News: Archives highlight life of Rotherham businessman
The latest display from Rotherham Archives highlights John Mason, Jewellers and Clockmakers of High Street, in the town centre and the family behind the business.
The display will comprise of a wide variety of material, including copies of photographs, an ordnance survey map, extracts from printed material and an office rental receipt.
John Mason's family were clockmakers dating back to the seventeenth century. His shop specialised in the sale of jewellery, clocks and silverware for more than 120 years.
Determined to make his mark on the world, he built his own High Street shop, which at the time was described as one of the finest of its kind in the North of England.
By 1871, as a 40-year-old man with a few decades worth of experience behind him, John had expanded his business to include jewellery and was employing four men.
Ever ambitious, just a few years later, he opened another shop, this time in Mexborough, and soon after that became embroiled in Rotherham's ever-tumultuous political scene, becoming a councillor in the early 1880s and going on to serve as Mayor in 1888.
By 1901, the year he retired from politics, he had expanded his business still further, setting up a shop in Barnsley.
John died on the June 29, 1914. His obituary noted that he was "one of the oldest inhabitants and best-known public workers in Rotherham."
Mason left his imprint on Rotherham in numerous ways and his work can still be seen. The Hastings Clock at Walker Place was created by Mason in 1912 and presented to the town by local businessman James Hastings to commemorate the coronation of King George V.
The building at the top of the High Street was bought and taken over by Hamby's in 2003 and is set to be restored to it's former glory as part of the £5m Heritage Lottery-Funded (HLF) Townscape Heritage Initiative.
Plans have been approved for the restoration and reinstatement of architectural features at 32 - 46 High Street including a new shop front to Hamby's which will restore the building to it's original appearance.
Other features include restoring the spire, new decorative gable panels, a new roof, stained glass and new sash windows.
THI website
Rotherham
The display will comprise of a wide variety of material, including copies of photographs, an ordnance survey map, extracts from printed material and an office rental receipt.
John Mason's family were clockmakers dating back to the seventeenth century. His shop specialised in the sale of jewellery, clocks and silverware for more than 120 years.
Determined to make his mark on the world, he built his own High Street shop, which at the time was described as one of the finest of its kind in the North of England.
By 1871, as a 40-year-old man with a few decades worth of experience behind him, John had expanded his business to include jewellery and was employing four men.
Ever ambitious, just a few years later, he opened another shop, this time in Mexborough, and soon after that became embroiled in Rotherham's ever-tumultuous political scene, becoming a councillor in the early 1880s and going on to serve as Mayor in 1888.
By 1901, the year he retired from politics, he had expanded his business still further, setting up a shop in Barnsley.
John died on the June 29, 1914. His obituary noted that he was "one of the oldest inhabitants and best-known public workers in Rotherham."
Mason left his imprint on Rotherham in numerous ways and his work can still be seen. The Hastings Clock at Walker Place was created by Mason in 1912 and presented to the town by local businessman James Hastings to commemorate the coronation of King George V.
The building at the top of the High Street was bought and taken over by Hamby's in 2003 and is set to be restored to it's former glory as part of the £5m Heritage Lottery-Funded (HLF) Townscape Heritage Initiative.
Plans have been approved for the restoration and reinstatement of architectural features at 32 - 46 High Street including a new shop front to Hamby's which will restore the building to it's original appearance.
Other features include restoring the spire, new decorative gable panels, a new roof, stained glass and new sash windows.
THI website
Rotherham
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