Coalbrookdale Co
Other Business Names:
- Darby, Abraham
- Bristol Brass Works
- Horsehay Works
- Reynolds, Richard
- Reynolds, William
- Planet Foundry Co Ltd
- Cockburn, M, & Co Ltd
- Mcdowall Steven & Co Ltd
- Light Castings Ltd
- Allied Ironfounders Ltd
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- Coalbrookdale, Telford & Wrekin, Shropshire, West Midlands, England
- Ketley, Telford & Wrekin, Shropshire, West Midlands, England
Sectors:
-
Fabricated metal products manufacture
Architectural metal products manufacture inc windows, gates, rainwater goods, etc
-
Fabricated metal products manufacture
Cannon, gun & shot founding inc cannon balls
-
Fabricated metal products manufacture
Hardware & hollowware production
-
Basic metals production
Iron, steel & related alloys production
-
Fabricated metal products manufacture
Metal casting
-
Fabricated metal products manufacture
Structural metal products manufacture inc prefabricated buildings, bridges, gasholders, etc
Notes:
Established as ironmasters at Coalbrookdale by Abraham Darby [1], 1678-1717, formerly of Bristol Brass Works, who in 1708 leased iron works at Coalbrookdale. The family soon emerged as pioneers in the making of iron using coke leading to a step-change in quality and quantity of production. 1709 developed a means of making high quality iron in a blast furnace using coke rather than charcoal. Made cast iron products including pots and engineering castings. Succeeded by his son Abraham, 1711-63, who produced wrought iron and then by his son, Abraham, 1750-91, whose castings formed the first iron bridge at Ironbridge. Early on made pipes, cylinders for steam engines, iron rails, etc. Also made cannon for warships. Expanded 1753 when built Horsehay Works and later had a further works at Ketley. In 1770s and 1780s Richard Reynolds, 1735-1816, and William Reynolds, 1758-1803, were increasingly important in the affairs of the business and by mid century the Darby family had withdrawn. In decline in early 19th century when focused on foundry work alone and revived through production of ornamental ironwork. c1881 incorporated. 1922 merged with Planet Foundry Co Ltd of Manchester, M Cockburn & Co Ltd of Falkirk and Mcdowall Steven & Co Ltd, also of Falkirk, to form Light Castings Ltd which from 1929 formed a component of Allied Ironfounders Ltd
Publications:
- 250th Anniversary of the First Successful Use of Coke in Ironmaking by Unknown
- A link between the 1780s blast furnaces at Coalbrookdale and Staveley. The note of Mr Chas. Hornblower by Williams, Richard, & David de Haan
- Abiah Darby, 1716-1793, of Coalbrookdale, Wife of Abraham Darby II by Labouchere, Rachel
- Abraham Darby (I and II) and the coal iron industry by Mott, R A
- Abraham Darby and the beginnings of the coke-iron industry by Schubert, H R
- Abraham Darby and the coke smelting process by Flinn, Michael W
- 'Abraham Darby, ironmaster' in R L T Rolt, Great Engineers by Rolt, L T C
- Abraham Darby, Richard Reynolds and Coalbrookdale by Unknown
- 'Art and ornament in iron. Design and the Coalbrookdale Company' in N Hamilton (ed), Design and Industry. The effects of industrialisation and technical change on design by Lawley, Ian
- Blood, Faith and Iron. A dynasty of Catholic industrialists in sixteenth and seventeenth century England by Belford, Paul
- Choice of fuel in the eighteenth century iron industry. The Coalbrookdale accounts reconsidered by King, Peter W
- 'Coal and iron at Coalbrookdale' in G L M Strauss et al, England's Workshops by Unknown
- Coalbrookdale, 1709 by Mott, R A
- Coalbrookdale, 1709-1959. Historical introduction and guide by Gale, W K V
- Coalbrookdale, 1709-1959. The Coalbrookdale Co Ltd by Raistrick, Arthur
- Coalbrookdale and the Darby Family. The story of the world's first industrial dynasty by Thomas, Emyr
- 'Coalbrookdale Co' in J P S Davies, Antique Garden Ornaments. 300 years of creativity. Artists, manufacturers and materials by Davies, John P S
- Coalbrookdale Company and the Newcomen engine, 1717-69 by Davies, A Stanley
- Coalbrookdale Group, Horsehay Works. Parts 1 and 2 by Mott, R A
- 'Coalbrookdale Iron Works - The Darbys and Reynolds' in S Smiles, Industrial Biography. Iron workers and tool makers by Smiles, Samuel
- Coalbrookdale Iron Works and what they produce by Unknown
- Coalbrookdale Ironworks. A short history by Raistrick, Arthur
- Coalbrookdale story. Facts and fantasies by Mott, R A
- Coalbrookdale. The early years by Mott, R A
- Contribution of the Darby Family to Iron Making and the Iron Industry by Raistrick, Arthur
- Cost accounting environment in the British Industrial Revolution iron industry by Fleischman, Richard K, & L D Parker
- Description of Coalbrookdale in 1801 by Trinder, Barrie S
- Discoveries of the Darbys of Coalbrookdale by Ashton, T S
- Dynasty of Ironfounders. The Darbys and Coalbrookdale by Raistrick, Arthur
- Earliest use of coke for iron making by Mott, R A
- Early price associations in the British iron industry by Ashton, T S
- English waggonways of the eighteenth century. Parts I and II by Mott, R A
- 'Female Friends'. The Darby women of Coalbrookdale, 1744-1821 by Howe, Kathleen
- Goldney Family. A Bristol merchant dynasty by Stembridge, Peggy K
- Grand Alliance. A chapter of industrial history by Tripp, B H
- Horsehay Iron Works by Unknown
- Imagination and innovation of an industrial pioneer. The first Abraham Darby by Cox, Nancy
- Imagination and innovation of an industrial pioneer. The first Abram Darby by Cox, Nancy
- Industrial Revolution in Shropshire by Trinder, Barrie S
- Industrialisation and Identity in Shropshire. The Brookes of Madeley, 1544-1646 by Belford, Paul
- Instruments of War. Gunmaking at Coalbrookdale and the Quaker Peace Testimony by Lawley, Ian
- KB Range (Gibson's Patent) ... The Coalbrookdale Co Ltd by Unknown
- Much Wenlock's Limestone Quarries by Williams, Glyn
- Newcomen engine in the eighteenth century by Mott, R A
- Newcomen Engine in the West of England by Rogers, Kenneth H
- Notes on Coalbrookdale and the Darby family by Hall, John W
- Notes on the origin and development of the British iron and steel industry. The Coalbrookdale Co Ltd by Unknown
- Quaker Enterprise. Friends in business by Windsor, David B
- Richard Reynolds by Hack, Mary B
- The Coalbrookdale Company, 1709-1959. Brief history by Unknown
- The Darbys and the Ironbridge Gorge by Bracegirdle, Brian, & Patricia H Miles
- The Darbys of Coalbrookdale by Trinder, Barrie S
- Vale Royal Company and its rivals by King, Peter W
Groups:
Other Business Names:
- Darby, Abraham
- Bristol Brass Works
- Horsehay Works
- Reynolds, Richard
- Reynolds, William
- Planet Foundry Co Ltd
- Cockburn, M, & Co Ltd
- Mcdowall Steven & Co Ltd
- Light Castings Ltd
- Allied Ironfounders Ltd
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- Coalbrookdale, Telford & Wrekin, Shropshire, West Midlands, England
- Ketley, Telford & Wrekin, Shropshire, West Midlands, England
Sectors:
- Fabricated metal products manufacture Architectural metal products manufacture inc windows, gates, rainwater goods, etc
- Fabricated metal products manufacture Cannon, gun & shot founding inc cannon balls
- Fabricated metal products manufacture Hardware & hollowware production
- Basic metals production Iron, steel & related alloys production
- Fabricated metal products manufacture Metal casting
- Fabricated metal products manufacture Structural metal products manufacture inc prefabricated buildings, bridges, gasholders, etc
Notes:
Established as ironmasters at Coalbrookdale by Abraham Darby [1], 1678-1717, formerly of Bristol Brass Works, who in 1708 leased iron works at Coalbrookdale. The family soon emerged as pioneers in the making of iron using coke leading to a step-change in quality and quantity of production. 1709 developed a means of making high quality iron in a blast furnace using coke rather than charcoal. Made cast iron products including pots and engineering castings. Succeeded by his son Abraham, 1711-63, who produced wrought iron and then by his son, Abraham, 1750-91, whose castings formed the first iron bridge at Ironbridge. Early on made pipes, cylinders for steam engines, iron rails, etc. Also made cannon for warships. Expanded 1753 when built Horsehay Works and later had a further works at Ketley. In 1770s and 1780s Richard Reynolds, 1735-1816, and William Reynolds, 1758-1803, were increasingly important in the affairs of the business and by mid century the Darby family had withdrawn. In decline in early 19th century when focused on foundry work alone and revived through production of ornamental ironwork. c1881 incorporated. 1922 merged with Planet Foundry Co Ltd of Manchester, M Cockburn & Co Ltd of Falkirk and Mcdowall Steven & Co Ltd, also of Falkirk, to form Light Castings Ltd which from 1929 formed a component of Allied Ironfounders LtdPublications:
- 250th Anniversary of the First Successful Use of Coke in Ironmaking by Unknown
- A link between the 1780s blast furnaces at Coalbrookdale and Staveley. The note of Mr Chas. Hornblower by Williams, Richard, & David de Haan
- Abiah Darby, 1716-1793, of Coalbrookdale, Wife of Abraham Darby II by Labouchere, Rachel
- Abraham Darby (I and II) and the coal iron industry by Mott, R A
- Abraham Darby and the beginnings of the coke-iron industry by Schubert, H R
- Abraham Darby and the coke smelting process by Flinn, Michael W
- 'Abraham Darby, ironmaster' in R L T Rolt, Great Engineers by Rolt, L T C
- Abraham Darby, Richard Reynolds and Coalbrookdale by Unknown
- 'Art and ornament in iron. Design and the Coalbrookdale Company' in N Hamilton (ed), Design and Industry. The effects of industrialisation and technical change on design by Lawley, Ian
- Blood, Faith and Iron. A dynasty of Catholic industrialists in sixteenth and seventeenth century England by Belford, Paul
- Choice of fuel in the eighteenth century iron industry. The Coalbrookdale accounts reconsidered by King, Peter W
- 'Coal and iron at Coalbrookdale' in G L M Strauss et al, England's Workshops by Unknown
- Coalbrookdale, 1709 by Mott, R A
- Coalbrookdale, 1709-1959. Historical introduction and guide by Gale, W K V
- Coalbrookdale, 1709-1959. The Coalbrookdale Co Ltd by Raistrick, Arthur
- Coalbrookdale and the Darby Family. The story of the world's first industrial dynasty by Thomas, Emyr
- 'Coalbrookdale Co' in J P S Davies, Antique Garden Ornaments. 300 years of creativity. Artists, manufacturers and materials by Davies, John P S
- Coalbrookdale Company and the Newcomen engine, 1717-69 by Davies, A Stanley
- Coalbrookdale Group, Horsehay Works. Parts 1 and 2 by Mott, R A
- 'Coalbrookdale Iron Works - The Darbys and Reynolds' in S Smiles, Industrial Biography. Iron workers and tool makers by Smiles, Samuel
- Coalbrookdale Iron Works and what they produce by Unknown
- Coalbrookdale Ironworks. A short history by Raistrick, Arthur
- Coalbrookdale story. Facts and fantasies by Mott, R A
- Coalbrookdale. The early years by Mott, R A
- Contribution of the Darby Family to Iron Making and the Iron Industry by Raistrick, Arthur
- Cost accounting environment in the British Industrial Revolution iron industry by Fleischman, Richard K, & L D Parker
- Description of Coalbrookdale in 1801 by Trinder, Barrie S
- Discoveries of the Darbys of Coalbrookdale by Ashton, T S
- Dynasty of Ironfounders. The Darbys and Coalbrookdale by Raistrick, Arthur
- Earliest use of coke for iron making by Mott, R A
- Early price associations in the British iron industry by Ashton, T S
- English waggonways of the eighteenth century. Parts I and II by Mott, R A
- 'Female Friends'. The Darby women of Coalbrookdale, 1744-1821 by Howe, Kathleen
- Goldney Family. A Bristol merchant dynasty by Stembridge, Peggy K
- Grand Alliance. A chapter of industrial history by Tripp, B H
- Horsehay Iron Works by Unknown
- Imagination and innovation of an industrial pioneer. The first Abraham Darby by Cox, Nancy
- Imagination and innovation of an industrial pioneer. The first Abram Darby by Cox, Nancy
- Industrial Revolution in Shropshire by Trinder, Barrie S
- Industrialisation and Identity in Shropshire. The Brookes of Madeley, 1544-1646 by Belford, Paul
- Instruments of War. Gunmaking at Coalbrookdale and the Quaker Peace Testimony by Lawley, Ian
- KB Range (Gibson's Patent) ... The Coalbrookdale Co Ltd by Unknown
- Much Wenlock's Limestone Quarries by Williams, Glyn
- Newcomen engine in the eighteenth century by Mott, R A
- Newcomen Engine in the West of England by Rogers, Kenneth H
- Notes on Coalbrookdale and the Darby family by Hall, John W
- Notes on the origin and development of the British iron and steel industry. The Coalbrookdale Co Ltd by Unknown
- Quaker Enterprise. Friends in business by Windsor, David B
- Richard Reynolds by Hack, Mary B
- The Coalbrookdale Company, 1709-1959. Brief history by Unknown
- The Darbys and the Ironbridge Gorge by Bracegirdle, Brian, & Patricia H Miles
- The Darbys of Coalbrookdale by Trinder, Barrie S
- Vale Royal Company and its rivals by King, Peter W