Description:This is an abridged version of his biography. The full version is available as a download on this page. Henry Hossell lived at Bird's Hill, 131 Aldridge Road.
Mr Henry Hossell, who has served the rate-payers of Birchfield Ward since the formation of that body in 1894 and before that was a member for many years of the Handsworth Local Board, has definitely decided to retire from public life at the April Elections when he will in all probability be succeeded by Mr Edgar Evans.
Mr Hossell came to Birmingham in 1859 and in partnership with his brother Mr J J Hossell, started a business as a tanner. Until three years ago when Mr J J Hossell died, the firm was known as J J and H Hossell; the whole concern is now carried on by Mr H Hossell in the premises occupied from the commencement in Coventry Street. Being ably assisted since the death of his brother and partner by his sons, Mr Henry Hossell has continued to devote a great deal of time to public duties.
Mr Hossell is conservative both in his habits and opinions. Thirty-three years ago he took up his residence at Perry Barr and has lived in the parish, forming and cementing strong social and domestic ties, up till the present time. For upwards of twenty-seven years he has resided at his present address in Aldridge Road.
A conscientious layman in matters ecclesiastical, Mr Hossell has been a warden of Perry Church for no less than twenty-three years, during which the vicariate has been several times vacant. He has been successively people's warden and vicar's warden, under the Rev. C.B Snepp, Rev. Reece, Rev. C R Keble and the present vicar Rev. G H Sharpe.
During this long period of service Perry Church has been greatly enlarged and renovated. Christ Church (an off-shoot from St John's) has been converted from an ordinary schoolroom into a beautiful place of worship and other important works, involving a large expenditure have been carried out. The present Lord Calthorpe, who then resided at Perry Hall, took a great interest in everything affecting the Parish Church and loyally co-operated with the clergy and wardens in these enterprises. Mr Hossell retired from the wardenship of the church two years ago, much to the regret of his colleagues.
Handsworth and Perry Barr are rich in charities ; the pious benefactions of by-gone worthies and of one the most important of these the Bromwich Charity. Mr Hossell is a trustee. A century ago Thomas Bromwich the founder of the charity made provision in his will for the rent of a number of acres of agricultural land in Handsworth to be devoted forever to the amelioration of the necessities of the poor. The land at that time produced a rental of £10 per annum, £1 of which was bequeathed to the clergyman who preached an annual sermon (date fixed) in Handsworth Parish Church. With the lapse of time the value of the land has grown enormously. Buildings now cover the ground and the rental is £240 a year, a sum destined to be vastly increased when the present leases fall in. The £240 is divided equally between Handsworth, Great Barr and Perry Barr Churches and is faithfully applied to the purposes named by the testator.
In 1876 Mr Hossell consented to serve upon the West Bromwich Union as a Handsworth Guardian, a position he held with the greatest credit to himself and the Board for ten years. For twelve years he was also a manager of the Wigmore Schools.
The training in public work this acquired stood the subject of our sketch in good stead when in 1886 he joined the Handsworth Local Board, of which he remained a member until the passing of the Parish Councils Act, when the entire body having to seek re-election, a stiff contest took place and he was the highest unsuccessful candidate. His defeat was due to the fact that the polling took place in the parish as a whole; there were no wards as now; and Mr Hossell whilst well-known and popular in Birchfield and Perry Barr was a less familiar figure in the other parts of the parish where the voting strength preponderated to an enormous extent. However he was only absent from the local authority for twelve months, during which the parish was divided into wards. Mr Hossell stood for Birchfield Ward and was returned to the District Council. He has done excellent work on many of the committees and for two years has held the important position of Chairman of the Highway Committee.