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Thomas Hulme
"He loved Burslem his native town
and ever sought its welfare"
HULME, Thomas (1830-1905), earthenware manufacturer,
Burslem.
"Thomas Hulme was born on 15 August 1830. He began work as a
clerk for John Wedgwood's Woodland Street Works, Tunstall. He then
obtained employment in the offices of James Maclntyre and Co. Ltd.,
Washington Works, Burslem, of which he became one of the owners and
a partner of William Woodall. He retired from business in 1880.
He was elected to Burslem School Board and served as chairman
for ten years. He was twice mayor of Burslem, in 1882 and in 1905,
and represented the town on Staffordshire county council.
He served as president of the Burslem Tonic
Sol-Fa Society and was organist at Hill Top Methodist Sunday School
for 40 years. He was one of the compilers of the Methodist Free
Church Tune Book in 1893.
In 1894, on the occasion of the visit of Princess Louise and
her husband, the Marquess of Lome, to Burslem, Thomas Hulmegave to
the town his collection of Old Wedgwood ware (now in the City
Museum). Princess Louise unveiled his portrait, painted by William
Mainwaring Palin, who had been trained in the Burslem School of
Art. The portrait is now in the City Museum.
In 1904 Thomas Hulme gave the site for a new school of art, next
to the Wedgwood Memorial Institute, at a cost of £5,000.
He lived at The Mount, Knutton Lane, Wolstanton, and for a few
years before his death, at Woodleigh, Porthill Bank, Longport. He
died, unmarried, on 26 August 1905."
Oldham; Staffs. Advertiser 20 October 1894; Staffs.
Sentinel 10 October 1907.
People of the Potteries
the memorial of
Thomas Hulme's grave - Burslem Cemetery
Unusually designed large monumental
stone, structured of glazed tiles.
The epitaph is formed in the glazed tiles,
however, some are missing.
Inlays of the "Wedgwood Memorial Institute",
and the "Hill Top Chapel Burslem", also
a figurine are included.
Sacred to the memory / of / Thomas HULME /
born August 15th 1830. /
died August 26th 1905 /
the memory of the just is blessed.
Inlay of the
"Wedgwood Memorial Institute"
Thomas Hulme gave the site for a new
school of art, opposite to the Wedgwood Memorial Institute in 1904 -
the year before his death
"The late Mr.
Thomas Hulme, who took a great interest in the Wedgwood Institute,
gave a site opposite the Institute for a new School of Art, and this
is to be opened in the present year."
1907 Staffordshire Sentinel
'Business Reference Guide
Inlay of the
"Hilltop Chapel, Burslem"
Thomas Hulme was president of the Burslem Tonic Sol-Fa Society and
the organist at Hill Top Methodist Sunday School for 40 years.
He was one of the compilers of the Methodist Free Church Tune Book
in 1893.
He loved Burslem / his / native town /
and / ever sought / its / welfare.
Organist / of / Burslem / Sunday /
School / for / 40 years.
Chairman of the / School Board /
for 10 years.
Member / of / the / Staffordshire /
County Council / ? years.
? / 20 ? / and / twice Mayor /1882 / & / 1905
"they rest from / their labours /
and / their works do / follow them".
"The area covered by
the local board was incorporated as the borough of Burslem in 1878,
with a council of 6 aldermen and 18 councillors, 6 for each of the
three wards (North, South, and East).
At its first meeting
the council elected Thomas Hulme, the last chairman of the local
board, as mayor, and set up eight regular committees in place of the
previous six: a watch committee consisting of the whole council;
finance; town hall and fire brigade; sanitary; highways, lighting
and improvement; gas; Wedgwood Institute; cemetery."
Burslem: Local
government, economic history and social life', A History of the
County of Stafford: Volume 8 (1963)
This plaque on
the Burslem School of Art reads:
'The land upon
which this building was erected
was given by T. Hulme Esq Mayor.
JP. CC.
Mayor 1882 and 1904
W. Grant & Sons. Builders'
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