Leveson Gower family and Lilleshall Co Ltd
Other Business Names:
- Earl Gower & Co
- Leveson Gower family
- Marquis of Stafford & Co
- Granville, Earls
- Leveson, James
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- Lilleshall, Telford & Wrekin, Shropshire, West Midlands, England
- Trentham, City of Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, West Midlands, England
Sectors:
-
Non metallic mineral products manufacture
Brick & roof & floor tile production inc associated clay products
-
Extraction
Chalk, limestone & sandstone extraction
-
Extraction
Clay extraction
-
Extraction
Coal extraction
-
Mechanical engineering
Engine & turbine production exc transport
-
Extraction
Iron ore extraction
-
Basic metals production
Iron, steel & related alloys production
-
Property activities
Landed estate management
-
Fabricated metal products manufacture
Metal forging, pressing, stamping, rolling, slitting, etc
-
Mechanical engineering
Pump & hydraulic machinery production
-
Transport equipment production
Railway locomotive, rolling stock & components production & repair
-
Fabricated metal products manufacture
Structural metal products manufacture inc prefabricated buildings, bridges, gasholders, etc
Notes:
The Leveson Gower family had important and longstanding landed estates and industrial interests, notably the Lilleshall Co Ltd. The Leveson family's wealth originated from the very important Wolverhampton wool merchant, James Leveson, who acquired large estates in Staffordshire [based on Trentham Priory] and Shopshire [Lilleshall]. The Gower line owned lesser estates in North Yorkshire. The two families were linked in marriage in 1631 and their estates were combined in 1689. They subsequently acquired much additional land, especially in Scotland, through marriage. They gradually rose in prominence from baronets, to Lords Gower, Marquess of Stafford and, in 1833, to Dukes of Sutherland. Alongside the management of their agricultural estates they established industrial interests. These can be traced to 1764 when Lord Gower, 1721-1803, with his brothers, established Earl Gower & Co to exploit their mineral resources. Initially developed coal and limestone resources followed in 19th century by ironstone and clays assets and then developed extensive ironmaking and brickmaking interests as well as fabricated metal products and engineering products. By 1800 known as Marquis of Stafford & Co and in 1802 renamed The Lilleshall Co. Incorporated 1862 and re-registered 1880. Manufactured a seemingly vast range of products including pumps, locomotives, steam engines, winding engines, etc. Colliery interests nationalised 1947. Lilleshall Co continued to the 1980s
Publications:
- A Great Landed Estate in the Eighteenth Century. Aspects of management of the Leveson-Gower properties, 1691-1833 by Wordie, J Ross
- 'Aristocrats and entrepreneurs in the Shropshire mining industry, 1748-1803' in C W Chalklin & J R Wordie (eds), Town and Countryside. The English landowner in the national economy. 1660-1860 by Wordie, J Ross
- Duke of Sutherland and Staffordshire in the Early Nineteenth Century by Wisker, R F
- Estate Management in Eighteenth Century England. The building of the Leveson-Gower fortune by Wordie, J Ross
- Industrial face of a great estate. Trentham and Lilleshall, 1780-1860 by Richards, Eric
- Industrial Revolution in Shropshire by Trinder, Barrie S
- Lilleshall Co Ltd. A history, 1764-1964 by Gale, W K V, & C R Nicholls
- Lilleshall Company History by Williams, W Howard
- Much Wenlock's Limestone Quarries by Williams, Glyn
- Social change on the Leveson-Gower Estates, 1714-1832 by Wordie, J Ross
Groups:
Other Business Names:
- Earl Gower & Co
- Leveson Gower family
- Marquis of Stafford & Co
- Granville, Earls
- Leveson, James
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- Lilleshall, Telford & Wrekin, Shropshire, West Midlands, England
- Trentham, City of Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, West Midlands, England
Sectors:
- Non metallic mineral products manufacture Brick & roof & floor tile production inc associated clay products
- Extraction Chalk, limestone & sandstone extraction
- Extraction Clay extraction
- Extraction Coal extraction
- Mechanical engineering Engine & turbine production exc transport
- Extraction Iron ore extraction
- Basic metals production Iron, steel & related alloys production
- Property activities Landed estate management
- Fabricated metal products manufacture Metal forging, pressing, stamping, rolling, slitting, etc
- Mechanical engineering Pump & hydraulic machinery production
- Transport equipment production Railway locomotive, rolling stock & components production & repair
- Fabricated metal products manufacture Structural metal products manufacture inc prefabricated buildings, bridges, gasholders, etc
Notes:
The Leveson Gower family had important and longstanding landed estates and industrial interests, notably the Lilleshall Co Ltd. The Leveson family's wealth originated from the very important Wolverhampton wool merchant, James Leveson, who acquired large estates in Staffordshire [based on Trentham Priory] and Shopshire [Lilleshall]. The Gower line owned lesser estates in North Yorkshire. The two families were linked in marriage in 1631 and their estates were combined in 1689. They subsequently acquired much additional land, especially in Scotland, through marriage. They gradually rose in prominence from baronets, to Lords Gower, Marquess of Stafford and, in 1833, to Dukes of Sutherland. Alongside the management of their agricultural estates they established industrial interests. These can be traced to 1764 when Lord Gower, 1721-1803, with his brothers, established Earl Gower & Co to exploit their mineral resources. Initially developed coal and limestone resources followed in 19th century by ironstone and clays assets and then developed extensive ironmaking and brickmaking interests as well as fabricated metal products and engineering products. By 1800 known as Marquis of Stafford & Co and in 1802 renamed The Lilleshall Co. Incorporated 1862 and re-registered 1880. Manufactured a seemingly vast range of products including pumps, locomotives, steam engines, winding engines, etc. Colliery interests nationalised 1947. Lilleshall Co continued to the 1980sPublications:
- A Great Landed Estate in the Eighteenth Century. Aspects of management of the Leveson-Gower properties, 1691-1833 by Wordie, J Ross
- 'Aristocrats and entrepreneurs in the Shropshire mining industry, 1748-1803' in C W Chalklin & J R Wordie (eds), Town and Countryside. The English landowner in the national economy. 1660-1860 by Wordie, J Ross
- Duke of Sutherland and Staffordshire in the Early Nineteenth Century by Wisker, R F
- Estate Management in Eighteenth Century England. The building of the Leveson-Gower fortune by Wordie, J Ross
- Industrial face of a great estate. Trentham and Lilleshall, 1780-1860 by Richards, Eric
- Industrial Revolution in Shropshire by Trinder, Barrie S
- Lilleshall Co Ltd. A history, 1764-1964 by Gale, W K V, & C R Nicholls
- Lilleshall Company History by Williams, W Howard
- Much Wenlock's Limestone Quarries by Williams, Glyn
- Social change on the Leveson-Gower Estates, 1714-1832 by Wordie, J Ross