John Sadler (1820-1910)
Encyclopedia
John Sadler was an industrialist and public figure associated with the town of Oldbury, Worcestershire (now Oldbury, West Midlands
), United Kingdom. As a result of his lifetime of service, Sadler became known as 'the Grand Old Man of Oldbury'.
, Sir Samuel Alexander Sadler
(1842–1911), achieved renown in the town of Middlesbrough
in the North East of England.
and West Bromwich
, before entering into an apprenticeship under his elder brother Samuel Sadler (1807–1861) as a builder. Having reached the age of twenty-one, he took over the Brick
Manufacturing business established by his father, a pioneer of the industry in Oldbury, and came to found his own firm - eventually registered as John Sadler & Sons of Shidas Lane, Oldbury ("manufacturer of every description of Staffordshire brindled, red, blue and brown bricks and tiles"), established in 1847/1849 and converted into a Private Limited Company in 1900. The site owned by Sadler and used for his enterprise was that portion of land bounded by Shidas Lane, Portway Road and Rounds Green Road, amounting to roughly seven acres, immediately outside Oldbury. It is currently under re-development. The marl
hole on the site used for the extraction of clay eventually grew to such a size as to swallow Sadler's former place of residence.
, the Board of Health
, the Burial Board and the West Bromwich Board of Guardians
, as a representative of Oldbury, from 1889 until his death.
Sadler was a strong supporter of the Liberal Party
and held Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone
in the highest regard. As such, Sadler's final residence on Portway Road, Oldbury was named 'Gladstone House'.
Sadler was a non-conformist associated with the Methodist and Tabernacle
churches. He contributed to the cost of erecting the new Methodist Chapel at Round's Green and a stained glass window dedicated to his posterity was installed there following his death.
on 23 April 1839 in The Parish Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Aston, by whom he had issue. He married secondly Phoebe Bridge, widow of Joseph Bridge, previously widow of Thomas Sadler Sturges, initially daughter of Joseph Grayer on 24 February 1891.
Oldbury, West Midlands
Oldbury is a town in the West Midlands in England. It is a part of the Black Country and the administrative centre of the borough of Sandwell.-Local government:...
), United Kingdom. As a result of his lifetime of service, Sadler became known as 'the Grand Old Man of Oldbury'.
Background
John was the youngest son of Benjamin Sadler (1777–1850) and Nancy Johnson (1776–1852) of Round's Green, Oldbury. Members of the Sadler family contributed greatly to their native district during the nineteenth century and rose to pre-eminence in the area. Further afield, John's nephewNephew
Nephew is a son of one's sibling or sibling-in-law, and niece is a daughter of one's sibling or a sibling-in-law. Sons and daughters of siblings-in-law are also informally referred to as nephews and nieces respectively, even though there is no blood relation...
, Sir Samuel Alexander Sadler
Samuel Alexander Sadler
Sir Samuel Alexander Sadler Knight M.P. J.P. V.D. was an eminent industrialist, public servant and the first Conservative Member of Parliament for Middlesbrough, United Kingdom, the town with which his name is associated....
(1842–1911), achieved renown in the town of Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
in the North East of England.
Career
Sadler was educated at HimleyHimley
Himley is a village located in Staffordshire, England. It is most notable for being the location of Himley Hall and the location of the death or capture of a group of conspirators following the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.- The area :...
and West Bromwich
West Bromwich
West Bromwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands, England. It is north west of Birmingham lying on the A41 London-to-Birkenhead road. West Bromwich is part of the Black Country...
, before entering into an apprenticeship under his elder brother Samuel Sadler (1807–1861) as a builder. Having reached the age of twenty-one, he took over the Brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
Manufacturing business established by his father, a pioneer of the industry in Oldbury, and came to found his own firm - eventually registered as John Sadler & Sons of Shidas Lane, Oldbury ("manufacturer of every description of Staffordshire brindled, red, blue and brown bricks and tiles"), established in 1847/1849 and converted into a Private Limited Company in 1900. The site owned by Sadler and used for his enterprise was that portion of land bounded by Shidas Lane, Portway Road and Rounds Green Road, amounting to roughly seven acres, immediately outside Oldbury. It is currently under re-development. The marl
Marl
Marl or marlstone is a calcium carbonate or lime-rich mud or mudstone which contains variable amounts of clays and aragonite. Marl was originally an old term loosely applied to a variety of materials, most of which occur as loose, earthy deposits consisting chiefly of an intimate mixture of clay...
hole on the site used for the extraction of clay eventually grew to such a size as to swallow Sadler's former place of residence.
Public service
In addition to his labours as an industrialist, Sadler consistently showed the greatest interest in the affairs of his home town. He served on the Urban District CouncilUrban district
In the England, Wales and Ireland, an urban district was a type of local government district that covered an urbanised area. Urban districts had an elected Urban District Council , which shared local government responsibilities with a county council....
, the Board of Health
Local board of health
Local Boards or Local Boards of Health were local authorities in urban areas of England and Wales from 1848 to 1894. They were formed in response to cholera epidemics and were given powers to control sewers, clean the streets, regulate slaughterhouses and ensure the proper supply of water to their...
, the Burial Board and the West Bromwich Board of Guardians
Board of Guardians
Boards of guardians were ad hoc authorities that administered Poor Law in the United Kingdom from 1835 to 1930.-England and Wales:The boards were created by the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834, replacing the parish Overseers of the Poor established under the old poor law, following the recommendations...
, as a representative of Oldbury, from 1889 until his death.
Sadler was a strong supporter of the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
and held Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
in the highest regard. As such, Sadler's final residence on Portway Road, Oldbury was named 'Gladstone House'.
Sadler was a non-conformist associated with the Methodist and Tabernacle
Tabernacle (disambiguation)
The Tabernacle most commonly refers to the Jewish Tabernacle , which was a movable tent and worship facility used by the Israelites for the worship of Yahweh as recorded in the Book of Exodus...
churches. He contributed to the cost of erecting the new Methodist Chapel at Round's Green and a stained glass window dedicated to his posterity was installed there following his death.
Marriages and issue
John Sadler married firstly Harriot Sturges (June 1820 – 27 June 1887), daughter of Theophilus Sturges and Ann Page of Brades, Rowley RegisRowley Regis
Rowley Regis is a town in the Sandwell metropolitan borough of the West Midlands county and a part of the Black Country in the United Kingdom. Being part of the Black Country, locals speak with the traditional dialect, though in a form regarded by many as the quickest and the hardest to...
on 23 April 1839 in The Parish Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Aston, by whom he had issue. He married secondly Phoebe Bridge, widow of Joseph Bridge, previously widow of Thomas Sadler Sturges, initially daughter of Joseph Grayer on 24 February 1891.
Burial
Sadler was buried in the family vault at the Parish Church of Christ Church, Oldbury. There sat an elaborate memorial to various members of the family in the churchyard, now dismantled but remaining in situ.Principal source
- 'Death of Mr. John Sadler', West Bromwich Free Press, 23 December 1910. A lengthy obituary of over 1,200 words, corroborated by other primary sources.