Joseph Pilling

• Born      1848
• Died       30 December 1935

The son of Jonas Pilling and Isabel Thistlethwaite (married Wigan 1836), Joseph Pilling was born at Bolton in 1848. He was articled to Cunliffe and Freeman 1862-1869 and continued as an assistant 1869-1871. Following the dissolution of the partnership, he assumed the role of head draftsman to his brother-in-law, George Cunliffe 1871-1880. He was in partnership with George Cunliffe 1880 and continued the practice alone as Cunliffe & Pilling following the retirement of the former in 1884. Joseph Pilling was joined in partnership by his son, Percy Cunliffe Pilling (qv) from 1904 to 1916. Joseph Pilling was elected Fellow of the RIBA on 13 March 1893, proposed by J B Gass. J J Bradshaw and R.K Freeman.

He married Anne Smedley in 1876. His eldest son, Joseph Smedley Pilling (1878-1900), was educated at Manchester Grammar School, but took no interest in his father’s business. Instead, he joined the Coldstream Guards and fought in the South African campaign. In 1900 he was wounded at Diamond Hill, and died in hospital at Bloemfontein.

Joseph Pilling appears to have retired about 1924 and does not appear in subsequent editions of the RIBA Kalendar. He died on 30 December 1935.

His sister, Agnes, married George Cunliffe.

Address   
1893: 37, Mawdsley Street. Bolton.

Residence
1881 : 23, Park Street, Little Bolton. (1881 Census)
1891 : Park Street, Bolton (Census)
1901 : Shrewsbury Road, Halliwell, Bolton
1904 : 2 Shrewsbury Road, Bolton
1914 : “The Cottage” Shrewsbury Road, Bolton
1935 : 40 Carlton Road, Bolton (Probate)

Obituary:    Builder Vol 150. 10 January 1936. Page 101