"Let us now praise famous men..."

Ecclesiasticus 44:1-15

 Jessie Shirley (1848-1927)
 

Jesse Shirley
 

Jesse Shirley was born in Etruria on 17 November 1848. He was educated at Alfieri's Academy, Northwood, Hanley, and was in partnership with his brother, H. B. Shirley in the firm of Jesse and H. B. Shirley, bone and flint mills, Etruria.

The company started in 1820 and still operates today and is the world's oldest producer of calcined bone ash use in the manufacture of fine bone chine pottery.

In 1837 Jesse Shirley started to supply calcined bone ash to Josiah Wedgwood and Sons Limited. This enabled Jesse Shirley to prosper in Etruria, near to the renowned factory of Josiah Wedgwood.

Jesse Shirley's bone and flint mill on the Trent and Mersey Canal
built in 1857 and now an ancient scheduled monument

Etruscan Villa, in Lord Street - home of Jesse Shirley
Lord Street was renamed Etruria Road and then later
Etruria Old Road

Jesse Shirley was active in serving the local community - he was elected to Hanley council in 1880, served as mayor in 1885 and became an alderman in 1892. As chairman of the parks committee he promoted the scheme for the purchase and laying out of Hanley Park.

His brother Henry Benjamin Shirley was elected to Hanley council in 1893 and served as mayor in 1902-3. He was a Wesleyan Methodist, a Conservative in politics and president of Hartshill Cricket Club.

In Etruria park there is a fountain donated in 1904 by Henry and Jesse Shirley.

fountain in Etruria Park

The inscription on the fountain reads:

"This fountain was presented by
the Mayor of Hanley H.B. Shirley Esq. JP
and Alderman Jesse Shirley JP
September 1904"

Inside the nearby Etruria Methodist Church  is a memorial to his father (also named Jesse) and his mother Sarah.