He played his part in building one of the area's most famous landmarks and one of the country's most respected company, yet the name Isaac Reckitts is one that local history seems to have forgotten.

Not only did the entrepeneur take on the daunting task of constucting the Maud Foster Windmill but also put the wheels in motion which could see his name live on for eterity in the global business- by setting up detergent company Reckitts and Coleman.

Born in Wainfleet in 1792, Isaac soon moved to Boston with his brother Thomas and his wool-farming parents. He was brought up as a Quaker and it was through the group's many meetings he met his future wife, and later his saviour, in Anne Colby. Isaac was not know to do things by halves, and one of his first projects was the constuction of the Maud Foster Windmill, taken on as a joint effort with his brother following a short apprenticeship served in Bury St Edmunds.It was during this period that Isaac finally got together with Anne, who he courted until the mill was complete in 1819.They are thought to have married at Boston stump later the same year.

The Maud Foster Mill 

The couple set up their home in in St Anne's Terrace which was described as beind " In the shadows of the stump"The Reckitt milling empire failed to support the new family, however and Isaac now 37,and Anne ,33 were considering leaving the areawhen he became seriously ill and the doctors believed he was on his death bed.

 

Having heard that a visit to the "healing waters" of Bath may be his only hope for her husband, Anne left the couples children in the charge of the eldest who was only eleven years of age, and carted her husband the 220 miles to the west country.The journey saw her having to lift him on and off the cart each evening to the lodgings while washing,dressing and feeding him through out the day.

The struggle was worth the effort, however, as within just a few weeks Isaac was well enough to take them back to Boston, where they made the dicision to leave the mill.The next port of call was Nottingham where they both went into the corn industry. Mounting debts forced them to look else where, and the collapse of the business turned out to be a blessing in disquise as the couple bought a starch works in Hull where they prospered from the products created, including the famous Reckitts Blue.

The business went from strength to strength and eventually saw the whole family employed in it's workings, developing it into the multi-national company that it is today,still selling starch derived goods and washing agents.The company then joined forces with the Coleman empire with it well known brands, that include Colemans Mustard.