The Hall - Edmund Denison

Doncaster's trade benefited greatly from the town being on the great north road but in May 1840 a new route to the north was opened - it was a railroad from London to York via Rugby, Derby, Rotherham and Normanton. Traffic quickly deserted the old highway and took to the new. The outlook for Doncaster looked bleak as the town's coaching trade dwindled away. However 12 years later the town was entering a new era of prosperity - a new railway had been constructed from London, at King's Cross, to Doncaster with links to York and the West Riding.
The man behind the Great Northern Railway Company, which had constructed the new line, was Edmund Denison. He was the youngest son of Sir John Beckett, a Barnsley man who had moved to Leeds and had built up one of the country's leading banks, Beckett's Bank. In 1814 Edmund Beckett married Maria, daughter of William Beverley, of Beverley, and two years later his wife inherited a large fortune from a great aunt, whose surname, Denison, he assumed. In 1818 they moved from Carlton Hall, near Newark, to 41 Hall Gate, Doncaster.
Denison continued to reside in Doncaster, moving from Hall Gate to the Hall, South Parade in 1855. He was appointed one of the trustees of St. Thomas' s Hospital in 1854 and he remained an M. !', until 1859, In 18l;7 Edmund Denison became connected with the banking firm of lleckett & Co. but took no part in the management of the bank, His son William became senior partner in the bank and in 1867 the bank of Sir William Cooke, High Street, Doncaster was taken over by Beckett & Co.
In November 1872 Edmund Denison inherited the baronetcy and reverted to his original surname as Sir Edmund Beckett. his wife died in March 1874 and his death followed eight weeks later. The town's shops were closed and the workmen from the Plant Works lined the way as the funeral procession moved from South Parade to Christ Church where Sir Edmund Beckett was buried opposite the southwest corner of the church.

Choose Your Media to Continue on the Trail

Our next Green Plaque is situated further down South Parade. Make your back down South Parade to a point opposite the Hall Cross.