Born in Bradford and baptised in St Peter's Church on 22 September 1811, Richard Crabtree followed his father James's trade, becoming a stonemason. Later he became a builder, stone merchant and contractor, first in Bradford, where his projects included Lumb Lane mill, and then in Morecambe. He was a member of the Bradford Town Council for many years and when resident in Morecambe he was a member of the Local Health Board and a Director and Chairman of the Morecambe Tramway. He managed the major civil engineering scheme to erect the Morecambe sea wall and promenade, and his generosity to the town was marked by a banquet sponsored by the Morecambe Local Board on 16 March 1877. During his time in Bradford he became a Wesleyan member and benefactor. In 1875 he was the contracted stone mason to the Green Street Wesleyan chapel in Morecambe. In 1884 he donated the land for a Chapel-school in the West-End of the town. When the memorial stone was laid by Sir Henry Mitchell of Bradford for the new chapel in 1896 it was laid in memory of Richard Crabtree the ‘Father of West-End Wesleyan Methodism’. Richard died on 24 March 1896, in Morecambe. After the funeral service in the West End Wesleyan chapel, the mourners went by train to Bradford, for interment at Undercliffe Cemetery.

Entry written by: DHR
Category: Person
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