wife of the above / Born February 19 1843
Died April 4 1932 / At rest
Thomas Harry Wright LLM / 11 May 1864 - 7 November 1923.

Thomas Wright, who was born in Northampton, was a solicitor and head of the firm
Thomas Wright & Son. He was elected to the council in 1879 for East St Mary's Ward.
In 1885 he was High Bailiff of the County and in 1887 and 1891 served the town in the office of Mayor. He was the founder of the Children's Hospital in Leicester and was knighted in 1893. Thomas Wright was also instrumental in establishing the
Technical and Arts Schools of which he laid the foundation stone.

He was president of the Leicester Rifle Club and the Leicestershire Club.

He died at his home, the Hollies, Stoneygate and was cremated at Gilroes and the ashes deposited here in Welford Road Cemetery.

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© 2001 Leicester Research