Henry Brogden
Henry Brogden (1828-1913)
1852 of the South Staffordshire Railway
1913 Obituary [1]
HENRY BROGDEN was born in Manchester on 30th September 1828.
He was educated at King's College, London, and spent a year in the locomotive works of Messrs. Stephenson and Co., Newcastle-on-Tyne, where he developed a liking for shop work. At his home he had a very complete workshop, and throughout his life took a great interest in science.
More than half a century ago he was one of the foremost railway contractors of the day, and as a member of the firm of John Brogden and Sons, of London, Manchester, and South Wales, he carried out many important railway undertakings, not only in England, but in South America, Australia, New Zealand, Holland, and other countries.
One of the principal contracts carried out by him in this country was the construction of the railway between Carnforth and Barrow, and he succeeded in laying this line after other contractors had failed to accomplish it.
He made Holme Island his home for some years. This land formed part of a large tract which was reclaimed from the sea during the construction of the line under his superintendence.
He was the engineer for the high-level bridge at Stockport, for the Llynvi and Ogmore Railway in South Wales, the Tondu Iron Works and Collieries, and other important works in the "Sixties" and "Seventies."
His death took place at his residence at Hale, Cheshire, on 21st June 1913, in his eighty-fifth year.
He was elected a Member of this Institution in 1852.