Arthur Ellis
Arthur Ellis (1873-1945). Engineers of Cardiff.
1945 Obituary [1]
1946 Obituary [2]
ARTHUR ELLIS who for many years held with distinction the two important positions of city electrical engineer of Cardiff and tramways manager, was, for a quarter of a century, well known as a prominent consulting engineer in that city. He was born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1873 and served as a premium pupil with Sir Charles Parsons at the Heaton works, where, towards the end of his time, he was engaged upon the erection of the steam turbine driven generating plant built for the Cambridge Electric Lighting Company, of which he eventually became the engineer and manager.
From 1893 until 1896 he was borough electrical engineer at Southport, and during the next four years he filled the same position with the additional duties of tramways manager at Bolton, Lancashire. He then began his long connection with Cardiff which was to last until his death, which occurred on 1st September 1945. His first appointment was that of engineer to the Provincial Tramways Company and the Cardiff and Penarth Harbour Tramways Company.
In the same year he became city electrical engineer and tramways manager, and he retained these two appointments until his retirement in 1920, when he established the consulting practice of Arthur Ellis and Partners. During the war of 1914-18, Mr. Ellis, in conjunction with others, founded a voluntary munitions organization for the manufacture of shells, which were produced free of cost to the Government. In the war just ended he rendered valuable assistance in defence of the city and was chief fire guard officer.
He had been a Member of the Institution since 1901. In addition he was a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and of the Institution of Electrical Engineers.