Scholes (Cleckheaton)

Ghost Sign

This sign at Scholes (see photo) has endured over the years and refers to a local painting and decorating business established in 1863 by Thomas Rushworth. He had been born in Shipley near Bradford in 1829 to a father also named Thomas. He married Harriet Jane Law at Hartshead in 1849 and the couple then resided at Hartshead Moor, producing at least 4 sons and 6 daughters. Thomas seems to have worked at other jobs before setting up his decorating business in 1863. Just 2 years before this he is described as a wire drawer. The girls seem mainly to have worked in the textile industry, at least before marriage, but at least two of the sons followed their father's occupation. James Edwin, although only 6 when his father established the business, became a painter, decorator and paper hanger himself, also based at Hartshead Moor in 1891 and 1901 with a wife, Emma, and family of his own. By 1911, however, James was a resident of North Bierley near Cleckheaton. His parents Thomas and Harriet Jane had earlier moved to East Bierley with their remaining family sometime before 1891. Thomas, the company founder, died in 1896 and a nasty incident followed. In May1906 his youngest son, George Washington Rushworth, a tram conductor, took his older brother, the painter James Edward Rushworth, to court after a quarrel over property left by their father. The case was heard at Bradford City Court and George claimed £80 in damages for an incident where James allegedly threw a brick at him. The case, however, was dismissed.

At least one other of Thomas's sons entered the decorating business. In 1891 Tom Francis, then aged 20 and still living with his parents is described as a painter's assistant, most likely in the family business.