FIRMADGE, William (1755-1836) — Leicester
Architect, stonemason, surveyor, engraver, etcher and painter. Engraved The red line shows the level taken from Oakthorp & Measham Collieries to Leicester and Melton ca.1784, a broadside on rival plans to link the collieries near Ashby de la Zouch to the River Soar and Melton before the extension of the Leicester Navigation from Loughborough to Leicester on the River Soar.
The son of William Firmadge of Leicester and his wife Anne Burton, who had married 26 Jan 1755 at Scraptoft, he was born 14 Nov 1755 and baptised at St. Martin, Leicester, 29 Dec 1755. Freeman of Leicester 28 Sep 1778. Married (1) Ann Mottram (1757-1793) at St. Margaret, Leicester, 30 Apr 1787, and (2) Susannah Nedham (1757-1840) at St. Margaret, Leicester, 5 Mar 1795. As an architect he was responsible for The Crescent and other landmarks in the city. He served as Lord Mayor of Leicester in 1809. Various mortgage documents, etc., are preserved in the National Archives. He died 27 Mar 1836, aged eighty, and was interred in the family vault at Scraptoft, where there is a memorial window to him and to his wife Susanna. Will proved 27 May 1836 in NA — PROB 11/1861.
High Street, Leicester — 1794
Apprentices: James Cook; Walton; R. Riley; William Parsons.
BBTI. Colvin. Information from Derek Deadman. LG. NA.