THERE are few men of Burnley who have had such an impact on the town as Abraham Altham, tea merchant and travel organiser, says historian Jack Nadin.

He came from the humblest of backgrounds yet went on to become one of the town’s best loved sons.

Abraham, was born at Haggate, the son of the village shop keeper and a Baptist preacher, in 1841.

Following the death of his parents, young Abraham was brought up by his grandfather, who was a grocer and a farmer at Holt Hill.

He went to school at Haggate, Hill Lane and Barkerhouse Road schools and also attended evening classes to supplement his education.

His first job was as a stone hewer and flag dresser apprentice at Chaffer’s Catlow quarries, but when he was 23 he started his own business as a wholesale grocer, obviously inspired by his grandfather.

Abraham bought the premises of one Robert Wilson on Bridge Street in Burnley and as trade grew, he also acquired premises in Ormerod Street, which he opened as a wholesale tea shop.

Just before Christmas 1872, he also requisitioned further premises in the market place, as a retail outlet for the sale of tea.

The following year he opened his first retail branch at Blackburn, followed in 1874 by four others in Yorkshire – indeed, at his untimely death at the age of 44, he had 64 retail tea establishments in both the red and white rose counties.

He also developed a travel side to the business, by offering cut-price trips to the seaside for his customers – and this enterprise still exists today.

Throughout Abraham's life he was connected with the Baptists, in particular the Scotch Baptists, joining the church at 16 and becoming a preacher by the time he was 18.

He shared his wealth and, as well as donating gifts to the chapels and schools at Haggate, he also paid £3,000 to build and furnish a school at North Street Burnley and £2,000 for the Brierfield Baptist Chapel School.

His connection with the Burnley Corporation began in August 1876, when as a Liberal candidate he contested and won St Andrew’s ward and after being re-elected in 1881 was made an Alderman of the borough in 1882.

He was one of the first to make a donation for the building of a new hospital, to be called the Victoria for the people of Burnley.

Abraham married Elizabeth Holgate of Worsthorne around 1863 and the couple had three sons and a daughter. After her death in 1877 he married Miss Oddie of Brierfield and there was one daughter.

Abraham lived at Byerden House in Colne Road until he built a magnificent dwelling known as Oakleigh, on the Burnley and Reedley boundary.

After catching a chill, he died in 1885 and the respect that Abraham Altham commanded was there for all to see at his funeral.

The cortege was led by some 100 scholars from North Street school, next came the hearse, then a number of private carriages drawn by pairs of horses, followed by 52 other coaches and carriages.

Apart from his immediate family, representatives of the public bodies included, the Mayor, Alderman Baron, the town clerk, Aldermen, borough magistrates, councillors, Burnley Band of Hope Union, and a body of about 30 employees.

Abraham was buried at Haggate Baptist Chapel.