Museums and galleries

Who was Mr Smith?

William Smith was born in Greetland in 1839. His father was a son of a dyer-manufacturer and William went into partnership with him at the age of 22. In 1873, they started to manufacture tweeds and serges in Badger Hill Mill in Rastrick and the firm expanded rapidly.

In 1893, William was elected the first mayor of Brighouse. He served as Mayor for a further 5 years. He was given the freedom of the borough and was elected a Freeman in 1910.

There are paintings of William Smith and his wife, Susannah, whom he married in 1860. These can be found on the landing above the reception area and were painted by William Logsdail.

William and Susannah had no children of their own. However, they adopted a son, Albert Edward. Susannah died in 1916 and William in 1922, aged 83 years.

What is the history of the Smith Art Gallery?

In 1897, ‘The Ridings’, an early Victorian house, was purchased for use as a library and opened on 15 June 1898. On 22 May 1907, after extensive but sympathetic additions, Princess Louise opened the Smith Art Gallery.

The two large galleries were originally used for oil paintings and today provide a display of late Victorian oils and a temporary exhibition space.

The original decoration was boarded walls painted ‘Pompeian Red’ with paintings hung 2, 3 and even 4 deep. There were originally 4 galleries and the 2 smaller galleries were used for watercolours and prints.

William Smith started collecting paintings in the 1870’s from exhibitions in Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and London. He also had 2 large Rubens copied by J.H. Mols while he was in Antwerp.

William had very clear views about art and artists and was a sincere believer in the role that art played in uplifting the individual. Consequently, he attached the highest importance to the subject matter and moral tone of the pictures he bought.