Kirk Brothers and Co

1864

1883

1894

1898

1898

1906

Iron manufacturers of Workington, Cumberland

1861 Kirk Brothers established an iron smelting and rolling works at New Yard, Workington. They were ready to begin smelting in March. The 1861 Census finds the three brothers, Henry, Thomas and Peter, all shown as iron manufacturers, living together in Havelock Terrace, Workington. These three brothers were the sons of Peter Kirk (1805-1875), lately iron manufacturer of Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire and Stockport, Cheshire. A leasehold forge, built only 2 years before, at New Yard was offered for sale in Jun 1860 and we might assume that this is the site the Kirk Brothers acquired.

1861 John Whittle of Whitehaven, ironmonger, exclusive agent for Kirk Brothers of Workington, manufacturers of “rolled wrought scrap bar iron” in Cumberland, North Lancs., IoM and Scotland.

1862 By July, the firm was trading as Kirks and Dineen.

1863 Peter Kirk and Thomas Dineen left partnership.
Workington, October 31st, 1863
“Notice Hereby Given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us, the undersigned, Henry Kirk, Thomas Kirk, Peter Kirk, and Thomas Dineen, carrying on Business together as Iron Manufacturers, under Style Firm of Kirks and Dineen, at New Yard, Workington, in the County Cumberland, was this day dissolved mutual consent as far as regards Peter Kirk and Thomas Dineen. All Debts due to and owing by the said Firm have been transferred to the said Henry Kirk and Thomas Kirk, and will be received and paid by them.
Mr. C. W. Dixon, of Wakefield, takes the place of retiring Partners. He has acquired some Practical Knowledge Assistant Engineer in one of the most extensive Iron and Coal concerns in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The Firm will in future known Kirks and Dixon.
Our Best Scrap Iron being extensively used by the Cumberland, Scotch, and Irish Shipbuilders, and having given general satisfaction, we have repeatedly been requested by them to supply Rivets as well.
Mr. Dineen is now retiring from our Firm for the purpose commencing the Rivet Making Business, and the Rivets will be made from our Best Scrap Iron, we have no doubt their giving general satisfaction to consumers, having been passed both by Lloyd’s and Underwriters’ Inspectors.”

1865 Charles W Dixon left the partnership. “Notice is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned, Henry Kirk, Thomas Kirk, and Charles William Dixon, carrying on the business of Bar Iron Manufacturers, at Workington, in the county of Cumberland, under the firm of Kirks and Dixon, is this day dissolved by mutual consent, so far as regards the said Charles William Dixon. All debts due and owing to or by the said partnership will be paid and received by the said Henry Kirk and Thomas Kirk. Witness our hands this 20th day of November, 1865.” After this, they are referred to as Kirk Brothers again.

1869 Around this time, the company name changed to Kirk Brothers and Company. Under this name it is recorded that New Yard Works comprised 10 Puddling Furnaces and 3 rolling mills. Who the “and Co” referred to has not emerged.

1871 Firm described as Iron bar manufacturer and brass founder, employing 170 men and 8 boys.

1872 New casting furnace being erected on new ground at New Yard.

1873 Henry and Thomas Kirk, Iron Manufacturers, of New Yard, Workington. 16 puddling furnaces, 3 rolling mills.

1874 They are recorded owning both New Yard and Marsh Side Works, Workington. The latter had 6 furnaces and 2 mills. Title deeds for Marsh Side works lodged with bank by Henry Kirk and Thomas Kirk on 10 Dec 1874 (suggesting that they were the only partners).

1876 Brand name “Marron” used for their highest Hematite content iron. Manufacture and properties are described in a letter from Henry Kirk to the Editor of Engineering Magazine 9 Aug 1876.

1877 Whilst remaining a partner, Thomas Kirk left Cumberland to take up new post as managing director of Carlton Iron Company. Samuel Warren Bradbury was appointed commercial and general manager. He was a native of Stockport and had worked for Peter Kirk senior as office boy then book keeper at Star Iron Works. He moved to Workington as book keeper and clerk when Kirk Brothers began. His younger brother Timothy was works manager.

1878 Reported that Derwent Rolling Mills, Workington (see Kirk and Valentine) had been taken by Kirk Brothers and would restart rolling plates etc. We will see later that this was a short lease.

1879 Kirk Brothers announced plan to build a blast furnace. Marsh Side Works, Derwent Rolling Mills, Stanley Street, and New Yard Works all owned by Kirk Brothers.

1880 Kirk Brothers bought the Ellen Rolling Mills, Maryport, which had been closed for some time.

1881 New blast furnace at New Yard was lit on 14 Jan 1881 and blown in 2 days later. However, soon afterwards an explosion caused severe damage and one serious injury.

1881 Kirk Brothers filed for bankruptcy with liabilities of some £85,000. “In the Matter of Proceedings for Liquidation by Arrangement or Composition with Creditors, instituted by Henry Kirk, residing at Thornthwaite, near Keswick, in the county of Cumberland, and Thomas Kirk, residing at Dee Side House, Stockton, in the county of Durham, carrying on business together in copartnership at the New Yard Iron Works, the Marsh Iron Works, and the Derwent Rolling Mills, all at Workington, in the county of Cumberland, and at the Ellen Rolling Mills, Maryport, in the same county, as Iron Manufacturers and Iron and Brass Founders, under the style or firm of Kirk Brothers and Co., also carrying on business in copartnership with five other persons at Whitehaven and Frizington, both in the county of Cumberland, as Iron Ore Miners, under the style or firm of the Dyke Nook Mining Company. Notice is hereby given, that a First General Meeting of the separate creditors of the above-named Henry Kirk has been summoned to be held at the County Hotel, Carlisle, in the county of Cumberland, on the 11th day of March, 1881, at half-past three o'clock in the afternoon precisely. Dated this 24th day of February, 1881.”

1881 By June, the creditors had agreed to 6s in the pound, and the liquidation was said to be closed, but the company continued in the hands of the liquidator until at least the end of the year.

1883 Directory entry – Kirk Brothers and Co., at New Yard, Marsh Side, and Derwent Rolling Mills, Workington, and at Ellen Iron and Steel Works, Ellenborough Place, Maryport. See also attached description attached. Note that there are several related references around this time to the firm at Quay Forge, Workington, but this has been confirmed as being the Derwent Rolling Mills.

1884 Furnaces - One blast furnace, ½ in blast (assume means in blast for half year). Mills - Derwent Rolling Mill, Workington, 7 Puddling Furnaces, 1 Rolling Mill; Ellen Rolling Mill, Maryport, (no info); Marsh Side, Workington, 10 Puddling Furnaces, 1 Rolling Mill; New Yard, Workington, 13 Puddling Furnaces, 2 Rolling Mills.

1885 Kirk Brothers closed the Derwent Rolling Mills (aka Quay Forge) as the lease had expired. It reverted to the owner, Moss Bay Hematite Iron and Steel Company, who decided to use site themselves for the manufacture of tram rails and sleepers.

1886 With very poor trading conditions, Marsh Quay and Ellen Mills were both idle, and New Yard at part capacity.

1888 Thomas Kirk left partnership. “Notice is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned, Henry Kirk and Thomas Kirk, carrying on business as Iron Masters, Iron Manufacturers, and Iron and Brass Founders, at Workington, in the county of Cumberland, and elsewhere, under the style or firm of Kirk Brothers and Co., has been dissolved, by mutual consent, as from the 31st day of December last. All debts due and owing to and by the late firm will be received and paid by the said Henry Kirk.—Dated this 11th day of April, 1888.” Although not stated, Henry continued the firm and was, at some point, joined in partnership by his eldest son Oliver.

1889 Agreement made for the Ellen Mills site to be taken over by several former managers of the Moss Bay Hematite Iron and Steel Co., with a view to converting it to a small, but complete steel works. (Opened 3 Apr 1890 as Hampton and Facer but this venture lasted less than 2 years).

1891 Census shows Henry Kirk as maker of pig iron, bar iron and castings. In the household were his sons Oliver (metallurgist, iron rolling mills manager), Thomas(iron works engineer) and Peter (iron trade apprentice).

1894 Kirk Brothers and Co, Marsh Side and New Yard, Workington (see attached).

1898 Death of Peter Kirk (youngest son of Henry) aged 27. He was under manager at Kirk Brothers.

1898 Conversion to limited company. Kirk Brothers and Company Limited (Company No 57734) registered 11 Jun 1898 with capital of £50,000 in £10 shares. To acquire from Henry and Oliver Kirk all the property, effects, assets and liabilities belonging to Kirk Brothers and Company.
Initial subscribers (1 share each), Walter Morrison, Henry Kirk, Oliver Kirk, Peter Kirk, Thomas Kirk, Samuel W Bradbury and W Harvey.
Initial directors, H Kirk, W Morrison and S W Bradbury.

1899 Death of Samuel W Bradbury in Athens, 19 Mar 1899.

1899 Four men killed when their work platform collapsed inside the blast furnace during re-lining.

1906 Kirk Brothers and Co, Marsh Side and New Yard, Workington (see attached).

1908 Kirk Brothers and Company Limited to be wound up voluntarily. “At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the above named company, duly convened, and held at the registered office of the company at Workington in county of Cumberland, on Tuesday, the 7th day of January, 1908, the following Extraordinary Resolutions were duly passed, viz.:-
1. That it has been proved to the satisfaction of this Meeting that the Company, by reason of its liabilities, cannot continue its business, and that it is advisable to wind up the same, and accordingly that the Company be wound up voluntarily.
2. That William Barclay Peat, of No. 11. Ironmonger-lane, London, Chartered Accountant, be and he is hereby appointed Liquidator for the purpose of such winding up.
Henry Kirk, Chairman.”

1908 'WORKINGTON IRON FIRM WOUND UP.
At a fully attended meeting of the shareholders in Messrs. Kirk Brothers, iron manufacturers, Workington, yesterday, it was unanimously resolved that the company should be voluntarily wound up, and Mr. W. B. Peat, of London, was appointed liquidator. The firm was established 49 years ago, and it is estimated that the loss in wages to the district, directly and indirectly, caused by the stoppage of the firm's ironworks at New Yard and Marsh Side, will be nothing short of £100,000 per annum.'

1908 All the assets of the company for sale by auction, including the leasehold works at New Yard and Marsh Side, 30 cottages, a warehouse at Marsh Side and an adjoining disused rivet works. The two works and the cottages were sold for £6,500 to T W Ward of Sheffield for dismantling. Rumours circulated for a time that Cammell Laird (owners of the neighbouring Derwent Iron and Steel Works) were interested in acquiring the New Yard works and its blast furnace but this came to nought. By 1910 dismantling was in progress.

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