William Routledge
William Routledge (1812-1882) of Routledge and Ommanney, New Bridge Foundry, Salford
1850 William Routledge - Consulting Engineer, brass founder and patent felt store, and agent for Babbitt's & Dewrance's patent metal bearings, New Bridge Foundry, New Bridge Street, Salford. House: 9 Talavera Place, Lower Broughton [1]
Routledge subsequently went into partnership with Frederick Francis Ommanney as Routledge and Ommanney
The 1849 O.S. map shows the foundry to be very small, approx 60 ft by 70 ft, located on the east side of New Bridge Street (between Greengate and the River Irwell bridge)
1856 'STEAM BOILER EXPLOSIONS.- A few weeks ago, we gave some account of an experiment with a boiler fitted with the patent plug-pipe, invented by Mr. W. Routledge, engineer, New Bridge Foundry, Salford, for the prevention of steam boiler explosions through deficiency of water. On Wednesday last, a numerous party again assembled to witness the experiment, amongst whom were Messrs. G. Peel, Wm. Collier, H. G. Rule, H. Morris, R. Longridge (inspector of boilers), J. Lowcock, J. Edwards, James Dean, J. J. Leibish, John Holmes, C. W. Williams, Liverpool, director of the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company; F. Mowbray, Saltaire; G. Hodson, Bradford ; and S. Hill, Heywood. When the preparations for the experiment commenced, the pressure upon the boiler was 35lb to the inch; and in fifteen minutes afterwards, when the water was reduced so as to leave the apparatus bare, the pressure had risen to 45lb, and the first plug immediately melted; the steam rushed into the furnace, the pressure instantly diminished, and in five minutes fell to 30lb. The man-hole was opened, and the boiler carefully examined by several gentlemen, who expressed themselves satisfied that the action of the apparatus was perfect; and that there remained a sufficiency of water to prevent injury to the boiler, which could be again put into working order in a couple of hours.' [2]
1857 of New Bridge Foundry, Salford.[3]
William Routledge was born in 1812 in Bolton le Moor, Lancashire, England, and died in April 1882 in Altrincham, Cheshire. Married Mary Jane Heelis on 8 Oct 1845 in Ramsay, Isle of Man [4]