Charles Townsend Casebourne
Charles Townsend Casebourne (1836-1897)
1897 Obituary [1]
CHARLES TOWNSREND CASEBOURNE was born in Caledon, Co. Tyrone, on the 28th June, 1836, his father, Thomas Casebourne, who was connected with the Institution so long ago as 1828, being at the time engaged as Engineer to the Ulster Canal Company during its construction.
In 1845 he removed with his parents to West Hartlepool, on his father accepting the appointment of Engineer to the West Hartlepool Harbour and Dock Company.
He was educated at Stockton Grammar School, and subsequently entered the office of Thomas Richardson and Sons, engine builders, of Hartlepool.
After two years he entered the employment of William Hutchinson, contractor, under whom he was engaged for ten years in the construction of the docks and harbour of West Hartlepool. He also acted in the same capacity on the construction of the Cleveland Railway.
In 1863, in conjunction with Albert Lucas, Mr. Casebourne established cement works at West Hartlepool which have since been successfully carried on. The firm was formed into a limited company in 1882, of which Mr. Casebourne was the Chairman and Managing Director until his death on the 17th May, 1897.
A few years ago Mr. Casebourne became interested in the salt industry of South Durham and discovered a valuable deposit in the neighbourhood of Greatham, near West Hartlepool. He subsequently erected extensive works for the West Hartlepool Salt and Brine Company. Shortly afterwards he put down a borehole in the neighbourhood of Seaton Carew, to ascertain whether coal was to be found in the district, but the deposit was not found to be of sufficient thickness to be profitably worked.
Some later borings undertaken by him, in conjunction with the Vivian Exploration Company, in the neighbourhood of Castle Eden proved entirely successful.
Mr. Casebourne married, in 1862, the third daughter of Mr. Samuel Baslow, by whom he had eight sons and two daughters.
He was elected an Association the 7th April, 1868.