A 19th century oil painting of Warrington Victorian solicitor and philanthropist William Beamont, which was gathering dust in a cupboard at a local law firm, is now taking pride of place at a school named in his memory.
Beamont was one of the founders of FDR Law, having been the founder of the firm that became Robert Davies and Co in offices in Market Place next to the Barley Mow.
FDR Consultant Norman Banner (DL) discovered the oil painting gathering dust in a cupboard at his offices in Palmyra Square and following a meeting with Beamont Collegiate Academy Chair of Governors Howard Platt, it was agreed to a long term loan of the painting.
Norman said: “We believe it is better exhibited at the school which bears his name and takes his beliefs in education well into the 21st century.”
Beamont, who died in 1889 aged 92, helped to promote the creation of Warrington as a borough in 1847 becoming the first mayor of the town. He also helped set up the first free lending library in Museum Street, endowed many schools and churches in the town, helped create Warrington Dispensary and Warrington Infirmary and personally contributed to the creation of a major 20 year programme for new sewers in the growing town in the 19th century.
His name lives on in Beamont Collegiate Academy which is moving to terrific new buildings in September; an investment of £11m in the children of Orford.
Beamont travelled extensively, including in the Holy Land and his diaries, stored in the town’s main library, are a valuable source of social history. For many years he lived at Orford Hall.
Picture shows Norman Banner presenting the oil painting to the Principal of BCA Andy Moorcroft.
