Keswick School of Industrial Arts

Key Designers

Thomas Sparks

1890s to 1904

Thomas Sparks was a skilled ksia worker who left in 1904 to move to Ireland and help set up the Youghal art metal workers.He left the Keswick school having been married off to Canon Hardwickes housekeeper it being thought best that he should be married on arriving in Ireland.He left Ireland in 1908 and moved to Lancashire being employed at the Morecambe technical college.We believe he founded the Morecambe HEC hence why all Morecambe HEC pieces are made in the Keswick tradition 

Image shows Thomas and his new wife on arrival at Youghal in 1904.Thomas married the Rawnsleys house keeper in what is said by family to be an arranged marriage.

Info and Image courtesy of family members