Thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund we have been working on a new project researching Bootle’s long jam making history. William Pickles Hartley founded Hartley’s Jam in Bootle in 1874, less than a mile away from where we make jam at North Park Community Garden. We have spent the last 6 months visiting archives and researching what we call the 5 F’s in relation to Hartley – Factory, Fruit, Family, Faith and Philanthropy. (Nearly all begin with an F!)
We have found out more than we know what to do with, but so much has parallels with today:
Hartley was a self made man, he saw an opportunity and went for it. What could the world be like today if more people did that?
Hartley believed he had a duty to look after the people around him. By his death he gave away 33% of his income to charitable causes and over his lifetime gave away over £154,036,551 in todays money. What would the world be like today if big businesses invested 44% of profits in the community?
It is likely that Hartley had bi-polar. He had times when he was very productive and times when he was tired, anxious and confined to his bed. What would the world look like today if we believed people with mental ill-health could be massively successful?
Hartley was a devout Christian and was a Primitive Methodist. His faith and belief in God permeated through every part of his life. What would the world look like today if everyone with faith showed a responsibility to the people around them?
“It is the first duty of those who have money to remember in a liberal manner those who have not. Where much is given much is required.”
Our heritage group have been working hard and have produced a newspaper all about William Hartley and his love of jam and people (2 of the things we love as well!)
This newspaper is available in Gateway Kitchen Community Cafe, Bootle Library and Crosby Library if you want a physical copy or feel free to download it here!
Made possible with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund we have been exploring Bootle’s jam making heritage, focusing on Hartleys Jam. William Pickles Hartley founded Hartleys Jam in Bootle in 1874. We have explored the archives of local libraries and the universities and have found out A LOT about this remarkable man. Our findings will be published in a newspaper later in the year but the parallels for today need to be shared sooner!
Hartley was a self made man. He didn’t come from a wealthy family but he had a vision and he believed he could achieve.
What would the world look like today if we took the opportunities available to us?
Hartley was honest. He believed his products should be high quality and sold at a fair price
What would the world look like today if everyone was honest and fair in business?
Hartley believed he had a responsibility to the people around him. When he got married he pledged to give 10% of his income to charitable causes and this had risen to 33% at the time of his death. In total he gave away 1 million pounds which equates to £154,036,551 today.
What would the world look like today if big businesses looked after their local communities?
Hartley was a devout Primitive Methodist and his Christian faith was evident in everything he did. “My daily prayer is that God will show me what he wishes me to do. I only want to see clearly his guiding hand, and I am daily asking him to lead me.”
If Hartley was alive today it is possible he would be diagnosed as bi-polar. His mood fluctuated between times of intense focus and productivity and times where he struggled to get out of bed and his anxious thoughts overwhelmed him.
What would the world look like today if we believed people with mental ill-health could achieve great things?
