Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1880 & 89

Charles Sydney Grundy (1819 - 1888)


Charles Grundy was a Calico and General Merchant, Deputy Chairman and then Chairman of the Manchester Carriage and Tramways Company, became a Councillor for Manchester and was appointed Mayor of Manchester in 1877 and 1878.


He was born in 1819 in Manchester and baptised on 14th June 1819 at the Presbyterian Church in Manchester. His father was Thomas Grundy and his mother was Elizabeth (nee Clegg) Grundy. In 1843 Charles Grundy married Martha Mills (born 1816 in Macclesfield, Cheshire), by Registrar at Chorlton-on-Medlock.


The 1851 census shows that Charles and Martha lived at Milton Street, Broughton, Salford. Charles was aged 31 and a Calico and General Merchant. Martha was aged 35 Their children were Emily Martineau (born 1846 in Hulme, Manchester) aged 4 and Sydney (born 1848 in Chorlton-on-Medlock) aged 3. Also in the house was the sister of Charles, Frances Grundy (born 1823 in Salford) aged 28, Governess. Tragically in December 1862, Emily died, aged 16 and was buried at A4 608 at Weaste Cemetery.


In 1871 the Grundy family lived at Mount Broughton, Salford, where Charles was aged 51, Martha was aged 55, Sydney was aged 28 and Charles' sister Frances was aged 48. Sydney trained to be a Barrister, but pursued a career as a celebrated playwright in London. In 1881, Charles and Martha's address was 111, Bury New Road, Broughton, but also in that year Martha died and was re-united with her daughter Emily at Weaste Cemetery on 12th July 1881, aged 66.


Charles Grundy's political career took off in 1857 when he was elected as Councillor for the St James Ward in Manchester. He started as a member of the Nuisance Committee and within 12 months progressed to the Finance Committee. He also became a member of the Waterworks Committee, the Watch Committee and the Improvement Committee. His business acumen was recognised and he became an Alderman in 1863. He played a prominent part in the Manchester Act, where the townships of Manchester, Cheetham, Ardwick, Chorlton, Hulme and Beswick became united. As Chairman of the Improvement Committee he was responsible for the project of the widening of Deansgate to become a modern thoroughfare, and played a prominent part in the Thirlmere Aqueduct project, that brought the Lake District's water to Manchester and Salford.


Charles Grundy was given the honour of Mayor on two successive years, 1877 and 1878. He continued to take an active role in the affairs of Manchester Council until 1885 when he decided it was time to step down and focus on his role as Deputy Chairman of the Manchester Carriage and Tramways Company. He later became its Chairman upon the death of Mr Greenwood. By now he was 66 years old and it wasn't long before illness compelled him to take time off and recuperate at Harrogate. His final illness occurred aged 68, the week before his death, when he was "seized with illness." He died at home in Broughton on 2nd May 1888 and was re-united with his wife Martha and daughter Emily at Weaste Cemetery. He was 68 years old.