Whitehaven Hematite Iron and Steel Co
Iron manufacturers of Cleator Moor, Cumberland. Initially Whitehaven Hematite Iron Company.
A much more detailed listing with sources can be viewed at this link. In particular, more information on officers and managers of the company have been included.
In 1841 a new company was established to build an iron works at Cleator Moor. A 40 acre site was obtained from the Cleator Moor Estate on which blast furnaces and other necessary structures and plant could be established. The company consisted of a partnership of 17 local men. “[1] This was to be the first iron works in Cumberland.
1843 New works at Cleator Moor belonging to the Hematite Iron Company reported to have begun production of pig iron. [2] Quite early on, the firm became known as the Whitehaven Hematite Iron Company, but this may have been informal.
1858 Directory entry - Hematite Iron Works, Cleator Moor, Manager Isaac Armstrong. “There are three blast furnaces at work, producing 500 tons of pig iron weekly. Another furnace is in the course of erection. .... The three furnaces consume annually 40,000 tons of hematite ore and about 70,000 tons of coals for all purposes.” [3]
1859 Following a restructuring of the partnership, the partners were:- George Harrison; John Thompson; Thomas Ainsworth; Gilfrid William Hartley; George Pew; Isaac Burns; Stanley Dodgson; William Randleson; Peter Fisher;James Dees; Joseph Fletcher; John Postlethwaite. [4]
1861 This year, or possibly earlier, some or all the partners took a lease on the coal royalty at Bowthorn. (See Bowthorn Colliery). [5] It was later to become part of the business of the Whitehaven Hematite Iron Company.
1865 John Fletcher Kirkconel (formerly company clerk) was appointed manager. He was to have a long association with the company.
1871 Previously constituted by a deed of co-partnership the firm was registered as a company limited by guarantee, as Whitehaven Hematite Iron Company Limited (Company No: 5383). [6]
In the 1870s, the company passed into the hands of Jonas Lindow Burns-Lindow of Irton Hall, (chairman) and his cousin Jonas Lindow (director), though there may have been other owners/directors.
1880 The company was restructured, with Whitehaven Hematite Iron Company Limited liquidated and a new company the Whitehaven Hematite Iron and Steel Company Limited (Company No: 14257) registered in July to take it over.[7]
1882 The directors of the new company were Jonas Lindow Burns-Lindow, Jonas Lindow, John Postlethwaite, John Fletcher Kirkconel (managing director) and Captain George Pew RN, (last of the original partners to be involved, he died in Dec 1882).[8]
1882 A dispute arose between the shareholders and the directors. J L Burns-Lindow and J Lindow were partners in iron ore miners S and J Lindow, and supplied most or all of the company’s iron ore. Similarly J Postlethwaite owned a limestone quarry and met their needs for this material. The shareholders believed that this was a major conflict of interests. The matter was pursued in court, and an application for the company to be wound up was made. Liquidation proceedings were begun, then stayed and by 1884 creditors had been paid in full and the company returned to the shareholders. [9] [10] [11]
Around this time, Burns-Lindow asked Walker and Peile (their mining engineers) to try to find a buyer for the Iron company. This they were unable to do (though as we will see below, they later bought the works with several of their wealthier business associates).[12]
1888 At an EGM on 19 Mar 1888 (J L Burns-Lindow in chair) an extraordinary resolution was passed for winding up the company and Manager J F Kirkconel was appointed liquidator. The reason given was that the company could not, by reason of its liabilities continue.[13]
1888 The Whitehaven Iron and Steel Company Limited (Company No: 26174) was registered on 28 March 1888.[14] Objects, to take over from the liquidator the property, effects and goodwill, etc., (including blast furnaces at Cleator Moor and a lease on Bowthorn Colliery) of the earlier company of the same name (in liquidation) and to carry on the business connected therewith.[15] First subscribers:-
- W McCowan, iron smelter, Roseneath, near Whitehaven.
- W Burnyeat, iron ore proprietor, Millgrove, near Whitehaven.
- J F Kirkconel, iron smelter, Cleator Moor, Cumberland.
- W E Walker, mining engineer and civil engineer, Croft End House, Cleator, Cumberland.
- W Peile, mining engineer and civil engineer, Cartgate, near Whitehaven.
- H Walker, farmer, Sellafield, Cumberland.
- J Hartley, merchant, Beckermet, Cumberland.
Initial directors to be William McCowan, William Burnyeat and John Fletcher Kirkconel.
1891 “A Flourishing Iron Company. At the annual meeting of the Whitehaven Hematite Iron and Steel Company, on Tuesday, the Chairman (Mr McCowan) moved the adoption of the directors' report and balance sheet. The report recommended dividend 10 per cent, (less income tax). The motion was seconded by Mr Burnyeat, and carried. A resolution in favour of a dividend 10 per cent, was also adopted. In the course the meeting it was stated that about £124,000 had been spent in improving and rebuilding the works at Cleator Moor, in erecting coke ovens, and in putting down new machinery at Bowthorn Colliery, and in sinking two shafts. About £20,000 has been spent on the colliery alone. The works are in first-class order.”[16]
1893 Depression in trade and an industrial dispute at Bowthorn colliery brought both to a close for many weeks.
1897 Death of managing director John Fletcher Kirkconel.
1921 A controlling interest was acquired by the North Lonsdale Iron and Steel Company, Ulverston, by exchange of shares.[17]
1930 Financial year ended 31 Mar, no furnaces were in blast for the entire 12 months.[18] It is understood that they were never re-lit, though no contemporary record has been seen to confirm this.
1942 In liquidation.[19]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Carlisle Patriot - 28 Aug 1841
- ↑ Cumberland Pacquet - 5 Dec 1843
- ↑ Kelly’s Directory of Cumberland 1858
- ↑ London Gazette – 10 Feb 1860
- ↑ Cumbria Archives Ref DLONS/W/7/1/463
- ↑ National Archives ref BT 31/1603/5383; Echo (London) - 22 Apr 1871; Morning Advertiser - 24 Apr 1871
- ↑ Nation Archives ref BT 31/2672/14257; Manchester Courier - 10 Jul 1880; Midland & Northern Coal & Iron Trades Gazette - 14 Jul 1880
- ↑ Whitehaven News - 20 Jul 1882
- ↑ Carlisle Express - 22 Jul 1882
- ↑ London Gazette - 6 Oct 1882 and 3 Nov 1882
- ↑ Carlisle Journal - 8 Apr 1884
- ↑ Whitehaven News - 8 Feb 1894
- ↑ London Gazette - 27 Mar 1888
- ↑ The Stock Exchange Year Book 1908; National Archives Ref BT 31/31097/26174
- ↑ Financial News - 4 Apr 1888
- ↑ Carlisle Patriot - 29 May 1891
- ↑ Financial Times – 17 Nov 1921 and 29 Nov 1921
- ↑ The Scotsman - 7 Jun 1930
- ↑ London Gazette – 28 Aug 1942