James Platt

  Letter from Sarah Anne Platt to Brother James Platt
West Hill Cottage
Ventnor
March

My dear James,
We received your comforting
letter this morning. I did not think
Joe would have been spared to see
another of your letters, but I am thankful
he has last night, he was rather
worse again and for a time given
signs spitting of blood came on and
he was almost choked. I was sad
indeed to see him gasp for breath.

Mr Dosnell stayed all night and
we were obliged to him for Dr Nighton
as well all thought he was going,
This morning it came on again
and it is doubtful whether he would
rally or not, he is quite composed,
sleeping whilst he was better he expressed
a great desire to come home but
I fear it is quite impossible, he
is so ill that he may go
any minute. John we are building
of seeing this afternoon which I do
hope we may not be disappointed
for it will be quite as much as Joe
can stand another attack after
they use, he is quite faint

with gasping for breath
. . . . ..
I remain
your affectionate sister
Sarah Anne Platt






 
 

  Letter from W Sidebotham Ashley Cottage to Mr Platt 27-June-1844
Ashley Cottage, 27 June 1844
Dear Sir,
I received you letter on the 25th instant
last night on my way home. In answer
beg leave to say that I am holding for 1/
per stone about a fortnight. I sent my man
to buy me a stack offering 9 but could not
get it under 10, and in every town 20 miles
from and _ . Hay is selling at 12 or 13
but I believe if you will send your
man into the Manchstr market you may
yet buy at 8 or 9 per stone. It is as yet the
cheapest market in England. I saw
Captain Clarke yesterday, he told me he had
just received a letter from his brother in law at
Whitchurch Shropshire and in that part most
of them had eaten their meadows and some
had actually turned their cattle into the corn.
I have eaten 3 meadows and my next neighbour
6 - so trying the market if you cannot do
will be writing again, can send you the hay
to miller platting on Tuesday. Sister joins me
in kind regards to Mrs Platt and family and
believe me yours truly,
W Sidebotham

 

  Letter from Sarah Anne Platt to Brother James Platt Barcelona 12-Jun-1847
Hartford New Iron Works
Railway Station Oldham
Saturday evening
June 12th 1847

My dear James,
I received your letter on Thursday morning
and was much surprised at your not having
got two of my last letters and Eliza heard today
the same. They were addressed
according to your directions, perhaps you will get them
all together. We have not very much news in Oldham
at present with the exception of many complaints about
bad trade. His son has failed his _.
I believe __

I must know whether
you can hear anything about England or not but I
will begin with sad news first and end perhaps better.
Last Saturday evening the mail train from London

came in contact with a heavy luggage train and
seven gentlemen were killed all owing to the
carelessness of one of the guards who turned the train
in a sliding direction so that it went with full force
into waggons on the main line that
...


Your very affectionate sister,
Sarah Anne Platt





 
 
 
 

  Lyceum opening james platt
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  James Platt Shooting Death Account 29-Aug-1857 Oldham Chronicle
The Oldham Chronicle, August 29 1857

MELANCHOLY AND UNTIMELY DEATH
OF
JAMES PLATT, ESQ, M.P.

We have this week to record one of the most
distressing circumstances that every happened to the
borough of Oldham, in the death of our local
Member of Parliament, James Platt, Esq.

Our readers are aware that Mr Platt has, for
some time past, had an estate and country
residence in Saddleworth, where he has been making
very extensive improvements. Ashway Gap is
situated about two miles from the station, on the side
of one of the Greenfield hills, in one of the most
romantic and beautiful of those valleys for which the
borders of Yorkshire are remarkable. it is not
more that one-half or three-quarters of a mile
from the favourite picnic resort of our population
Bill's o' Jacks where the terrible and mysterious
tragedy occurred in 1831. The residence
of Mr. Platt has been recently built on the site of
an old farm house, and at the present time a new
summer residence is in course of erection, upwards
of 100 workers being engaged at the time of the
accident on the extensive works in progress. The
estate is very extensive, and considers principally of
well stocked grouse moors, extending, we believe,
over the hills and adjoining the Chew Wells estate
of Mr. Whitehead, of Wharnton Tower.

On Thursday last, Mr. Platt, accompanied by
Edward Ashworth, Esq., Edgerton Hall, Bolton;
John Comyns Cole, Esq., Belgrave Square, London;
Josiah Radcliffe, Esq., Mayor of Oldham; John
Radcliffe Esq; John Scholes Hague, Esq.; James
Greaves, Jun., Esq, Derker House, and other
gentlemen, set out from Oldham to enjoy a day's sport
on the moors above Ashway Gap, known as Ashway
Gap Moss. They were attended by a party of
gamekeepers and others, whose office was to drive
the moors for them. They set out on the shooting
excursion about nine o'clock, and at about
one o'clock they had bagged about four brace of
birds, having then had two or three drives. The
men engaged in driving the moors were William
Bradbury, his brother Samuel Bradbury, John
Schofield, Augustus Bradbury, and Wright Wrigley.
The first and last mentioned individuals
we are informed, had been sent down to the
house for lunch, and Bradbury had returned with it
leaving Wrigley to follow with dinner which they
were to partake of in the shooting box on the moor
in order to allow the party more time afterwards
for their sport. As it was, however, not far from
the time arranged for dinner, the party agreed to
proceed with their shooting instead of losing time
before dinner. The lunch was therefore left in the
shooting box, and, as there was not time for another
drive before dining, a consultation was held and it
was agreed that they should spend the intervening
time in shooting over their dogs about Ashway
Stones, where the shooting box is situated. They
were carrying this project into execution when the
accident occurred which deprived our highly
respected and talented townsman and member of
parliament of life. It appears that James Platt
Esq., was the first of the party, and followed by
Josiah Radcliffe, Esq., at a distance of four or five
yards. The gamekeeper, Alfred Kay, was a little
in advance of them on one side, and Mr Ashworth,
Mr Cole, and others of the party about fifty yards
distant. It was at this point about fort-five
minutes past one, or, according to others of the party,
quarter-past one. Mr. Platt had just crossed a
little hollow, Mr Josiah Radcliffe was following at
a distance of four or five yards when his foot slipped,
and in recovering himself the trigger of the gun,
which he was carrying at half-cock, appears to have
been caught by his coat or his side, and as he threw
himself partly round to recover his position the
contents of the left barrel were lodged in the calf
of Mr Platt's right leg. The unfortunate gentleman
hopped a yard or two, threw his gun above his
head, and exclaiming "Oh! oh!" fell to the ground.
The wound was a very severe one, the calf being
laid open nearly to the bone, and portions of it
blown away. The other members of the party
immediately ran up, and set about rendering every
assistance in their power with the utmost promptness.
The slip of William Bradbury was at once
formed into a bandage around the wound, but the
blood flowed so freely that it was quickly saturated.
They then bound a silk handkerchief above the
wound, but that was deemed to be sufficiently
effective, a shot belt was bound tightly round the
leg, so as to apparently staunch the excessive
haemorrhage. Mr Platt also assisted in the efforts
made by holding his hands over the wound, so as to
compress the parts firmly together. Four of the
men now raised the sufferer carefully, and proceeded
to convey him to the shooting box, but as this mode
was not deemed sufficiently easy, the door of the
place was taken off and Mr Platt placed upon it in
order that he might be carried with as little delay
as possible to the house at Ashway Gap. Messengers
had been sent away as soon as the accident
occurred to the house, as well as to all the medical
men in the neighbourhood for their immediate
attendance, and telegraphic messages despatched to
Stalybridge and Manchester for the best surgical
aid that could be procured. Information was also
sent to Oldham for assistance, as well as to convey
the sad intelligence to his family and friends. The
man was sent with the tidings to Ashway Gap
met John Platt, esq. on the hill side, who was on
his way to join the party on the top, and the effect
of the melancholy nes upon him may be readily
imagined. Mr Josiah Radcliffe, the innocent cause of
the calamity, was almost beside himself with grief,
and it was feared for some time that he would lay
violent hands on himself if not prevented by those
around him. He took Mr Platt round the neck
and bewailed his fate in the most heart-rending
tears.

The mournful party at length succeeded in
reaching the mansion, which is about three-quarters
of a mile from the scene of the accident,
and he was placed upon the bed. Mr William
Blackburn, surgeon, who resides nearest to Ashway
Gap, but still at a distance of two miles, and Mr
Irving assistant to Mr A T Thomson, the family
surgeon, were at the place before Mr Platt died,
and they did all in their power for the poor sufferer.
They also stated that the means which had
been employed before their arrival were the best
that could have been adopted under the circumstances.
There was no immediate danger apprehended
by the medical men up to a short time
before the sufferer breathed his last, but during the
temporary absence of Mr Blackburn from the
room, the symptons struck Mr Irving so forcibly
that he sent for him into the room, and in ten
minuted afterwards the patient was dead. He died
a little after half-past two, his brother and other
friends being present with him at the time.

Mr Bardbury, surgeon Dobross, Mr Halkyard,
and Mr Murray of Oldham, and Dr Hunt
of Stalybridge, afterwards arrived at the place, but
although they had made all the haste in their
power they were too late of any service. The
mother of the deceased and two sisters hastened to
the melancholy scene though only to find that he
whom they loved was no more. The corpse presented
the appearance of a marble statue, calm as
if in peaceful sleep; and there can be little doubt
that death was cauded by the unconquerable haemorrage,
the bed and mattress which the sufferer
lay being completely saturated with blood.

The corpse, enclosed in a hastily constructed
shell, left Ashway Gap for Werneth Park about
midnight, and arrived at Oldham as three o'clock
on Friday morning. It were a vain task to attempt
to portray the feelings of the people of Oldham
when the sad tidings came of the untimely death of
one who has ever proved himself a true, generous,
noble friend, and scarcely a public institution or
private circle in this neighbourhood but will long
mourn his loss.

The works of the Messrs Platt were immediately
stopped, and the universal tokens of sorrow
manifested by the crowds of workpeople connected
with the firm show how truly they appreciated the
character of the deceased, in the death of whom
they lose at once a master and a friend.

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  James Platt Funeral-5-Sep-1857 Oldham Chronicle
  View 

  James Platt Messuages Sale 1870
  View 

  James Platt Cross 1857 Picture taken 1920s
 

  James Platt Cross 1857 Picture taken 1920s Detail
 

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