Career
Born in Leeds, Bellhouse received no formal education. An autodidact, he taught himself to read and write and the elements of arithmetic and technical drawing. Sharp died in 1803 and his family had little appetite for the business so it was acquired by Bellhouse.
During the Industrial Revolution there was a mass movement of workers towards Manchester to take up employment in the cotton spinning and textile industry.
This created a demand for cheap housing and Bellhouse and his partners were among several tradesmen builders who made their fortunes in property speculation. From the early nineteenth century, Bellhouse expanded into the construction of complete factories and into work as a surveyor and valuer.
His firm enjoyed the sole contracts for the erection of several public buildings, including the Portico Library, Islington Mill and the old Town Hall in King Street. In 1824, he was elected one of the Police Commissioners who comprised Manchester"s local government, making use of the office in furthering his building enterprise.
He held the post until 1832.
Edward Taylor Bellhouse (1816–1881), one of the grandsons of David Bellhouse (1764–1840), founded and Company This company was a famous manufacturer of iron buildings. Prince Albert ordered an iron ball-room for Balmoral Castle.
