Unlocking the Treasures: The Legacy of Sir James Reckitt

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.

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.

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.

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/

Neil Chadwick, Project Officer, Unlocking the Treasures