page_title: James Williamson, 1st Baron Ashton
section_title: Contributions to Lancaster
hierarchical_section_title: James Williamson, 1st Baron Ashton / Contributions to Lancaster
caption_attribution_description: English: Upper levels of the Ashton Memorial, exterior
context_page_description: James Williamson, 1st Baron Ashton, DL, JP was a British businessman, philanthropist and Liberal Party politician. His family's business in Lancaster produced oilcloth and linoleum, which was exported around the world. After serving as a Member of Parliament for Lancaster, he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Ashton in 1895. Unproven accusations that he had purchased his title, however, haunted him and led to his eventual withdrawal from public life.
context_section_description: The Williamson family was extremely wealthy and dedicated to charity. With his father, Williamson created the city's Williamson Park, on the site of former stone quarries on Lancaster moor, and built other gardens throughout the city. 
  After the death of his second wife, Jessie, who supported him in his political life, he built the Ashton Memorial on a hill in the park  in 1909. The Memorial, an Edwardian baroque building, is now used for exhibitions and for weddings. He also donated the city's Town Hall and a monument to Queen Victoria in the city's Dalton Square.
  Williamson bought Ashton Hall in 1884, serving as High Sheriff of Lancashire for 1885. Williamson was noted in particular for his generosity to children. After he became High Sheriff in 1885, he served a breakfast for 10,000 people of the local population.
  Williamson's philanthropy in Lancaster over the years, through many gifts, subscriptions, and buildings, amounted to more than £500,000 (equivalent to £31,844,000 in 2019).
caption: The Ashton Memorial, which Lord Ashton built after the death of his second wife.
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