George Head Head was a mayor, magistrate, banker in Carlisle. The bank was started by his father, but was improved and rebuilt in his lifetime. He attended an important convention in 1840 on Anti-Slavery

Anti-Slavery International

Anti-Slavery International is an international nongovernmental organization, charity and a lobby group, based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1839, it is the world's oldest international human rights organization, and the only charity in the United Kingdom to work exclusively against slavery and...

, where a painting records his involvement.

Biography

George Head Head was born to a successful banker (J.M.Head) who had a private bank called J.M.Head and Co.. His father had started the banks in his grocers shop and it was passed on to George who continued to run it at its original location on Botchersgate in Carlisle. Eventually Head had the first building built that was intended to be a bank.

In 1840, Head journeyed to London to attend the World's anti-slavery convention on 12 June 1840. The picture above shows him in a painting made to commemorate the event which attracted delegates from America, France, Haiti, Australia, Ireland, Jamaica and Barbados.

He was the High Sheriff of Cumberland

High Sheriff of Cumberland

The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...

 in 1851 and Deputy Lieutenant

Deputy Lieutenant

In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....

 in 1852.

Head married Sarah Gurney on 1 May 1858 in West Ham

West Ham

West Ham is in the London Borough of Newham in London, England. In the west it is a post-industrial neighbourhood abutting the site of the London Olympic Park and in the east it is mostly residential, consisting of Victorian terraced housing interspersed with higher density post-War social housing...

. Sarah's late father was Samuel Gurney

Samuel Gurney

Samuel Gurney was an English banker and philanthropist.He should not be confused with his second son, Samuel , also described as banker and philanthropist, and a Member of Parliament.-Early years and marriage:...

 ("The Bankers' Banker") or Upton, Essex

His bank was demolished in 1865 when Head's bank was amalgamated with the Cumberland Union Bank.

He owned Rickerby Hall which today stands in the public area called Rickerby Park

Rickerby Park

Rickerby Park is a public open space in Carlisle, Cumbria on the banks of the River Eden. It is the venue for the annual Cumberland County Show...

. He is particularly noted for commissioning a large octagonal tower. This folly is an important local landmark.

Head was interested in book collecting and supported the anti-slavery movement. He died in 1876 and Mile MacInnees, a justice of the Peace, succeeded to the 940 acres (3.8 km²) of Rickerby

Rickerby

Rickerby is a village in the parish of Stanwix Rural, in the City of Carlisle District, in the county of Cumbria, England, United Kingdom. It is situated near Carlisle, next to the River Eden. The property belonged to Richard de Tilliol of Scaleby Castle, whose descendant Adam de Rickerby resided...

where he owned all the land.