Story
Walter Geoffrey Jackson was born in 1846 in Malton North Yorkshire. He was the son of Henry Jackson (1811-1864) who was a Solicitor, Registrar, Attorney and clerk to the County Court, and his wife Rosa Howland Coane (1814-1906) from Canterbury, Kent, who had married in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire on 8th May 1841. Walter was already a mining engineer when he married Marion Helen Briggs (1858-1912) in Harrogate on 29th November 1877. Marion’s father (below with Marion’s mother, Catherine Shepherd, 1832-1907) was Henry Currer Briggs (1829-1811), who was the Chairman of Henry Briggs & Co., a mining company who owned a series of pits around Normanton and Castleford.
Walter’s father-in-law was in Norway on a visit of inspection of the Bratsberg Silver Mining company and wrote a letter back to his wife Catherine on 14th October 1881 stating: “This mine is grand and is now making £200 profit per month”. In the closing paragraphs he told her that he had fallen whilst on board ship, but despite bruising he was able to get about. However, his gout was causing him much pain and his ankles were swollen, which made him very lame. He died on 20th October 1881 in Norway, leaving the modern equivalent of £4m in his will. His son, Arthur Currer Briggs, had just joined the Board of Directors, but as he was 26 years-old, he was appointed Managing Director, with Richard Tonge as chairman and Walter Geoffrey Jackson as a director. Walter was already the mining engineer to the company and in his earlier years had been employed by the Central Argentine Railway Company on its engineering staff.
After his marriage, Walter was living at Hazel House, Methley, where he and Marion had their only child, Edith Marion Jackson (1880-1973). By 1891, they had moved to Hicklam House, Aberford, but also had a home in High Prestwick, Chiddingfold, Surrey. Walter was managing several collieries such as Don Pedro, Haigh Moor, Methley Junction, Rattan Row, Saville and Silkstone.
Given his mining experience, Walter left Aberford to help with the rescue operations at Peckfield Colliery. He led a party of 8 who were searching for survivors.
Walter’s brother-in-law, Arthur Currer Briggs (1855-1906) was Lord Mayor of Leeds (painted below), and opened the University of Leeds. However he died suddenly following after his term of office on the day of the AGM of Henry Briggs & Co. He had been a founder member of the Yorkshire Electric Company, and Walter replaced him as Chairman, retiring in 1924.
In 1908, Walter moved to Bowcliffe Hall, Bramham (pictured above), and lived there for 12 years. Walter died in Chiddingfold, Surrey on 17th May 1936, leaving the modern equivalent of £8.5m in his Will.
30th April 1896. The Peckfield Colliery Disaster at Micklefield 