Church of St. Nicholas, grave of Thomas Hedley

Thomas Hedley (1809-1890) soap maker. Thomas began work as a clerk at a Gateshead firm of grocers, tallow chandlers and wine merchants. In 1838 the business was specialising in soap production and moved to City Road (City Soap Works), Newcastle. Hedley became a partner, then a proprietor. Hedley was Mayor of Newcastle in 1863. He was also a JP and helped set up Coxlodge psychiatric hospital. In 1930 the business was taken over by American soapmakers Proctor and Gamble.