William Hugill Walker
William Hugill Walker (1828-1892) of Wicker Iron Works
1863 William Hugill Walker, Wicker Iron Works, Sheffield.[1]
1892 May 28th. Died.[2]
1892 Obituary [3]
WILLIAM HUGILL WALKER was born on the site of the present works of his firm in Sheffield on 11th August 1828, and in 1849 succeeded to his father's business of a steel manufacturer and merchant, having served his apprenticeship as an engineer at the Perran Foundry in Cornwall.
On coming of age, he entered into partnership with Mr. John Eaton, who had been manager to his late father; and the new firm then went into the engineering and iron-founding trade, discontinuing the manufacture of steel.
On the death of Mr. Eaton, he acquired the entire business as his own, and took the sole management. He was principally engaged in the manufacture of rolling-mill plant, including the engines and all the necessary machinery in connection therewith; and had put down most of the large mills in Sheffield.
He was one of the first to bring to a successful issue the manufacture of chilled rolls direct from the cupola, instead of casting them from the air furnace as had previously been the custom; and he manufactured extensively both chilled and grain rolls of all sizes, from the smallest up to the largest necessary for rolling armour-plates.
He carried on the business successfully for a period of forty-three years, continuing to take an active part in the management till less than eighteen months before his death, which took place at his residence, Sheffield, on 28th May 1892, in the sixty-fourth year of his age.
He became a Member of this Institution in 1863.