Horseley Ironworks: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Engine Arm Aqueduct west.jpg|upright|right|thumb|The [[Engine Arm Aqueduct]]]] |
[[Image:Engine Arm Aqueduct west.jpg|upright|right|thumb|The [[Engine Arm Aqueduct]]]] |
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The '''Horseley Ironworks''' (sometimes spelled '''Horsley''') was a major [[ironworks]] in the [[Tipton]] area in the [[historic county]] of [[Staffordshire]], now the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]], [[England]]. |
The '''Horseley Ironworks''' (sometimes spelled '''Horsley''' and '''Iron Works''') was a major [[ironworks]] in the [[Tipton]] area in the [[historic county]] of [[Staffordshire]], now the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]], [[England]]. |
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Founded by [[Aaron Manby]]<ref>''Annual Register'', Edward Burke, 1885, Rivingtons</ref>, it is most famous for constructing the first [[Steamboat|iron steamer]], ''[[Aaron Manby|The Aaron Manby]]'', in [[1821]]<Ref>''Energy and Empire: A Biographical Study of Lord Kelvin'', Crosbie Smith, Matthew Norton Wise, 1989, Cambridge University Press (ISBN 0521261732)</ref><ref>''Iron'', Neil Morris, 2005, Black Rabbit Books (ISBN 158340631X)</ref>. The boat was assembled at [[Rotherhithe]]. The ironworks have also been responsible for the manufacture of numerous canal and railway [[bridge]]s of the [[19th century]]. |
Founded by [[Aaron Manby]]<ref>''Annual Register'', Edward Burke, 1885, Rivingtons</ref>, it is most famous for constructing the first [[Steamboat|iron steamer]], ''[[Aaron Manby|The Aaron Manby]]'', in [[1821]]<Ref>''Energy and Empire: A Biographical Study of Lord Kelvin'', Crosbie Smith, Matthew Norton Wise, 1989, Cambridge University Press (ISBN 0521261732)</ref><ref>''Iron'', Neil Morris, 2005, Black Rabbit Books (ISBN 158340631X)</ref>. The boat was assembled at [[Rotherhithe]]. The ironworks have also been responsible for the manufacture of numerous canal and railway [[bridge]]s of the [[19th century]]. |
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Revision as of 11:23, 16 June 2007
The Horseley Ironworks (sometimes spelled Horsley and Iron Works) was a major ironworks in the Tipton area in the historic county of Staffordshire, now the West Midlands, England.
Founded by Aaron Manby[1], it is most famous for constructing the first iron steamer, The Aaron Manby, in 1821[2][3]. The boat was assembled at Rotherhithe. The ironworks have also been responsible for the manufacture of numerous canal and railway bridges of the 19th century.
The ironworks were built on the Horseley estate, which had been sold by their owner at the turn of the 19th century[4] due to demand from engineers wishing to profit on the construction of the BCN Main Line through the estate. The date when the ironworks were constructed is unknown but is believed to have been by 1815[4]. Industry in the area prospered and the location retained the name of the Horseley estate as shown in an 1822 survey of the area.[5]
With the increasing popularity of canals, the ironworks quickly became popular for manufacturing canal bridges, mainly in the local vicinity[6]. Canal bridges made by the ironworks include the Engine Arm Aqueduct (1825), two roving bridges at Smethwick Junction (1828)[7][8], Galton Bridge (1829), and Braunston Towpath Bridges (1830) [9][10]. By the end of the canal construction era, Horseley Ironworks had emerged as one of the most prolific manufacturers of canal bridges in the West Midlands region[4], especially in Birmingham[11]. This was a result of their signature bridge design which had become popular amongst canal constructors. The design has been replicated more recently, for example in Birmingham during the regeneration of Gas Street Basin where Worcester Bar is linked to Gas Street.[12]
Horseley Ironworks were also responsible for manufacturing in the railway industry. As well as manufacturing bridges, they also produced locomotives[13]. Railway bridges constructed included that of the viaduct for the London and Birmingham to Holyhead railway at Shifnal, Shropshire which was cast in 1848.[14]
People who have worked for the iron foundry include Charles Manby, the son of Aaron Manby, James Thomson[15], William Johnson[16] and Richard Roberts. [17]
Gallery
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Winston Green Junction
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Two roving bridges at Smethwick Junction, 1828 -
Name on roving bridge at Smethwick Junction -
Engine Arm Aqueduct
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References
- ^ Annual Register, Edward Burke, 1885, Rivingtons
- ^ Energy and Empire: A Biographical Study of Lord Kelvin, Crosbie Smith, Matthew Norton Wise, 1989, Cambridge University Press (ISBN 0521261732)
- ^ Iron, Neil Morris, 2005, Black Rabbit Books (ISBN 158340631X)
- ^ a b c The Tame Mills of Staffordshire, Douglas Dilworth, 1976, Phillimore
- ^ Time 2 Time: Newsletter 7
- ^ Sandwell MBC: Top 10 Canal Attractions
- ^ Wales and West Central England: Wales and West Central England, 2nd Edition, Roger Cragg, 1997, Thomas Telford (ISBN 0727725769)
- ^ Sandwell MBC: Smethwick Summit Canals Project
- ^ Civil Engineering Heritage, E. A. Labrum, 1994, Thomas Telford (ISBN 072771970X)
- ^ Suffolk Cam: Grand Union Canal
- ^ Birmingham.gov.uk: Canal Walks - Broad Street
- ^ BBC Birmingham: Walk Through Time - Page 7
- ^ Steam Index: British Locomotive Manufacturers
- ^ History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Shropshire, Samuel Bagshaw, 1851, S. Harrison of Sheffield
- ^ Tidal correspondents of the nineteenth-century harmonic method, 1862-1906
- ^ The Diary of William Mackenzie, the First International Railway Contractor, David Brooke, 2000, Thomas Telford (ISBN 072772830X)
- ^ Museum of Making: Richard Roberts