William Wood was a watchmaker from a Little Bolton family, he was born in 1903, the son of a machine fitter William Thorpe Wood, and working at 72 Newport Street in Bolton in 1939, he had a wife Elizabeth Thomas Pritchard who he married at St James the Apostle on 26th June 1920 while they lived at 190 Waterloo Street, Little Bolton.
They had a son Rowland Derek born in 1931.
Wiliam Wood worked for James Walsh, where he sustained an injury, in September 1936, which ultimately resulted in the loss of his finger by amputation in 1937 and the loss of 50% movement to his other fingers. William made a claim for workers compensation, and the case was fought through the courts with the insurers vigorously defending, despite agreeing that aged 35 William Wood could never be capable of delicate work ever again. on 19th October 1938 the case was heard and Judgement was reserved. On November 16th Judge Crosthwaite made an order with costs for compensation to William.
This was undoubtably the end of his watchmaking career.
There are no known examples of his work.
Waterloo Street in Bolton with the steeple of The Church of St James the Apostle in the distance.
