Hurst and Bolshaw

Following the dissolution of his partnership with Maxwell and Tuke, Samuel Hurst commenced independent practice in Southport before taking George Edward Bolshaw into partnership in 1886. They carried on business as architects and surveyors, at 175, Lord Street, Southport under the style or firm of Hurst and Bolshaw. This was dissolved by mutual consent as from the 23 July 1889 by which time Samuel Hurst was in financial difficulty, culminating in bankruptcy proceedings and suicide, as recorded in the local papers:

TRAGIC DEATH OF A SOUTHPORT ARCHITECT - Mr Samuel Hurst, architect, a native of Bury, but recently in business at Southport, ended his life in a field at Rochdale on Thursday night. He had been unfortunate in business and a few weeks ago underwent his first examination at the Liverpool Bankruptcy Court. In consequence of his business troubles he had to give up his home, and he, his wife and three children went to his mother-in-law’s residence at Rochdale. The second examination in bankruptcy was to have taken place on Thursday last, but Hurst was absent. That night Mr Ashworth of Rochdale noticed him in Sandy Brow Field, walking strangely. Later Mr Shepherd, the owner of the farm, discovered Hurst lying on the ground in an unconscious state, with a piece of paper upon his clothing. The paper bore the words “Tell all to forgive and forget.” There were lying near him a pencil and a penknife, but no marks of violence upon his body. He was taken to the Rochdale Infirmary, the stomach pump was used, and Dr P Walker was of the opinion that he had taken poison. Hirst never regained consciousness and died shortly afterwards. He was forty years of age. [Manchester Guardian 4 January 1890 page 9]