A report from the Hyde & Glossop Weekly News & North Cheshire Herald
Dated: Saturday, 28th May 1881
The photograph was not included in the original newspaper article.
MARRIAGE of MR JOHN BRADLEY LEDLEY of IVY COTTAGE.
This gentleman, who is well known in Bollington and neighbourhood, where he owns a considerable block of property in the locality of the Waggon and Horses, and where he has for years acted as a member of the Local Board, was on Wednesday morning united in the bonds of matrimony at Prestbury Church, with Mrs. Hannah Wilson, widow of Mr John Wilson, leather merchant, Glossop. The station-end of Bollington, where the bridegroom lives, was en fete on the occasion, a large number of people assembling at the station to meet the 10:15am train, which was expected to, and did, bring the bride. By way of a feu de joie several fog signals had been placed on the line, and these gave out their loud reports as the train stopped and started. The bride and her friends were received by Mr Ledley, who had driven to the station, and amid showers of rice and old shoes the wedding party drove off to Prestbury Church in three carriages, passing beneath an artistically-formed triumphal arch, which had been erected by Mr Ledley’s tenants opposite his property in Henshall Road. On the front of this arch was the motto
“May the knot you wish to tie,
Bind your hearts in peace and joy;”
on the opposite side (which would be visible to the party returning from church) was the motto
“Now the knot is tied for life,
Blessings rest on man and wife.”
The mottos were composed for the occasion by Mr W. Hibbert, one of Mr Ledley’s tenants, and a manager for Messrs Swindells and Co, of the Adelphi Mill. The Revd F Richardson of Bollington performed the marriage ceremony. Mr Adam Taylor acted as best man, and Miss Hatton as bridesmaid. Mr Thomas Beeley, of the Hyde Junction Ironworks
, and late Chairman of the Hyde Local Board, was amongst the bridal party, and in the church were many visitors, despite the unpromising weather in the morning. Returning, the wedding breakfast was partaken of at the house of Mr George Williamson, Pear Tree Cottage, Shrigley Road. To further evince their respect for their landlord, Mr Ledley’s tenants presented him with an after-dinner tea service, which was accompanied with the following address, drawn up by Mr J T Booth and signed by each of the tenants: “John Bradley Ledley Esq Dear Sir — We, the undersigned, desire most respectfully to convey to you our hearty congratulations on the occasion of your marriage. We hope you will kindly accept at our hands the accompanying service as a small memento of the respect and esteem which we, your tenants, bear towards you. We tender it with the hope that you will view it, not for its intrinsic value, but as evidence of the feelings of those who desire your acceptance of it. We individually trust that you and the estimable lady about to become your wife may be blessed with every happiness, and that the hand of time may not dim its joys.” Mr and Mrs France, of the Royal Oak, also presented a set of water jugs to Mr and Mrs Ledley. All the presents received were sent to Mr Williamson’s by messenger. The Bollington Church bells were rung from 11am to 3pm in honour of the wedding, and during the afternoon the bride and bridegroom took their departure for Lytham, to spend the honeymoon. In the evening Mr Ledley’s tenants and some friends, to the number of about 50, partook of his bounty in the shape of a substantial knife-and-fork tea, which was provided at the Royal Oak Inn, Princess Street, Mr and Mrs France being the caterers, and their efforts were ably seconded by Mr and Mrs Brook, of the Union Inn, Macclesfield. The room had been beautifully decorated for the occasion by Miss France, and was much admired by the guests. The cloth having been withdrawn, Mr J T Booth, at Mr Ledley’s request, filled the chair, and Mr W Hibbert was called on to occupy the vice-chair. In the course of submitting the usual loyal and patriotic toasts, the Chairman remarked that the day’s event had been looked forward to by those present with a considerable amount of pleasure. The goodwill of the tenants of the bridegroom had been manifested during the day in a variety of ways, and everybody really felt that he was deserving of the happiness which the union of that day would, no doubt, bring to him. It was well known that Mr. Ledley had passed some years in what might be termed a solitary way, but he had not been unmindful of work necessary to be done for the ratepayers, who owed him a debt of gratitude for the time he had spent in looking after the affairs connected with the gasworks.—The Chairman then called on the vice-chairman to propose the toast of the evening—”The bride and bridegroom”— which was duly done, being supported by Mr P Wild, and responded to on the part of the newly-married couple by Mr A Taylor. The whole company drank the toast with musical honours. Mr. Goodwin followed by proposing “The tenants”. Mr W Cook gave “The ladies”, and Mr J. Leigh “The host and hostess”. Mr. France responded to the last-named, and after the singing of the National Anthem the proceedings were brought to a close, each one present seeming to have thoroughly enjoyed the affair, and all agreeing that the evening had been most pleasantly spent. During the evening the party was enlivened by songs from Messrs West, Goodwin, Sidebotham, Cooper, Cook, Watson, and Miles Green, who gave some character songs with no little effect on the audience. The above is sufficient to show the estimation in which Mr Ledley is held by his tenants and the inhabitants, not only on account of his kind and genial disposition, but also for his connection, as a member of the Local Board, with the working of the gasworks, which are now in so satisfactory and paying a condition.
John Bradley LEDLEY (1829-1895)
Acknowledgement
The webmasters are most grateful to Mrs Lynne Edwards and Mr John Medley for researching and forwarding this historical press cutting. Mrs Edwards also discovered and very kindly provided the photograph of John Bradley Ledley.