Skip to main content
Cosmo Rowe and two Wolverhampton houses
For decades, portraits of great socialists by the same artist hung in very different houses, one working class and one a country estate — and both played a role in labour movement history, writes NICK MATTHEWS
Rowe’s lithograph of Keir Hardy (left) and his painting of William Morris (right)

IN 1887 the Mander family decided to move out to the country and purchased part of the Wightwick Manor estate, three miles from their paint factory in central Wolverhampton.  

The new house built between 1887 and 1889, designed by Edward Ould, of Port Sunlight fame, was built for Theodore Mander. Mander Brothers, the family firm, was a successful paint and varnish manufacturer with branches all over Europe and North America.  

Like all the family, Theodore was very active in local affairs and became mayor of Wolverhampton shortly before his death in 1900.

Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Liberation webinar, 30 November2024, 6pm (UK)
More from this author
Billionaires: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon CEO Jeff
Features / 25 January 2025
25 January 2025
The government needs to raise its game when it comes to the tech giants who behave like the robber barons of old, argues NICK MATTHEWS
Lenin speaking in Moscow's Red Square on May Day 1919
Features / 25 February 2024
25 February 2024
NICK MATTHEWS looks at the great Bolshevik leader’s intense three-week period of furious study in the British Library in 1908 and the timeless classic on Marxism and philosophy it produced: Materialism and Empirio-Criticism
MM
Album review / 24 November 2023
24 November 2023
NICK MATTHEWS recommends a vivacious blend of classical and traditional Cuban music that brings swing to Mozart
Braunston canal
Features / 31 October 2023
31 October 2023
NICK MATTHEWS looks back to the historic 14-week dispute which was to form a significant early test for the then-recently formed Transport and General Workers Union
Similar stories
tradwife
Theatre Review / 5 February 2025
5 February 2025
PETER MASON applauds a thought-provoking study of the relationship between a grieving woman and her photographer
ROOTS: Eleanor Marx
Features / 16 January 2025
16 January 2025
The youngest daughter of Karl Marx and her unwavering humanity in the face of injustice remain relevant for our times, writes DANA MILLS
Bev Priestman
Women’s football / 28 July 2024
28 July 2024
Canada head coach Bev Priestman
Women’s football / 24 July 2024
24 July 2024