Tom Cook

• Birth date            5 December 1852. Waterside, Glossop, Derbyshire.
• Marriage (1)        Martha, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Mitchell, of Roughtown, Mossley, 1875.
• Marriage (2)       Amelia Goodwin, daughter of James Goodwin, bleacher, on 23 July 1913. She died in 1932.
• Death date          20 December 1936 at “Oak Gate” Worsley

Tom Cook was born on 5 December 1852, at Waterside, Derbyshire, the son of Henry Cook, stone mason, and Hannah Cook and was educated at the National Schools, Mechanics' Institution, and South Kensington. He commenced independent practice in Manchester about 1880. Almost without exception, his known architectural commissions were in Greater Manchester.  Not without irony, given his political opinions, his first known commission was for the Conservative Club at Mossley. However, in 1907 it was recorded that Messrs Tom Cook and Sons, architects and surveyors, of Manchester, were engaged upon the designs for the new Baptist chapel and schools at Horsham, West Sussex.

Tom Cook was a member of the Independent Labour Party, being elected chairman of Manchester and Salford Independent Labour Party at their meeting of 28 January 1899.  He was an unsuccessful (Labour) candidate for Harpurhey Ward in the Manchester Municipal elections of 1902 but he was elected a member of the Manchester City Council for Openshaw ward in 1903, and served on that authority from that time until his death. He served on many committees of the city council, his chief work being done as chairman of the Gas Committee, in succession to Sir William Kay. During his term as chairman of that committee the reorganisation of that department was carried out. In 1922 he was vice-chairman of the Housing Committee having been made an Alderman in 1919.

In 1875 he married Martha, the daughter of Thomas and Sarah Mitchell, of Roughtown, Mossley, and has issue five sons and one daughter: Tom Nelson, Henry A., George M., Gilbert C, Wilfred. A., and Madeline. Following her death, he married Amelia Goodwin at St Mark’s Church, Worsley, in 1913. Two of his sons later joined him in partnership.

In 1923 he was the victim of a serious accident at Horsham while visiting the town to inspect certain buildings which his firm had designed. While on the site of the building he was crushed against a wall by a lorry, and his left leg had to be amputated. This accident permanently affected his health. In November 1936 he suffered a seizure and never recovered, dying on 20 December 1936.

Address
1903    Tom Cook 39 Victoria Buildings, Victoria Street
1907    Hodson's court, Corporation street, Manchester (change of address January 1907)
1911    Tom Cook & Sons architects surveyors and valuers. 2A Hodgson’s Court, Corporation Street
1919    Tom Cook & Sons architects surveyors and valuers. Hodgson’s Court, Corporation Street

Residence
1881    962 Ashton Road, Fairfield, Openshaw (Census)
1883    962 Ashton Road, Fairfield
1895    “Ivy Bank,” 12 Assheton Road Culcheth Lane, Newton Heath
1899    12 Assheton Road, Culcheth Lane, Newton Heath
1903    34 Moxley Road Crumpsall
1906    “Oak Gate,” Old Clough Lane, Worsley
1911    “Oak Gate,” Old Clough Lane, Worsley
1936    “Oak Gate,” Old Clough Lane, Worsley

Obituary        Manchester Guardian 22 December 1936 page 6
Reference    Lancashire Biographies and Roll of Honour 1917