Thomas Pearsall

c.1759-1825

Son of John Pearsall (1716-1777), and grandson of John Pearsall (1683-1762) who established an iron and steel works at Willsbridge Mill c.1716. In 1811 Thomas Pearsall took out Patent 3503 for 'A Method of Constructing Ironworks for Certain parts of Buildings'. Pearsall, in partnership with John Winwood, achieved initial success, and in 1813 supplied ironwork to John Rennie for the roofs of the rum sheds at the West India Docks. These were failures and had to be replaced by stronger structures. This led to Pearsall's bankruptcy.

1814 Advert: 'NOTICE is hereby given, that the Partnership between us, the undersigned THOMAS PEARSALL and JOHN WINWOOD, in the trade or business of Slitting and Rolling Iron, and of converting Iron into Steel, and making and manufacturing, under a Patent for that purpose, Iron Roofs, and other Iron Work for Buildings, carried out at Willsbridge, in the parish of Bitton, in the county of Glocester, under the Firm of "Thomas Pearsall and Company," was, by mutual consent, dissolved on the 28th day of February last; and that the said Trade or Business will in future be carried on by the said THOMAS PEARSALL, on his own account. All persons indebted to the said Concern, are requested to pay their debts to the said Jons Winwood, who is authorised to receive the same, and to adjust and discharge all debts owing the late Copartnership.
Witness the hands of the parties, the 20th day of April, 1814.
THOMAS PEARSALL,
JOHN WINWOOD.'

'In 1811 Mr. Thomas Pearsall, an iron manufacturer of Gloucester, patented the use of iron standards, joists, and window frames, to form house skeleletons which should be filled in with wood, brick, or stone. This was ten years after the first recorded adoption of iron beams for fireproof floors in the cotton mill of Messrs. Phillips and Lee , of Manchester. ...'

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