James Rew Shopland (1841-1897).
Engineer of Walton House, Swindon.
Died aged 55.
1897 Obituary [1]
JAMES REW SHOPLAND, born on the 17th December, 1841, was articled in 1857 to Messrs. Robert Dymond & Sons, of Exeter, under whom he was engaged on railway and other engineering works.
On the expiration of his pupilage he came to London, and entered the office of Messrs. Gotto & Beesley, by whom he was employed on various waterworks.
In 1870 Mr. Shopland began to practise on his own account at Swindon. In conjunction with Mr. W. J. Kingsbury, he acted as Engineer to the Swindon, Marlborough and Andover Railway, and to the Swindon and Cheltenham line, and when these undertakings were amalgamated in 1884, as the Midland and South Western Junction Railway, he was appointed Consulting Engineer to the Company.
He also acted for the Bridport Railway, the Bill for which he successfully carried through Parliament against great opposition. At Bridport he constructed water and drainage works, and at the time of his death was engaged on improvements to the harbour. He also carried out drainage and waterworks at South Molton, Briton Ferry, Clifton-on-Teem, and other places, and was Engineer to the Swindon Water Board.
Mr. Shopland died at his residence, Walton House, Swindon, on the 22nd April, 1897, after a long illness.
He was elected a Member on the 4th February, 1896.