Joseph Crook

[1] In 1860, Crook authored and successfully proposed the Bleachers' Short Time Act[a] in Parliament, having first attempted to achieve such legislation in 1853.

[6] Retirement from Parliament did not end Crook's interest in politics: he was a member of Bolton Council between 1868 and 1871, as well as being a Justice of the Peace and serving on the Board of Guardians.

He was also involved in the running of Bolton Liberal Club and in 1869 he founded the local branch of the National Education League.

Among his other roles, he was a trustee of the Bank Street Unitarian Chapel, where a tablet in his memory was erected, although the Bolton Advertiser noted that "He didn't care much for 'parsons' as such, and entertained strong repugnance to the interference of these gentlemen in political or commercial affairs.

[8] Crook, who earlier lived at Chamber Hall in Bolton,[2] died at his home, Oakfield in Heaton, on 8 December 1884.