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SIR WILLIAM HODGSON
Sir William Hodgson was probably the best known person to have come from Poulton in recent times.
William’s grandfather was Braithwaite Bond, the Poulton auctioneer whose son Robert Bond married Margaret Hodgson in 1856. Two years later, in 1858, their son was born and named William Hodgson Bond.
Margaret’s father William Hodgson and his brother John had done well from their tanning business in Poulton and both had retired in their mid-forties. Both had married, but their wives, who were themselves sisters (nee Lewtas) had both died young. It so happened that William Hodgson Bond - the son of Margaret & Robert Bond - was William’s only male heir.
The elder William Hodgson came to an arrangement with his grandson William Hodgson Bond - that if he would take his mother’s maiden name as his own - ie. drop the name Bond - and thereby continue the family name of Hodgson, he would inherit his grandfather’s property. When the elder William died in 1875 this duly happened and his grandson inherited at the age of 17.
William Hodgson, aged 42, became the first chairman of the Council when Poulton became an Urban District Council in 1900.
The first purpose built secondary school in Poulton was named after him when it opened in 1932.
William Hodgson served as a churchwarden of St Chad’s for many years and was Chairman of Governors at both Baines and Hodgson schools. His home was ‘The Sycamores’ which stands opposite Poulton Library
He went on to become Chairman of Lancashire County Council and
was knighted by King George V at Buckingham Palace in 1935.
He died on March 3rd 1945 at the age of 87, having devoted much of his life to the local community.
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