1870 Building of the Aireside Ironworks began in 1870 by the Aireside Iron Company.[1] Drawings for the Ironworks dated 21 Oct 1870 (engineer James Thompson of Middlesbrough) are held by West Yorkshire Archives.[2] Their first "monster furnace" was started up in about September 1871, a second in April 1872 and a third in January 1874.[3]
1872 The original partners were James George Thompson (presumably the engineer mentioned above), Joseph Ledger of Workington, and Leonard Cooper the younger, but in 1872 Thompson left the partnership. The company was also renamed Aireside Hematite Iron Company at this time. "NOTICE is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned, James George Thompson, Joseph Ledger, and Leonard Cooper the younger, of Leeds, in the county of York, under the style or firm of the Aireside Iron Company, was dissolved as and from the 1st day of January, 1872, so far as relates to the said James George Thompson. All debts owing to or by the said firm will be received and paid by the said Joseph Ledger and Leonard Cooper the younger, who will henceforth carry on the said business under the style or firm of the Aireside Hematite Iron Company.—Dated this 19th day of January, 1872."[4]
1877 Depressed trade and high stocks resulted in two furnaces being damped down, with 150 lost jobs. The third furnace had been out of service for about 2 years.[5] One as blown back in about 6 months later as stocks of pig iron were reduced. During the 1870s strenuous efforts were made to sell dross for road builfing and slag for construction work. The company established their own line of concrete products using their own slag.
1881 Directory entry (Leeds) - Aireside Hematite Iron Co. Pig iron manufacturers, Balm Road, Hunslet, and 32 Park Row
1886 In 1886, an attempt was made to convert the firm to a public limited company, under the name Aireside Steel and Iron Company Limited, and accordingly the original partnership was dissolved, below.
1887 Dissolution of the Partnership between Joseph Ledger and Leonard Cooper, carrying on business as Ironmasters and Manufacturers, and Merchants, at Leeds, in the county of York, under the style or firm of the Aireside Hematite Iron Company. All debts due and owing by the said late firm will be received and paid by the said Joseph Ledger.[6]
1888 "Joseph Ledger, trading as Aireside Hematite Iron Co" was insolvent and his affairs placed in the hands of an administrator, with secured or partly secured liabilities of £91,924 and unsecured liabilities of £30,113. He died in 1891.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Public Ledger and Daily Advertiser - 14 Nov 1870
- ↑ West Yorkshire Archive Service Ref LC/ENG/BCP/book 3, page 19
- ↑ Sheffield Daily Telegraph - 9 Sep 1871 and Sheffield Independent - 27 Apr 1872 and 24 Jan 1874
- ↑ London Gazette 23 January 1872
- ↑ Leeds Mercury - 28 Apr 1877
- ↑ London Gazette 8 July 1887