At
midnight 18th March 1924 Sir James Reckitt died. He was one of Hull's most
distinguished citizens. For many years he was the chairman of Reckitt's and
Sons, a firm established in Hull by his father in 1840. Today we know it as
Reckitt and Benckiser. He was chairman of the Hull Royal Infirmary Committee,
first chairman of the Hull Public Libraries Committee, a position he held up
until his retirement. He was also a notable supporter and contributor to
improving the quality of life for the residents of Hull.
Sir
James was not native to Hull. Born in Nottingham in 1833, he was the son of
Isaac Reckitt. Isaac had been a farmer, wool buyer and miller at Wainfleet.
Educated at Ackworth, Sir James followed his Quaker forefathers in matters of
religion, his great grandfather being a Lincolnshire Quaker, before joining his
father’s business in 1849. In 1840, Isaac came to Hull and established the
business in Starch house-lane. Although known for the manufacture of household
products, Isaac did for a short time make biscuits! Isaac embraced technical
innovations which enabled the firm to grow. In 1849, Sir James joined his
father’s business. It was under Sir James that the firm prospered, particularly
in the production of starch, to become the largest of its kind in the country
and one of significant importance in the commercial world. From its humble
beginnings in Starch house-lane, the site eventually covered several acres,
employing upwards of 3,000 people. In addition, there were works in Australia
and the United States.
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| Starch House Lane site shown on Goodwill and Larson's Map of Hull, 1869. Today, much of the Reckitt and Benckiser site still centres around this site. |
As
an employer Sir James was held in the highest of regards. He provided a
recreation ground with a large hall for the purpose of social gatherings and
concerts. He was one of Hull's greatest benefactors, whose generosity helped
improve the quality of life in Hull. While his involvement with the Royal
Infirmary and Newland Orphan Homes are two examples of his time he devoted to
such causes.
Sir
James was one of the leading pioneers in the free library movement in Hull and
district, and when the town refused to adopt the Free Library Act, he built his
own, the Reckitt Library, on Holderness Road. Sadly, today the library is
closed.
After
the First World War, better housing was a pressing matter up and down the
country. Sir James too believed in better housing for the working class and in
1907 founded Garden Village, 600 purpose-built houses with gardens and open
spaces close to the factory. He provided almshouses for the poor, establishing
the Sir James Reckitt Village Haven in 1924.
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| Postcard showing Elm Avenue in foreground and Maple Grove looking towards Laburnum Avenue in distance [L RH] |
Among
other things, he was Justice of the Peace of the East Riding, an Alderman of
East Riding County Council, President of the Hull and District Nursing
Association and President of the Newland Orphan Homes to name but a few. Such
was his standing that his name is synonymous in the history of early charitable
movement in Hull. Over a three year period Sir James gave the Royal Infirmary
£16,000. In today's money around £1.2 million. His contribution with the
Newland Orphan Home was equally notable, carrying on his father's contribution
to the home. In 1895, he gifted £1,000 to build the Sir James Reckitt Home at
Newland for 25 girls and provided holiday homes for them at Hornsea. He
entertained the children of Newland Homes at his Swanland Manor, much it was
said 'to the delight of visitors'.
He
was an unassuming man, reluctantly accepting a Baronet as he felt himself
unworthy of such an honour. When presented with the freedom of the City he
remarked 'I have scarcely done my duty... adding 'I am a freeman of the city whether
it gives me the right to vote or not'. Among his peers Sir James was looked
upon with great reverence. The Sheriff of Hull, Mr. Burrell, commented during a
speech that Sir James' life and example 'speak to us far more eloquently than
all the words of the greatest and most gifted oratory'. On his 90th birthday
Sir James received a letter from the employees of Reckitt and Sons Ltd.
commenting on the high esteem and warm regards felt across the company both at
home and abroad.
Sir
James' funeral took place on Saturday 22 March 1924 at Hull's General Cemetery.
Tributes were paid from across many sections of Hull's society. He wished for
no floral tributes other than those sent by members of his family. Mr. Hibbert,
the then headmaster of his former school at Ackworth, described Sir James as
Hull's greatest citizen adding that 'A prince and a great man had fallen'.
Several hundred people had gathered to witness the internment in a family vault also containing the remains of Kathleen, his late wife. A
guard of honour was drawn around the family vault from members of the Hull City
Police Force.
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| Portrait of Sir James Reckitt by an unknown artist, now housed in the Guildhall on Lowgate, c.1889 |
Although
there is no monument, Sir James' legacy can still be seen across the city. For
example, Garden Village still exists, although it is now private housing. The
Reckitt’s Library still stands on Holderness Road, as too does the James
Reckitt Village Haven. While James Reckitt Avenue skirts the western edge of Garden
Village and East Park and is one of Hull's best-known roads.
Sir
James was one of the first to confront matters which affected the welfare of
industrial life and the material and physical welfare of his adopted city. He
had a sense of responsibility for the welfare of his employees, which has been
followed by many employers since. Perhaps Sir James was a late 19th century
'Google' in terms of valuing employees and their welfare. His compassion
extended beyond his employees. He generously supported Hull's hospitals and
Hull's children's homes. He took on municipal responsibility, establishing the
James Reckitt Library in 1889. This success led to many previous opponents
agreeing to adopt the Public Libraries Act in 1892.
Hull
continues to be a benefactor of the Sir James Reckitt to this day. The James
Reckitt Library Trust (JRLT) was established as in independent charitable trust
in 1892 by Sir James himself. Today the JRLT supports the development of public
libraries throughout Hull. Over the past six years the Trust has awarded almost
£4 million to projects and activities to extend the scope and impact of Hull's
library provision designed to improve literacy and encourage the love of
reading. And of course the JRLT has enabled the Hull History Centre to
undertake a two and a half year project, Unlocking
the Treasures to catalogue the books and archive collections within the
Hull Local Studies Library. This will allow users easier access to books and
archive collections, some previously uncatalogued and largely unseen.
For
more information on Sir James Reckitt, why not try searching the History Centre
online catalogue. The Local Studies Library has a
biography of Sir James Reckitt titled Sir
James Reckitt by Desmond Chapman-Huston and The life and times of Sir James Reckitt by Victoria Harper [ref:
L.920 REC]. Also available The History of
Reckitt and Sons Limited by Basil N. Reckitt and the magazine of Reckitt's Ours [ref: L.660]. The History of Garden Village, Hull: a history by B.N. Reckitt can
be found at L.711.13.
To
see how the Unlocking the Treasures project is progressing visit the Hull History Centre website. To see more information on the James
Reckitt Library Trust, latest news and their project involvements visit https://jreckittlibrarytrust.co.uk/
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