Robert Butcher Mather

Alderman Robert Butcher Mather, (1851 – 27 July 1933), was a prominent figure in Blackpool, Lancashire, England in the late 19th and early 20th century. He was a member of the town council for many years, serving as mayor in 1897–98, and is recognised as one of the driving forces behind Blackpool's development into a major tourist resort town.

Mather was also an architect, surveyor, businessman, innkeeper and magistrate. He became one of the richest men in Blackpool; he was a director of several businesses and owned many properties in and around the town, including The New Inn and Central Hotel, where he lived with his family for many years.

In 1914, in recognition of his service to the Blackpool area, Mather was awarded the Freedom of the Borough.

Family life Mather was born at Anchor Cottage in South Shore, Blackpool in 1851 .

Mather was educated at Bamber's School in Blackpool.

He was married to Elizabeth Jane Kay in 1875; they had five children, but only two survived more than a few years. Elizabeth died from tuberculosis in 1890. Later that year Mather was remarried, to Ellen Ireland; together they had eight children, two of whom died young. In 1896, the New Inn was demolished and rebuilt several yards back from the road in order to ease congestion; upon reopening, it was renamed the New Inn and Central Hotel. By the turn of the century, the family had moved to live at Courtfield on Hornby Road, a house designed by Mather himself.

Mather's two sons, Robert and William Bernard, both served in the army during World War I, after which they returned to become architects and surveyors in their father's business, renamed R. B. Mather, Sons and Wilding when they became partners, which continued until shortly after Mather's death in 1933.

Politics A conservative, Mather was first elected to Blackpool Town Council in November 1891; standing as an independent candidate, he defeated the incumbent Liberal representative, James Ward, by 15 votes. and for Blackpool from the formation of the Borough Bench in 1998. He was unanimously elected as Blackpool's mayor for the municipal year 1897–98.

As a councillor, Mather served on many committees, including as chairman of the Markets and Street Lighting Committee, and as a member of the Fylde Water Board. He was also instrumental in the formation of the Blackpool Borough Bench in 1898, and the establishment of a bankruptcy court. He was later chairman of the association.

Buildings Casino Building at Blackpool Pleasure Beach (1913, demolished in 1938) Blackpool United Hebrew Congregation synagogue, Leamington Road (1916–26) Public houses Schools St Cuthbert's Catholic School-Chapel, South Shore Catholic Church School in Talbot Road Blackpool Aerodrome, South Shore (1910) Clifton Park Racecourse, South Shore (1911) Victoria Pier (now South Pier) arcade (1911)