| AdminHistory | Arthur Wightman was born in Sheffield on 20 December 1842, son of Benjamin Wightman (c. 1816 - 1867), a highly regarded solicitor who established a successful practice in Sheffield in partnership with John William Pye Smith (1809 - 1865). One of 13 surviving children, Arthur Wightman grew up on Broomhall Road, Sheffield. He was educated at Sheffield Collegiate School and afterwards at Rossall School and also in Germany. He studied law and was a Clifford's Inn law examination 'prizeman' in 1865.
After his studies, Arthur Wightman became a solicitor and public notary in Sheffield, where he was articled to Bernard Wake. Arthur joined his father's firm, but, after Benjamin Wightman's death in 1867, he joined Mr Barnard Platts Broomhead's firm where they were also joined in business by Mr E. T. Moore, forming what became a well-known and well-respected legal partnership Broomhead, Wightman and Moore.
Arthur Wightman served as Justice of the Peace and Town Trustee for Sheffield. He also served as Honorary Secretary of the Sheffield School of Art (succeeding his father) from 1865 until its transfer to the Sheffield Corporation. Other roles he had included: Secretary of the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation Company, Director of Dinnington Main Colliery Co., Member of the Council of the University of Sheffield, Chairman of the Local Board of the Alliance Assurance Company Ltd., Governor of the old Sheffield Royal Grammar School and later Governor of King Edward VII School, Member of the Council of the Incorporated Law Society of the United Kingdom, Treasurer (and later President) of the Sheffield Incorporated Law Society, Director of the Solicitors' Benevolent Association (London), Trustee of Birley's Charity and Treasurer of the Bradfield Game Association. He was also a member of the Junior Constitutional Club and the Sheffield Club.
Arthur Wightman was twice married. In 1869, he married Susannah White, daughter of Joseph White of Babworth, but Susannah died not long afterwards in May 1870. On 21 September 1872, Arthur Wightman married his second wife Edith Hoole (born 21 April 1850, died 1943), daughter of Mr Charles Hoole (born 1 May 1805, died 13 July 1876) of Hallam Gate, Crookes (where Arthur Wightman and Edith later lived). The marriage took place at St Thomas' Church, Crookes. Charles Hoole was a successful grocer who also served as director of both Sheffield Gas and Water Companies.
Arthur Wightman resided at Endcliffe Crescent, Sheffield and later at Hallam Gate, Crookes (the home formerly belonging to his father-in-law). He also had a country residence of Lady Bower House, Ashopton/Derwent Woodlands, Derbyshire.
Arthur Wightman died on 28 May 1924, aged 81. He was survived by his wife Edith and two sons: Benjamin Arthur Wightman (1873 - 1937) who, like his father, became a solicitor of the family firm Broomhead, Wightman and Reed, and Denis Conway Wightman (1876 - 1933), member of the firm of Messrs Turton Bros. and Matthews, steel manufacturers. A third son Charles Hoole Wightman (1874 - 1895) died while a student at Cambridge. Benjamin Arthur Wightman later resided at 14 George Street, Sheffield and latterly at the Old Rectory, North Stoneham, Hampshire. He died in London on 20 November 1937. Denis Conway Wightman later resided at Westwood, Grindleford, Derbyshire. He died on 26 February 1933.
Arthur's wife Edith Wightman latterly resided at 8 Beech Hill Road, Broomhill and she died in Sheffield in 1943, aged 93.
The following collection of Wightman family records was evidently inherited/assembled by Arthur Wightman's nephew Stanley Wightman (1885 - 1978) son of Arthur’s brother John Fawcett Wightman (1857 - 1892). Stanley Wightman married Miss Florence Gertrude Lodge of Waterside, Castleton in 1930. Stanley Wightman later became a banker's clerk and resided at 10 Silver Birch Avenue, Fulwood and latterly at Danby House, Harthill. He died on 4 December 1978, aged 93. |
| CustodialHistory | Donated to Sheffield Archives in Feb 2018 by the great nephew of Florence Gertrude Wightman (nee Lodge) who married Arthur Wightman's nephew Stanley Wightman (1885 - 1978) who evidently inherited/assembled the collection. |