The Park was opened in August, 1857.[1] Three years later, a fine statue of Sir Francis Crossley (by Mr. Joseph Durham) was placed in the Park, so that all comers, while beholding the princely gift, might also see the form and features of the giver.  The cost of the statue was defrayed by public subscription, in which persons of all political parties joined.  The preparation of the statue was delayed by the revolution in Italy, which placed Victor Emanuel on the Italian throne.  While the quarrymen at Carrara were digging out the block of marble of which the figure was to be sculptured, they were roused by shouts of “Liberty,” coupled with the name of Garibaldi, and they left their work to join the banner of that victorious leader.  In front of the statue is the following inscription:  “This statue of Frank Crossley, Esq., M.P. for the West Riding of the county of York, donor of the People’s Park, was erected August 14, 1860, by the inhabitants of Halifax, his native town, as a tribute of gratitude and respect to one whose public benefactions and private virtues deserve to be remembered.”

[Footnote 1:  The Park is situated in the centre of the borough of Halifax, and covers twelve acres and a half of ground.  It cost Sir Francis Crossley L35,000, who also gave to the Corporation L6,300 to be invested for its maintenance.]

But the vow of Martha Crossley was not yet entirely fulfilled:  “If the Lord does bless us at this place, the poor shall taste of it.”  That was what she promised on her husband’s entering into possession of Dean Clough Mills; and her sons have nobly fulfilled her promise.  In 1864, the extensive business of John Crossley and Sons, with all its mills, machinery, plant, warehouses and stock-in-trade—­at Halifax, Kidderminster, Manchester, and London,—­was converted into a joint-stock company.  The company was formed with the primary design of receiving the co-operation of all parties associated with the business, and with the object of securing a spirit of harmony and the material well-being and profit of the workpeople, clerks, managers, and others interested in the concern.  In order to enable the workpeople to join in the business, a large sum of money was lent to them for the purpose of taking up returned shares in the company; and the workpeople took them up to a large extent.  A preference was always given to the managers and operatives; and the amount of shares applied for by them was invariably allotted in full.

The results of this system have proved entirely satisfactory; the directors reporting that “the active energies of all parties necessary to ensure success have been fully enlisted.  They claim originality, in their method of securing the direct interest of the employes, and they rejoice in being able to report that the system has more than realized their highest expectations."[1] At the present time, the employes hold shares in the company, of the value of about thirty thousand pounds; and the deposit bank, founded for the use of the workpeople exclusively, contains money-savings amounting to more than sixteen thousand pounds!  And thus the vow of Martha Crossley, that the poor should taste of the prosperity of John Crossley and Sons, has been amply and nobly fulfilled!