William Birks, son of 'the honest Yorkshire lawyer' John Birks, was born at Hemingfield near Barnsley on February 9th 1811. He never married, and followed his father's legal profession.
He was described as having a quiet and unassuming manner, and one of his main interests was gardening - he had a magnificent display of orchids. William was also known as a benefactor, giving to Retford Cottage Hospital and Becket Hospital, Barnsley, and towards the restoration of Wombwell church.
On his retirement in the late 1870s he bought Welham Hall and farm at Clarborough near Retford from a Mr Cottingham. Here he had greenhouses with displays of orchids. He became chairman of the Clarborough School Board, where he became a favourite with the teachers and scholars, and was a regular at St John's Church. He was known to have subscribed to the restoration of the pinnacles, the erection of a new reredos, and draining of the churchyard.
William died on 16th June 1897 and was later buried at Wombwell cemetery. The coffin was conveyed by train to Wath station, and it was reported by the Retford and Gainsborough Times that hundreds of people lined the platform and en route to the cemetery to pay their respects. The following Saturday there was a memorial service at St John's, Clarborough.