British businessman; brother-in-law of author Agatha Christie.
Born at Ashlea, Cheadle, Cheshire, he was the eldest son of wealthy manufacturer Mr. James Watts, who was the only son of Sir James Watts, twice-mayor of Manchester; Jim’s mother was the daughter of a well-to-do doctor. He was to have four brothers (one of whom died very young) and one sister. His family belonged to a Congregationalist church in Heaton Mersey.
In 1891, the family lived at Cheadle Hall, Cheshire; by 1901, they had moved to nearby Abney Hall, where they kept ten maids and an extensive outdoor staff. Jim was educated at a private boarding school in Oxford, and matriculated at New College, Oxford University, circa 1898. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in November 1901, after which he joined his father in the family firm, S. & J. Watts Limited. Originally founded as a textile factory, the company expanded to produce many other types of goods; since the 1850s, their headquarters and warehouse had been situated in an ornate five-storey building in Portland Street, central Manchester, built by the Watts family for a reported £100,000 (today, the building houses the Britannia Hotel).
In February 1902, Jim’s engagement to Margaret (“Madge”) Frary Miller was announced; she was the elder daughter of one of his mother’s schoolfriends. They married in Torquay, Devon, the following September. After honeymooning in Italy, the pair made their home at Manor Lodge, Cheadle, across the road from Abney Hall. Their only child--christened James, but known as Jack--was born there a year later. In early 1915, the family moved to Cheadle Hall. Jim’s father died in June 1926, and later that summer, Jim with his family moved to Abney Hall, which would be their permanent home; they were in residence there at the time the 1939 Register was compiled. They occasionally opened Abney’s gardens for charitable events. In 1938, a Cheshire newspaper reported that his bees there had produced more than 100 pounds of honey. He also owned property in Derbyshire, and enjoyed grouse hunting and other country pursuits.
He got along well with his sister-in-law Agatha, who credited him with the ideas for two of her detective novels, including The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. She dedicated two books to him: The ABC Murders and Hercule Poirot’s Christmas. During a troubled period in Agatha’s life, Jim and Madge provided a refuge for her at Abney, and were also close to her daughter Rosalind.
Madge died in 1950. Jim followed in 1957, his death at a Cheadle hospital caused by heart trouble and infection of the bronchi. According to the cemetery's Register of Graves (Register K page 88, continued from Register D page 156), his ashes were interred here with those of his wife on 17 July 1957. Their son’s cremated remains would also be laid to rest here a few years later. There is no inscription for Jim or Jack on the tombstone.
--Tosca-by-the-River 2020
Born at Ashlea, Cheadle, Cheshire, he was the eldest son of wealthy manufacturer Mr. James Watts, who was the only son of Sir James Watts, twice-mayor of Manchester; Jim’s mother was the daughter of a well-to-do doctor. He was to have four brothers (one of whom died very young) and one sister. His family belonged to a Congregationalist church in Heaton Mersey.
In 1891, the family lived at Cheadle Hall, Cheshire; by 1901, they had moved to nearby Abney Hall, where they kept ten maids and an extensive outdoor staff. Jim was educated at a private boarding school in Oxford, and matriculated at New College, Oxford University, circa 1898. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in November 1901, after which he joined his father in the family firm, S. & J. Watts Limited. Originally founded as a textile factory, the company expanded to produce many other types of goods; since the 1850s, their headquarters and warehouse had been situated in an ornate five-storey building in Portland Street, central Manchester, built by the Watts family for a reported £100,000 (today, the building houses the Britannia Hotel).
In February 1902, Jim’s engagement to Margaret (“Madge”) Frary Miller was announced; she was the elder daughter of one of his mother’s schoolfriends. They married in Torquay, Devon, the following September. After honeymooning in Italy, the pair made their home at Manor Lodge, Cheadle, across the road from Abney Hall. Their only child--christened James, but known as Jack--was born there a year later. In early 1915, the family moved to Cheadle Hall. Jim’s father died in June 1926, and later that summer, Jim with his family moved to Abney Hall, which would be their permanent home; they were in residence there at the time the 1939 Register was compiled. They occasionally opened Abney’s gardens for charitable events. In 1938, a Cheshire newspaper reported that his bees there had produced more than 100 pounds of honey. He also owned property in Derbyshire, and enjoyed grouse hunting and other country pursuits.
He got along well with his sister-in-law Agatha, who credited him with the ideas for two of her detective novels, including The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. She dedicated two books to him: The ABC Murders and Hercule Poirot’s Christmas. During a troubled period in Agatha’s life, Jim and Madge provided a refuge for her at Abney, and were also close to her daughter Rosalind.
Madge died in 1950. Jim followed in 1957, his death at a Cheadle hospital caused by heart trouble and infection of the bronchi. According to the cemetery's Register of Graves (Register K page 88, continued from Register D page 156), his ashes were interred here with those of his wife on 17 July 1957. Their son’s cremated remains would also be laid to rest here a few years later. There is no inscription for Jim or Jack on the tombstone.
--Tosca-by-the-River 2020
British businessman; brother-in-law of author Agatha Christie.
Born at Ashlea, Cheadle, Cheshire, he was the eldest son of wealthy manufacturer Mr. James Watts, who was the only son of Sir James Watts, twice-mayor of Manchester; Jim’s mother was the daughter of a well-to-do doctor. He was to have four brothers (one of whom died very young) and one sister. His family belonged to a Congregationalist church in Heaton Mersey.
In 1891, the family lived at Cheadle Hall, Cheshire; by 1901, they had moved to nearby Abney Hall, where they kept ten maids and an extensive outdoor staff. Jim was educated at a private boarding school in Oxford, and matriculated at New College, Oxford University, circa 1898. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in November 1901, after which he joined his father in the family firm, S. & J. Watts Limited. Originally founded as a textile factory, the company expanded to produce many other types of goods; since the 1850s, their headquarters and warehouse had been situated in an ornate five-storey building in Portland Street, central Manchester, built by the Watts family for a reported £100,000 (today, the building houses the Britannia Hotel).
In February 1902, Jim’s engagement to Margaret (“Madge”) Frary Miller was announced; she was the elder daughter of one of his mother’s schoolfriends. They married in Torquay, Devon, the following September. After honeymooning in Italy, the pair made their home at Manor Lodge, Cheadle, across the road from Abney Hall. Their only child--christened James, but known as Jack--was born there a year later. In early 1915, the family moved to Cheadle Hall. Jim’s father died in June 1926, and later that summer, Jim with his family moved to Abney Hall, which would be their permanent home; they were in residence there at the time the 1939 Register was compiled. They occasionally opened Abney’s gardens for charitable events. In 1938, a Cheshire newspaper reported that his bees there had produced more than 100 pounds of honey. He also owned property in Derbyshire, and enjoyed grouse hunting and other country pursuits.
He got along well with his sister-in-law Agatha, who credited him with the ideas for two of her detective novels, including The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. She dedicated two books to him: The ABC Murders and Hercule Poirot’s Christmas. During a troubled period in Agatha’s life, Jim and Madge provided a refuge for her at Abney, and were also close to her daughter Rosalind.
Madge died in 1950. Jim followed in 1957, his death at a Cheadle hospital caused by heart trouble and infection of the bronchi. According to the cemetery's Register of Graves (Register K page 88, continued from Register D page 156), his ashes were interred here with those of his wife on 17 July 1957. Their son’s cremated remains would also be laid to rest here a few years later. There is no inscription for Jim or Jack on the tombstone.
--Tosca-by-the-River 2020
Born at Ashlea, Cheadle, Cheshire, he was the eldest son of wealthy manufacturer Mr. James Watts, who was the only son of Sir James Watts, twice-mayor of Manchester; Jim’s mother was the daughter of a well-to-do doctor. He was to have four brothers (one of whom died very young) and one sister. His family belonged to a Congregationalist church in Heaton Mersey.
In 1891, the family lived at Cheadle Hall, Cheshire; by 1901, they had moved to nearby Abney Hall, where they kept ten maids and an extensive outdoor staff. Jim was educated at a private boarding school in Oxford, and matriculated at New College, Oxford University, circa 1898. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in November 1901, after which he joined his father in the family firm, S. & J. Watts Limited. Originally founded as a textile factory, the company expanded to produce many other types of goods; since the 1850s, their headquarters and warehouse had been situated in an ornate five-storey building in Portland Street, central Manchester, built by the Watts family for a reported £100,000 (today, the building houses the Britannia Hotel).
In February 1902, Jim’s engagement to Margaret (“Madge”) Frary Miller was announced; she was the elder daughter of one of his mother’s schoolfriends. They married in Torquay, Devon, the following September. After honeymooning in Italy, the pair made their home at Manor Lodge, Cheadle, across the road from Abney Hall. Their only child--christened James, but known as Jack--was born there a year later. In early 1915, the family moved to Cheadle Hall. Jim’s father died in June 1926, and later that summer, Jim with his family moved to Abney Hall, which would be their permanent home; they were in residence there at the time the 1939 Register was compiled. They occasionally opened Abney’s gardens for charitable events. In 1938, a Cheshire newspaper reported that his bees there had produced more than 100 pounds of honey. He also owned property in Derbyshire, and enjoyed grouse hunting and other country pursuits.
He got along well with his sister-in-law Agatha, who credited him with the ideas for two of her detective novels, including The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. She dedicated two books to him: The ABC Murders and Hercule Poirot’s Christmas. During a troubled period in Agatha’s life, Jim and Madge provided a refuge for her at Abney, and were also close to her daughter Rosalind.
Madge died in 1950. Jim followed in 1957, his death at a Cheadle hospital caused by heart trouble and infection of the bronchi. According to the cemetery's Register of Graves (Register K page 88, continued from Register D page 156), his ashes were interred here with those of his wife on 17 July 1957. Their son’s cremated remains would also be laid to rest here a few years later. There is no inscription for Jim or Jack on the tombstone.
--Tosca-by-the-River 2020
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