Joseph Toward Eltringham

Joseph Toward Eltringham (1846-1897) of Eltringham Brothers and J. T. Eltringham

1846 January 27th. Born at South Shields the son of Joseph Eltringham (1809-1861), Boiler Builder, and his wife Jane née Toward

1897 June 20th. Died. 'The death of Alderman Joseph Toward Eltringham, of South Shields, occurred Sunday morning after an illness of about an hour. Alderman Eltringham, who was 52 years of age, was the head of the firm of J. T. Eltringham & Co., Stone Quay Boiler Works, Holborn, South Shields. he was first elected to the Town Council 1877, and in the year 1885 was elected Chief Magistrate. He was re-elected Mayor in the following year. Deceased married in 1872 Miss Adshead, of Macclesfield, and next week would have celebrated the 25th anniversary of his marriage. He leaves a widow, three sons, and two daughters.'

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Obituary - Shields Daily Gazette - Monday 21 June 1897

The inhabitants of the borough of South Shields have, for many years past sustained no greater blow than that which fell upon them yesterday forenoon, when death claimed one of their most valuable and faithful representatives in the person of Alderman Joseph Toward Eltringham. J.P. The loss was all the more keenly felt because of the painfully sudden circumstances attending it. The deceased gentleman was in his accustomed hearty good health and spirits on the Saturday night, and indeed on the following morning as well, right up to within three-quarters of an hour of his death. He rose about half-past seven on the Sunday morning, and shortly after eight o'clock was, without any kind of warning, seized by a severe apoplectic fit which laid him prostrate at once. His medical advisers, Drs. Crisp and McDonald. were sent for as quickly as possible, but the deceased never rallied for a moment, and he breathed his last about hall-at-hour after the attack.

Almost at the same moment his colleagues in the Council and on the Bench were assembling at the Police Court where they were to meet the Mayor and accompany him to the commemoration service in St. Hilda’s Church. Ald. Eltringham was expected among the rest, but instead came the sorrowful tidings of his death, which created a profound sensation, and real and poignant grief was universally expressed. Again at a later hour Canon Savage, from the pulpit of the church, referred in a few touching words to the melancholy occurrence, which created a. most painful impression on a crowded congregation. These were the first intimations of the sad event, but the unhappy intelligence soon became known throughout the whole town, and everywhere it caused a pang of deep sorrow. Ald. Eltringham was only 51 years old and leaves a wife and a family of five.

ln his commercial and his public life alike the deceased gentleman's efforts were conspicuously successful. He was a large employer of labour at the Stone Quay Works, which for years have been associated with the family name. The works were originally established by Mr Lancelot Young, of the once famous Bedlington iron-works. Afterwards they were acquired by the father of the late alderman, who came from the upper Tyne district, the deceased's mother being a Miss Toward, also a member of a well known family in the same district. Ald. Eltringham served an apprenticeship under his father and afterwards was some years in the employ of Messrs Palmer's, of Jarrow. Subsequently, however, he took over the management of the Stone Quay Works and at his father's death inherited proprietary interests, and under the name of J. T. Eltringham and Co., - his sole partner being Mr D. W. Fitzgerald - the firm was known afterwards.

Associated with the boiler works was a yard for the building of small steam craft, and under ins remarkable business energy and skill the joint works developed considerably. The Stone Quay Boiler Works have in later years enjoyed an enviable reputation amongst Tyneside firms, and have been entrusted with important commissions for foreign Governments. The works are also mentioned in the English Government list. In addition, Ald. Eltringham was interested in shipbuilding on the north side of the Tyne, being chairman of Edwards' Shipbuilding Co., Howdon, and he was also a director of the Manchester Ship Canal Pontoons and Dry Docks Co. He had a splendid business acumen and a wonderfully varied knowledge of mercantile interests, and among commercial men on Tyneside he was familiarly known and unanimously esteemed.

The same energy and sterling qualities which characterised his business life were even more marked in his public career. For twenty years he was one of the foremost public men in his native town, and no one has ingratiated himself more into the confidence and admiration of all sections of the community than did the deceased gentleman during the long period he was, in one capacity and another, a servant of his townsmen. His first practical step into public life was on 26th November, 1877, when he was elected a member of the Town Council. Ten years afterwards he was elevated to the standing of an Alderman. In 1886 he received a further proof of the esteem of his colleagues in his appointment to the office of chief magistrate, which honourable position he filled for two successive years. He was Mayor of the borough in the memorable year of the Queen's Jubilee celebrations in 1887, and it is a painful coincidence that just on the eve of a similarly loyal demonstration in which he himself, a decade ago, played so preeminent and generous a part, a whole community should be found mourning his sad death.

In every branch of public work which came under the administration of the Corporation Ald. Eltringham took a valuable and enlightened part. If in one thing more than another he earned the lasting gratitude of his townspeople it was in the heroic part he played over the Lifeboat Memorial scheme, which for some time hung fire, and was only consummated by the personal influence and individual exertions which at that time, as Mayor of the borough. he threw into the movement. It was a fitting tribute to his labours in connection therewith that on the great day of the opening of the parks and the monument the duty of unveiling the latter should fall to his lot. From the very beginning he presided over the deliberations of the Parks Committee, and very largely owing to his own excellent tastes and sound judgment it may be reasonably affirmed that no committee of the Council has been able to get through so much costly and important work with so little friction, either inside or outside the Council chamber. By the members of that committee in particular, his excellent practical advice and his genial presence will be greatly missed. In all committees and in the general meetings of the Council, however, his opinions were looked up to and carried sectioning weight with them in matters of discussion, and he was besides, for his own personal worth, his uniform courtesy and his lofty character, held In the highest possible esteem anti respect by everybody there.

Among other distinctions conferred on the deceased was that of a Justice of the Peace, the duties of which position he discharged faithfully and with exemplary regularity right up to the last. He also sat on the River Tyne Commission as a representative of the Town Council, and played a useful part in all the great schemes under the consideration of that body.

It may truly be said of him that he was never weary of well doing. All forms of charitable and philanthropic work found his ready countenance and support. lie was a governor of the Ingham infirmary, which institution has on many occasions received tangible proof of his generous nature. Towards the extension scheme which is now practically an assured success, he contributed a donation of £500, and he gave a further handsome donation, only a short while afterwards, on behalf of the Jubilee celebration fund, through which the infirmary will also benefit. He was an ardent Churchman, and for several years was vicar's warden of Holy Trinity, the church of his native parish, during the incumbency of the late Rev. J. Coulson. He showed the same benevolent disposition towards the affairs of the church as in other things. It was largely through his instrumentality, and his liberality, that the new organ, recently opened in the church, was provided.

In his younger days be was, an all-round athlete, and an active member of the Rowing Club and the South Shields Swimming Club. He also took a warm interest in the Marine School. In politics he was a Conservative, and supported on the platform the Unionist candidate in the last election.

Alderman Eltringham was married in 1872 to Miss. Adshead, of Macclesfield, who survives him, and had he lived until Saturday next he would have celebrated the 25th anniversary of his wedding. He leaves a faintly of five, three sons and two daughters, the eldest son being engaged in his father's business. The other members of the family are young.

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