Joseph Butler and Co
of Stanningley Iron Works, near Leeds
1838 Previously Butler and Taylor - on the death of Mr. Taylor, Joseph Butler carried on the business. With his son they started making iron bridges, the first for the Leeds and Selby Railway. They also made the ironwork for the roof of the station at York, and for numerous other large structures.
1848 Supplied a cast iron railway bridge to cross the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at Ainscough's Mill, Burscough. Photos here and here. It was extensively altered in the late 19thC by the addition of riveted girders, but the outer cast iron girders were retained to preserve the appearance. Now Grade II listed. See British Listed Buildings entry.
1852 Saltaire: 'Messrs. Lockwood and Mawson, of Bradford, the architects of the St. George's Hall, are the architects of the works, and have gained no slight distinction by their efforts. Mr. William Fairbairn, the well-known engineer of Manchester, is the contracting engineer. The contractors for the mason work are Messrs. Fearnley and Wainwright and Messrs. Moulson, of Bradford, and Messrs. Hogg and Redford, of Leeds, the joiner work has been undertaken by Messrs. Neil and Beanland, of Bradford, and Messrs. Ives, of Shipley. The contractors for the iron work are Messrs. Cliffe and Co., of Bradford. The tubular bridge was constructed by Messrs. Butler, of Stanningley. Messrs. Joseph Hill and Son, of Bradford, are executing the slating work; and Mr. Tattersall, of Bradford, the plastering work. The contractors for the plumbing and glazing are Messrs. James Keighley and Co., Bradford, and the glass is supplied Messrs. Emsley Waring, of Leeds, agents to the Crown Sheet and Plate Glass Company, St. Helen's Lancashire. ...'[1]
1856 'COURAGEOUS CONDUCT OF AN ENGLISHMAN ABROAD. -The extraordinary floods which took place on the 31st of Iast month commenced in the Alpine districts on the 30th, when the great road from France into Italy, which passes through Savoy, was carried away in several places. At St. Jean de Maurienne, about a dozen of our countrymen, lately sent out by Messrs. Butler and Co. of Stanningley, near Leeds, were erecting an iron bridge across the river Are, for the Savoy Railway. On the 31st they heard that, a few miles above the town, a woman had been for twenty-four hours on a small portion of the high road which had been completely cut off by the torrent, without any of the neighbouring villagers being able to release her from her perilous position. Those men immediately left their work and proceeded to the spot, with the intention of forming a raft. As the impetuosity of the torrent rendered such a scheme impracticable, they, after considerable difficulty, got a rope carried across from the heights on one side to the plain on the other, and one of the workmen, named Wolf, passed along the rope in mid air, and across a large branch of the roaring torrent, for a distance of 500 feet, unitil he reached the woman, who was then placed in a chair, and drawn along the rope to a place of safety.'[2]
1851 The business was transferred to Joseph's son John Butler, and Joseph Pitts, which later became the firm of Messrs. Butler and Pitts.