Bank Quay Foundry Co

Hydraulic Press used in raising the Britannia Tubular Bridge. From 1851 ‘Official Descriptive and Illustrated Catalogue’ Vol 1

of Warrington

Charles Tayleur, a Liverpool engineer, founded the Vulcan Foundry at Newton-le-Willows in 1830. Robert Stephenson was a member of the firm from an early date but retired on being appointed to the London and Birmingham Railway. In 1847 they took over the Bank Quay Foundry.

1846 'Large Guns.— During the last several days, the servants in the employment of Messrs. Tayleure and Sanderson, the eminent ironfounders, of Bank Quay, have been proving a number of heavy cannon, preparatory to their shipment for the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich.'

1846 'Fatal Accident. On Monday, John Clare, a married man, residing in School-brow, met with his death under the following melancholy circumstances :— On Monday morning he obtained employment as a labourer at the Bank Quay Foundry, and was engaged with several other workmen in removing part of the iron deck of vessel then in building, when some of the iron bars which supported it slipped, and this heavy piece of iron fell upon his head, fracturing his skull in a frightful manner. He was immediately removed home, and attended by several surgeons, who at once pronounced the case as hopeless. He survived about three hours, when his sufferings ceased. He has left a wife and eight children to deplore his loss.'

1847 George Samuel Sanderson entered into partnership with Charles (Charles Tayleur (1810-1859)?) and Edward Tayleur; they opened (or took over?) a foundry at Bank Quay, Warrington.. The 1847 date conflicts with that in the previous entry.

1847 Dissolution of the Partnership between Charles Tayleur, of Liverpool, and George Samuel Sanderson, of Warrington, under the firm of Charles Tayleur and Company, Vulcan Foundry, near Warrington, and under the firm of Tayleur and Sanderson, Bank-quay Iron Works, Warrington

1847 Liverpool: 'THE NEW LANDING STAGE FOR ST. GEORGE'S PIER.
Through the kindness of a member of the Dock Committee, we have been admitted to an inspection of the new floating landing- stage adopted by the Corporation, designed by Mr. Cubitt, C.E.,..... The whole forms an immense deck of 512 feet in length, little short of 90 in breadth, and sharp at both ends, each forming a bow. The framework is of great strength, and, as a stage, well and judiciously put together. It is built upon upright posts, so that the water may be introduced, and the pontoons, or boats, upon which it is to float may be placed and secured under it.
The whole of the stupendous structure is to be kept afloat at all times of the tide by pontoons, or boats built of iron, and fixed under it, athwart ships, or at right angles with the deck. There will be thirty-six to thirty-eight of these vessels in all. With the exception of a few at each extremity, where the general "vessel" sharpens, these are of about eighty tons burthen each, and the weight of each in material is about 17 tons. They are flat decked, straight sided, and round at the bottom, which forms an arch inverted. They resemble ordinary steam-engine boilers, but of greater length, being about 80 feet. They were built by Messrs. Tayleure and Sandars [sic], of the Bank Quay Foundry, in Warrington, and are put together with great fidelity. These are each divided internally by watertight bulk heads, 9 feet apart, for greater strength, and for security in the event of damage. They are entirely of iron,— deck, sides, and bottom ; and air-tight. They were floated down by canal, and afterwards by the river, in pieces, two or three for each pontoon, as convenience offered. The pieces are put together on the margin of the basin where the stage is being built, and thence they are launched down, sideways, on regular ways. They have all strong iron hooks on each side, by which they are to be secured under the stage by other hooks, terminating rods of iron with screws and nuts. These pontoons will, with the seperincumbent weight of the stage, probably draw from 2 feet 6 inches to 2 feet 10 inches, leaving the deck at a convenient height for the steamers landing and embarking their passengers. .....'

1848 'HYDRAULIC PRESS FOR RAISING THE BRITANNIA BRIDGE.- On Wednesday week, the large cylinder of the hydraulic press, intended to be used to raise the tubes of the bridge of the Chester and Holyhead Railway, was cast at the Bank Quay Foundry, Warrington. This cylinder is, we believe, the largest ever made for hydraulic purposes, and weighs 25 tons. It will have to sustain a pressure of upwards of 1,000 tons when at work.'

1850 'THE SALE OF MATERIALS AT BRITANNIA-BRIDGE was concluded on Saturday last. .... The hydraulic presses have been purchased by the makers, the Bank Quay Foundry, Warrington, for the purpose of exhibition at the forthcoming industrial display of 1851. Northern Star and Leeds General Advertiser - Saturday 30 November 1850

1851 Award at the 1851 Great Exhibition. See details at 1851 Great Exhibition: Reports of the Juries: Class V.. Exhibited the Great Hydraulic Press used in raising the Britannia Tubular Bridge.

1852 Building a large iron sailing vessel, about 1469 tons register.

1853 'On Monday afternoon last was launched from the ship-building yard of the Bank Quay Foundry Company, of Warrinigton, a beautifully-modelled iron steam-boat, of and 170 tons, b.m. She is intended to be used for the Pacific Steam Navigation Company as a tender on the Pacific Steam Navigation Company. She will be fully rigged as a schooner, and have a pair of highly-finished oscillating engines put on board by the Vulcan Foundry Company before she leaves the Bank Quay Shipyard.'

1853 'NEW CLIPPER FOR THE AUSTRALIAN TRADE. A splendid new iron first-class sailing vessel is building, and is now nearly completed, at the Bank Quay Foundry, Warrington, which has been an object of attention and curiosity to travellers for some months past. Following the course of the river, Warrington is not less than 30 miles from Liverpool ; and thousands of people travelling by the London and North-Western Railway through the town, and seeing a huge ship of 2,500 tons burthen on the stocks, without perceiving the water near, have naturally asked "how and where is it to be launched?" Many of these persons in the absence of any certain knowledge have speculated on the subject, and supposed that it was a vessel fitting together in parts, as iron houses and churches are for the colonies to be taken to pieces again, and removed in a more convenient form. The fact is, however, that the river Mersey flows past the foundry, and though insignificant in width, something like the Thames at Henley, it has tides which give a considerable depth of water. The vessel is building at a bend of the river, so that she will be launched not across but up the river, in a straight reach of the stream, up which she may run half a mile if necessary, with ample depth and space.
'The present vessel, named the Tayleur, after the head of the firm who builds her, is to be built, completed, and delivered in Liverpool within six months from the laying dawn of her keel, and the company have orders for other large vessels to take her place on the stocks as soon as she is launched. She is built for Messrs. Charles Moore and Co. of Liverpool, and is of exceedingly handsome model. Her proportions are: 2,500 tons (new measurement) ; length and fore rake, 225 feet; ....'

1853 'The largest iron vessel ever built in Lancashire was launched on Tuesday, at Warrington, from the yard of Messrs Tayleur & Co., Bank Quay Foundry. The Tayleur, for so the vessel is named, is a first-class clipper-ship, and has been built for Messrs Charles Moore and Co., of Liverpool. She is of exceedingly handsome model, and her proportions are as follow:- Register, 1,730 tons, burthen 2,500, new measurement; length of keel and forerake, 225 feet; rake of sternpost, 5 feet; beam, 39 feet ; depth of hold, 28 feet ; shear, 2 feet 6 inches. The Tayleur, when completely fitted, will accommodate about 680 passengers, exclusive of cargo. She is double-rivetted throughout; is divided into five water-tight compartments, each fitted with pumps, and contains altogether about 780 tons weight of iron. The ship will form one of Messrs Pilkington & Wilson’s "White Star” line of packets.— Albion.'. Note: The Tayleur was wrecked on her first voyage.

1853 Produced the ironwork for the original Arpley Bridge, Warrington for the Warrington and Stockport Railway's crossing of the River Mersey.

1853 '.... The Bank-quay Foundry is now in busy operation, orders having been received for several other vessels. The keel of one of these is already laid. There are also in course of construction locomotives for the Canada and Indian railways. Besides these there are many works of greater or less magnitude; from the construction of a railway-bridge, to cross the Mersey; down to fluted columns, to uphold a warehouse, at Wapping, for Bass's bitter beer. The bridge is one well worthy of notice; being designed by Mr. Edwin Clarke, a gentleman whose skill was signalized in connexion with the tubes of the Britannia-bridge, across the Menai Straits. The present structure is to carry the Warrington and Altrincham line across the Mersey, near the bridge at Warrington, and is 200 feet in length. It will be carried across with three girders, the middle girder to be sixteen feet in depth, and those on the outside twelve feet each. As fitted together in the foundry-yard it very much resembles one of the tubes of the Britannia, but is open at the top. The Tayleur arrived at Liverpool on Wednesday morning; about nine o'clock, in charge of two steam-tugs, and was towed into one of the north docks, where she will be rigged and her fittings completed.'

1854 'Ship Launch at Warrington. — Both sides of the Mersey, at Warrington, presented, on Saturday last, a most animating scene, an immense number of people of all classes being assembled to witness the launch of a noble iron clipper-ship from the shipbuilding yard of the Bank Quay Foundry Company. ..... The new vessel was built for Messrs. Charles Moor[e] and Co., of this town (the owners of the unfortunate ship Tayleur,) who determined upon calling her the Golden Vale, but that firm lately sold her to Messrs. Hamilton and Adams, of Greenock, the new owners decided upon giving her the name of - "Lady Octavia." Every facility was given by the builders to the assembled crowds to witness the launch, a great number of people being admitted into the shipbuilding yard. The arrangements for the launch was under the superintendence of Captain Bennett, late commander of the ship Koh-i-noor, who also took the charge of the Lady Octavia until she was moored in the Sandon dock. The new ship is two-decked, burthen 1250 tons, old measurement, and 1300 register. Length of keel 190 feet, breadth of beam 26 feet 6 in., depth of hold 22 feet 6 in., fore rake 10 feet, stem rake 3 feet. Her framing is of angle iron, and she is strongly braced with diagonal braces. The Lady Octavia has a poop cabin, 55 feet long, and carried over all, a house on deck, also 55 feet long, the width being 18 feet, with a spacious forecastle. After the launch, an influential party of gentlemen employed in the shipping interest, partook of a dejeuner in a house, fitted up in the yard specially for the occasion.'

1854 'Launch of the Deer-Slayer, at Warrington.— A large and handsome iron vessel of this name was launched on Thursday, from the yard of the Bank Quay Foundry, in the presence of a large concourse of spectators. The Deer-Slayer has been built for Mr. Blythe, of this town. The following are the dimensions of the ship:— Length between the perpendiculars, 142 feet 3 in.: breadth of beam, 26 feet; depth of hold from underside of deck amidships to the top of ceiling, 15 feet 6 in.; height between decks, deck to deck, 6 feet 6 in.; register, about 500 tons. In model she is very beautiful, and will be extra strong, the frames being of angle iron 4 in. by 3 in. and 7-16ths thick, with diagonal bracings, and the flooring 18 in. deep, extending well up to the bilge. Her figure-head is a finely carved model of the deer-slayer, gun in hand, and in that position so well known to sportsmen — it is most appropriate to the name of the vessel. .....

1854 'ACCIDENT TO A NEW CLIPPER SHIP IN GEORGE'S DOCK.- On Wednesday afternoon last, the fine new iron clipper-built ship Liverpooliana, which was being fitted-up at the south-west side of the George's Dock, fell over on her side, the cause assigned being the want of ballast and from her topgallant masts being across. .... The Liverpeoliana is a 390 tons burthen, and was intended to sail for Pernambuco on the 26th of this month. She was built by the Bank Quay Foundry Company at Warrington, for Messrs. Charles Moore and Co., of this town, and was launched some, weeks ago.

1855 'SHIP LAUNCH AT WARRINGTON. On Tuesday, a few minutes before two o'clock, a magnificent iron clipper-built ship, of large dimensions, was launched from the building-yard of the Bank Quay Foundry Company, Warrington. The day was far from favourable, as far as the weather was concerned, but, in defiance of that, there was present a large assemblage of ladies and gentlemen from Liverpool, and also belonging to Warrington and the neighbourhood; besides these there were also present many from a distance. Among those who were pleased spectators on the interesting occasion were ... The vessel looked large and powerful on the stocks and examination of her beautiful proportions convinced any intelligent spectator that she had been constructed on carefully studied lines; and even those least conversant with such subjects saw once that she was of exquisite symmetry. She is of 1,440 tons burthen by old, and about 1.500 tons by new measurement. Her length is 235 feet over all, and she is 225 feet between perpendiculars. She is 36 1/2 feet in beam, ..... This fine vessel, which is named the Sarah Palmer, is divided into separate floating compartments, by water-tight bulkheads, which render her peculiarly safe under any circumstances. .... The full tide was at minute or two in or over two clock, and the latter period the preparations for launching her were completed. At that hour the props and cradlings being removed, she glided into the river with great majesty, carrying with her a small portion of the cradling She was christened by Miss Sarah Palmer, daughter of Mr. Palmer, of Jones, Palmer, and Co after whom she has been named. .... she was taken in tow by the steamer "Victory," and, amidst the cheers of the assembled multitude, towed down the river. She arrived in Liverpool by yesterday morning's tide, and was taken into the Sandon Dock, where she will have her masts and rigging put up. Several important peculiarities connect themselves with this ship. Her principal masts are to be of iron as well as her hull. The lower portion of her mainmast when fitted up, will be 64 feet high above the upper deck, and it is 2 feet 10 inches in diameter.... The building of this beautiful ship was executed by the Bank Quay Foundry Company, under the superintending direction of Mr. Grantham. C.E., who furnished the detailed working drawings, and exercised a General supervision of her structure. She has a full poop fifty long, and a top-gallant forecastle; and wheo finished her passenger accommodation will be of the first class. She was contracted for by Messrs. Chas. Moore and Co., of this town, the firm which commissioned the "Royal Charter," launched the same day at Queen's Ferry, near Chester, but sold (the Sarah Palmer) by them to Messrs. Jones, Palmer, and Co., who will, it is understood, employ her in the East India trade; indeed, she is already advertised by those gentlemen to sail for Calcutta.....'

1855 'The Bank Quay Foundry, Warrington, a firm noted for the construction of iron ships, has for the present ceased working, and all the hands have been discharged. There were 150 shipwrights constantly engaged in that extensive concern, besides many hundred operatives of other handicrafts connected with the building of ships. All these will be for the present thrown upon the labour market, but no doubt the owners, who are men of large capital, will shortly resume operations.'

1856 Sale Notice: 'BANK QUAY FOUNDRY, WARRINGTON, MR. WHEATLEY KIRK is instructed to SELL by AUCTION, on WEDNESDAY, the 15th, TUURSDAY, the 16th, FRIDAY, the 17th, and SATURDAY, the 18th October instant, commencing each day at eleven o'clock, on the Premises of the Foundry and Shipbuilding Works, known as the "BANK QUAY FOUNDRY," Warrington,
The whole of the exceedingly valuable PLANT, Tools, Utensils, Machinery, Gun Mills, Steam-engine, Boilers, &c., namely: One 14-horse and One 11-horse High-pressure Horizontal Steam-engines; One 10-horse High-pressure Portable Engine; Five Cylindrical Boilers for Ditto, with Mountings complete; One Locomotive, fixed so as to act as a Stationary Engine; the whole of the valuable Line and Counter Shafting and Gearing throughout the Works; all the valuable Tools, Lathes, Screwing, Boring, Prilling, Punching, and Shearing, large Plate Bending, and other Tools and Machines, one of the Punching and Shearing Machines is it double one, and tremendously strong; Gun Mill, with Turning Carriage; and Three Boring Ditto, for heavy ordnance; Ditto, with Two Turning Carriages, and Nine Boring Ditto, for light ordnance up to 68-pounder Guns; Trunnion Machine, Vent Mill, Tools, Matching Levers and Patterns for all Ordnance Work; Three large Double-geared and Two smaller Foundry and ether Cranes, with traverse motions; ponderous Travelling Crane in Gun Mill, and Railway Travelling Crane in Yard; Five Tons Wharf Crane, Saw Mills and Saws, Two large Fans, the whole of the Smiths', Boiler-makers', and Foundry Tools; Cupola's, Boiler-makers' and Smiths' Hearths; Bellows, Anvils, Cast-iron Pans and Boilers; Cast-metal Furnaces, Grindstones, and Troughs; all the valuable Stores, such as Blocks, Ropes, Slings, Chains, Screw Jacks, Vices, Scales, Weights, Double and Single-purchase Crabs, Loam Mill, Nine Lorries, Carts, Wrought-iron Trucks, Scales and Beams, Steel Yards and Weights, large Three-legs, with Crab Chain Blocks; the whole of the valuable Gun or Ordnance Patterns, all the general Patterns belonging to the other Engineering and Shipbuilding Departments; valuable office and Counting-house Fixtures, Gas Fittings, and Effects.
Full particulars will be given in descriptive Catalogues, which are in course of Preparation, and may be had at the Offices of the Auctioneer, Cross-street Chambers, Manchester, or 4, Kirkgate, Leeds; or will be sent by post on application.'

1860 Advert: 'COMMODIOUS TRADE PREMISES IN WARRINGTON.- To be LET, for an unexpired term of 14 or 21 years, commencing on the 29th September, 1858, all those extensive conveniently situated PREMISES, at Bank-quay, Warrington, formerly part of Bank-quay Foundry, but recently occupied by Mr. George Sims for the manufacture of borax. The buildings cover about 1,845 square yards of land, and there are besides about 6,381 yards of vacant ground. The situation is one of the best for trade purposes in the county, having the advantages of railway and water communication. There is a branch railway into the yard from the London and North western line, and the St. Helen's line passes close to the premises. There is a high-pressure steam-engine. with two boilers and shafting, in the building . There is also a wharf adjoining the yard, where goods brought up the river Mersey are discharged, free of toll, the tenant of these premises having the use of the crane, wharf, &c. for the facility of business.—For further particulars apply on the premises; and to treat, to Messrs. R. and T. Ramsden, Chemical Agents......'

1894 '.... With regard to shipbuilding in the town, the note appearing a few weeks back reprding the Bank Quay Yard I believe to be quite correct, but prior to the institution of that yard building was carried on at the Bridge Foundry, on the site afterwards occupied by Messrs. Roberts, Dale and Co's works by Mr. William Whitley, and after him by Mr. William Sanderson. Here many of the vessels navigating the Bridgewater Undertaking at that time were constructed, and in 1830 a large iron vessel, afterwards known as the Warrington, was built. The launching of this vessel was quite a formidable affair, and caused much excitement in the then little town. The proprietor of the yard obtained the services of a Liverpool expert, but even then considerable difficulty was experienced in getting the craft to take the water, and afterwards in getting her under the centre arch of the bridge. Mr. Sanderson shortly after this this date joined Mr. Tayleur at the Bank Quay Yard, and the Bridge Foundry was, I believe, closed. - Warringtonian.'

1902 'The Vulcan Locomotive Works .... The works were founded on the initiative of Mr Charles Tayleur. Concerning the early history of this gentleman we do not possess any information. To him, however, belongs the credit of being the first to build an iron sea-going ship. The precise date we do not know. It was, however, about 1852. This was a tea clipper built in Warrington and was named Tayleur. She was launched in 22ft. of water at Bank Quay building yard within a few yards of the present London and North-Western Railway station at Warrington. But on her first voyage she was wrecked of Lambay Island near Dublin, with Captain Noble and 450 souls, the captain alone escaping. [Incorrect]. So terrible a catastrophe naturally invited a weird story told at the time of how that Captain Noble predicted the evil event by falling down the hold of the ship when she was being built; but other rumours, more sinister, whispered that an evil spirit ran the ship on a shoal to favour the Carpenters Society, who looked askance at the substitution of iron for England's traditional wall of oaken vessels.
Nothing daunted, Tayleur built more tea clippers, The Startled Fawn, Liverpoolania, Sarah Palmer and Sarah Sands - we believe that this was the Sarah Sands which, although burned out, was brought safely into harbour, some thirty-five or forty years ago - following in close succession.
The precise date of construction of the original Vulcan Foundry we cannot give: according to one authority it 1830, according to another 1832. Probably the buildings were commenced in the first-named year, and finished the year later. Mr Charles Tayleur between the two years named, went into partnership with George Stevenson [sic] and his son Robert. Both these gentlemen withdrew when Robert was appointed engineer-in-chief to the London and Birmingham Railway. At a subsequent period the works were carried on by Mr Charles Tayleur, jun., until his health failed, and then by Mr Henry T. Tayleur. Mr Loam at this period being works manager....
Mr Edward Tayleur joined the firm in May 1843 and Mr Dupre left in 1845. Mr Samuel Sanderson entered into partnership with Mr Edward Tayleur when the Bank Quay was started for gun, shot and shell-making, ship-building and heavy castings.
About the year 1850 Mr Sanderson retired from partnership, then Mr. Charles Heathcote took charge of the Bank Foundry, and in 1854 Mr Charles Tayleur, sen., died and shortly after Mr Heathcote died. Mr Dubs left Vulcan Foundry about the end of 1854. Mr Edward Tayleur being left alone closed the Bank Works about this time, and Mr Ellis became works manager, and stayed till shortly before the concern was made a limited company in 1864, under the charge of Mr Gooch, managing director.
Before concluding our brief sketch of general history of the place, it is well to say a word about the work done at the Bank Quay Works for the Britannia Bridge, which still maintains railway communication betweeen the mainland and the island of Anglesey across the Straits. It will be remembered that the bridge consists of great tubes, through which the trains run. These tubes were constructed on staging on the banks of the straits, floated down to the piers on barges and lifted up to their places by means of a pair of hydraulic presses, one at each end. These presses stood on the piers on girders spanning channels or grooves faces of piers. From a crosshead on top of the press ram descended flat link chains. The links were 6ft. long between pin-hole centres. The ram was dropped, the chains secured to the ends of the girders, pumping commenced, and the great tube was raised 6ft. There it was held, partly by packing, partly by locking the chains. The ram was dropped, one set of links taken out, the crosshead again secured, and the ram pumped up another 6ft.; and so on. The internal diameter of cylinder was 22in. the external diameter 42in.; total length 9ft 1 1/2in. Twenty-two tons of metal were used to cast the cylinders, the "git" and feeding taking 2 1/2 tons. The maximum weight supported by the pair of beams, 17ft long, on which the press rested, was 1,177 tons. The greatest weight lifted was 1,144 tons. The pressure was a little under four tons per square inch. The quantity of water used for each 6ft. lift was 81 1/2 gallons. Various exciting experiences are recorded but we cannot give them here. The big hydraulic presses were made at the Bank Quay Foundry; and also all the cast iron work for the Conway and Britannia bridges, including the stiffening put into the tubes to take the lifting stresses; and also the expansion work. During Great Exhibition of 1851 the jurors awarded a medal to the Bank Foundry for the great hydraulic press shown in that Exhibition.'

LOCATION

The foundry is shown on the 1846-1849 O.S. map here. A cement works (see below) is shown connected to the foundry's main building appears, and they are bounded on the north east side by the railway branch line which runs under the L&NWR main line at Bank Quay station. The site is on the outside of a sharp bend in the River Mersey. By 1905 the site was occupied by the Bank Quay Chemical Works, later the soap and chemical works of Joseph Crosfield and Sons.

Part of the foundry had evidently been leased by Tayleur to a cement producer. After the foundry was abandoned, the land was sub-let by Tayleur to a spelter or galvanized iron works and to a chemical works operated by Julian Winser and Co, who also later operated a soap works, which was acquired in 1885 by William Lever, to become the first Sunlight Soap works. The spelter works belonged to the Warrington Spelter Co, owned by the Ryland Brothers, who acquired all of the leasehold land of the former Bank Quay Foundry in the early 1870s. In the later 1870s the spelter works were apparently leased to Phillips, Bennett and Co of Birmingham, but these and the chemical works were taken over by H. D. Pochin and Co of Salford in 1893.

See Also

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Sources of Information

• The Imperial Journal 1852 Vol I. p224
• 1851 Great Exhibition Official Descriptive and Illustrated Catalogue Vol 1