Background
The son of a shoemaker, Waugh was born in Rochdale, Lancashire, England and, after some schooling, was apprenticed to a printer, Thomas Holden, at the age of 12.
The son of a shoemaker, Waugh was born in Rochdale, Lancashire, England and, after some schooling, was apprenticed to a printer, Thomas Holden, at the age of 12.
While still a young man he worked as a journeyman printer, travelling all over Britain, but eventually returned to his old job in Rochdale. Waugh read eagerly, and in 1847 became assistant secretary to the Lancashire Public School Association and went to work in Manchester. By 1860 he was able to become a full-time writer
But in 1881 he was in poor health and was granted a Civil List pension of £90 p.a.
Waugh died at his home in New Brighton, Cheshire, in 1890 and was buried in Saint Paul"s churchyard on Kersal Moor. Waugh"s Well was built in 1866 to commemorate him at Fo" Edge Farm, on the moors above Edenfield, Rossendale where he spent much time writing.
Fo" Edge, was completely demolished by the North West Water Authority in the mid-1970s and no trace remains of the building.