Thomas & Catherine Haimes

 Thomas & Catherine Haimes

(also Amelia, Catherine Mary & William Frederick Haimes)

William Haimes started making handkerchiefs and scarves in the early 19^th century in a frameshop next to his house in Melbourne. He was considered the founder of manufacturing in the town. He married Jane Robinson and when William died in 1854 his son Thomas, the main subject of this memorial took over the business.

Thomas married Catharine Mary Hibbert and was very successful with the business, producing a number of patents for improvements to his weaving machines which enabled him to produce velvet lace on a warp frame in 1849. By 1851 he was said to be a hosier and glove manufacturer, employing 130 people. He built the Castle Mill on the site of the former Melbourne Castle and operated steam-powered Warp Machines, supposedly using the old Castle well for his water supply. 

Thomas died in 1869 but his wife Catharine ran the business until 1891 when the firm went bankrupt. She died in Lincolnshire, aged 91, but was buried in Melbourne Cemetery.

The Castle Mills, which faced onto Castle Square, did not close until 1986. It was demolished in 1988 and replaced by the Castle Mills housing development.

The memorial is also to 3 of their children, Catherine Mary, who sadly died in 1871, at the age of 13. Amelia Elizabeth (Burland) who died in Canada in 1905, aged 60 and William Frederick, their eldest son, who died in New Zealand in 1913 aged 66.

The stained glass window above the memorial was given in memory of Thomas Haimes by his wife and friends. It depicts scenes from the quotation in Matthew 25.

I was naked and ye clothed me 
I was in prison and ye came unto me 
I was a stranger and ye took me in
I was hungry and ye gave me meat 
I was sick and ye visited me 
I was thirsty and ye gave me drink