Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1940 & 49

Alfred Gladstone Waterhouse. (1869 - 1942)


Alfred Gladstone Waterhouse worked for 56 years at Messrs *Peter Spence and Sons Ltd, chemical manufacturers, and rose from Office Boy to Chief of the Travelling Staff and Director.


He was born on 17th August 1869 in Swinton, Lancashire, the son of Frederick Waterhouse (b.1826 in Salford) a Cotton Salesman and Ann (nee Wakefield) Waterhouse (b.1826 in Masham, Yorkshire). The family home in 1871, was Chorley Road, Swinton and in 1881 it was 87, Manchester Road, Swinton, Alfred's siblings were Hannah (b.1851), Emma (b.1853), Martha (b.1856), Mary (b.1857), Elizabeth (b.1860), Frederick (b.1862), Ellen (b.1865), Sarah (b.1867) and Ann M (b.1868). Alfred was the youngest. By 1891, the family had moved to Sligo Street in Pendleton and 21-year-old Alfred's occupation was Clerk.


In 1893 Alfred married Jane Costley (born 18th December 1869 in Pendleton), by Registrar. She was a Schoolteacher and the daughter of Thomas Costley (Estate Agent and Coal Dealer) and his wife Sarah. In 1895, Alfred and Jane had a daughter, Dorothy Costley, who sadly died in 1900, aged 4. In 1901 the family lived at 71 Church Street, Pendleton and Alfred's occupation was Commercial Traveller (Chemicals). The couple had a son Reginald Hammond (born 1901 in Pendleton). In 1911, the family was living at 131 Claremont Road, Pendleton. In 1939, and still living at 131 Claremont Road, Alfred's occupation was now Director of Chemical Manufacturing Company. Alfred died on 9th May 1942 aged 72. After a service at Charlestown Congregational Church, he was interred at Weaste Cemetery


The Manchester Evening News of 11th May 1942 led with "Office Boy to Director." It said "One of Salford's most charitable men, Mr Alfred Gladstone Waterhouse has died at his home, Glenfield, in Claremont Road, Pendleton, after an long illness, aged 72. Born in Swinton, Mr Waterhouse moved to the Salford area soon afterwards. Fifty six years ago he started as an Office Boy at Messrs Peter Spence and Sons Ltd, Chemical Manufacturers and from that position he rose to be Chief of the Travelling Staff and a Director. In 1924 he was made a Magistrate for Salford. Tributes to Mr Waterhouse's public services were paid today by Salford Stipendiary magistrate, Mr F B Turner and by Detective Inspector Barnfield on behalf of the Police at Salford Police Court.


A year later, the Manchester Evening News of 17th December 1943, recorded the death of Alfred's widow Jane. "Waterhouse, on December 16th at her residence, Glenfield, Claremont Road, Salford 6, JANE, the beloved wife of the late Alfred Gladstone Waterhouse and loving mother of Reg and his wife Kathleen, in her 74th year. Service at Charlestown Congregational Church at 1.30 pm prior to interment at Weaste Cemetery at 2.15 pm."


*Peter Spence (1806 -1883) was a Scottish chemist who discovered a process for making alum cheaply. The company moved to Pendleton c1850, then to Miles Platting, Manchester in c1857. They also had plants in Widnes and Goole. They made chemicals for dyeing, tanning, water softening, textiles, leather, printing, rubber, etc.