He was responsible for some of Huddersfield’s best-loved architecture including The Albert Hotel and the former Huddersfield Market Hall.

Few will ever have heard of Edward Hughes, but now his legacy is being remembered.

Hughes, regarded as Huddersfield’s finest 19th century architect, helped create the Midland Bank on Cloth Hall Street and the 1880 Market Hall on King Street, both now sadly demolished.

His other surviving listed works include The Ramsden Building at the University of Huddersfield, All Saints Church, Clayton West, and Spring Grove School, Huddersfield.

But he never married and died at his home in Clara Street, Huddersfield on June 5, 1886 aged only 48. His funeral was at St Paul’s Church, Shepley.

He was buried on the south side of St Paul’s, where his Celtic cross headstone stands.

The chief mourner was his only surviving brother Richard Thomas Hughes.

Hughes had no family and his collateral descendants emigrated to Australia in the early 20th century.

No surviving family can be found.

And without the determination of Huddersfield Civic Society chairman, Chris Marsden, even the ornate inscription marking his headstone would have been lost.

The stone bearing the inscription continued to deteriorate and through frost action exfoliated and was lost.

Fortunately Mr Marsden rediscovered the dramatic but forgotten grave and headstone of Hughes in the autumn of 2012.

And having identified that the very damaged inscription was incontrovertibly that of Hughes he set about having it restored with the help of the newly formed Huddersfield Society of Architects and the Civic Society.

Kirkburton Parish Council generously provided an environmental grant, architect Malcolm Walker of Walker Associates, Honley, managed the project and the mason’s work was carried out by Wright & Sons Ltd of Bradford.

Chris said “As most of the headstones in the graveyard have been cleared it was a joy to find the grave.

“To be able to start and see the restoration through is a delight. I hope it will bring attention to his surviving works.

“We are grateful to Kirkburton Parish Council for its support. The headstone should be good for a century or two.”