George Henry Strutt

Who was George Henry Strutt?

George Henry Strutt DL was an English cotton manufacturer and philanthropist.

Strutt was born at Belper, Derbyshire, the son of Jedediah Strutt and his wife Susannah Walker. The Strutt family had been cotton manufacturers at Belper since the time of Jedediah Strutt. Strutt lived at Bridge Hill House, Belper. He instigated the construction of Christ Church, Belper which was completed in 1850 and subsequently funded a substantial stone vicarage. He was a J.P. and Deputy Lieutenant of Derbyshire. In 1869 he was High Sheriff of Derbyshire

In 1870 Strutt converted a building in Belper into a cottage hospital for convescent mill workers. In November 1870 he attended the inaugural meeting of Derbyshire County Cricket Club and became vice president of the club. He arranged for Belper Market Place to be paved in 1880. and donated £1000 to an endowment fund for the Derbyshire Hospital for Sick Children in 1885. In 1887 Strutt became President of Derbyshire County Cricket Club and was a generous supporter of the club. He donated a fire engine to the town of Belper in 1889.