Barrow Turner
Barrow Turner (1850-1888) A.M.I.C.E.
1850 Born in Marylebone, son of Thomas Turner, junior
1861 Living in Marylebone with Thomas Turner 37, engineer, Eleanor Turner 38, Sarah E Turner 12, Thomas R Turner 9, George T Turner 7, Edith C Turner 4[1]
1878 Patent application by Barrow Turner, of East-street, Manchester-square, in the county of Middlesex, Engineer, in respect of the invention of "improvements in the construction of revolving iron shutters."[2]
1881 A mechanical engineer, living in Marylebone, with his wife Martha 29, and Arthur C. Turner 5, Archibald R. Turner 4[3]
1888 Died in London[4]
1888 Obituary [5]
BARROW TURNER, who was born on the 12th of March, 1850, was the eldest son of the late Thomas Turner, and great grandson of the late Mr. Barrow, founder of the firm of Barrow and Turner, Engineers, of East Street, Manchester Square.
On the death of his father, young Turner, then only thirteen years of age, left school in order to learn the business of a Mechanical Engineer at the above works, of which in 1871 he became proprietor, and to the management of which he devoted the remainder of his life.
Among the engineering works which he designed and carried out, the steam lifting-machinery at the General Post Office and at several warehouses and offices in London deserves mention.
The principle upon which those steam-hoists work is that of a continuous circuit, several trays ascending, passing over a wheel at the top, and then descending. The trays are so hung as to retain their horizontal position, so that passengers or goods may safely perform a complete circuit.
Mr. Turner also provided, from his own designs, hydraulic lifting machinery for the King’s Cross terminus of the Great Northern Railway, and was largely occupied in the construction and maintenance of engineering work in many of the government buildings and the Royal Parks of London, all of which was performed to the satisfaction of the authorities of H.M. Office of Works.
The lease of his premises in East Street, Manchester Square, having expired, Mr. Turner, at the beginning of 1888, took an office in Victoria Street, Westminster, where only a few months later his death occurred suddenly on the 2nd of June. . . . [more]