Grace's Guide To British Industrial History

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Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 162,253 pages of information and 244,496 images on early companies, their products and the people who designed and built them.

Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 147,919 pages of information and 233,587 images on early companies, their products and the people who designed and built them.

Edward Alexander Jeffreys

From Graces Guide

Edward Alexander Jeffreys (1824-1889) of the Low Moor Co and Monk Bridge Iron Co

1856 Locomotive Department of the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway

1863 Edward A. Jeffreys, Engineer, Low Moor Iron Works, near Bradford.[1]


1889 Obituary [2]

EDWARD ALEXANDER JEFFREYS was born in Shrewsbury, on the 20th August, 1824; he was the son of Mr. William Jeffreys, solicitor, a member of a well-known firm in that town.

At the early age of fourteen he was sent as apprentice to the late firm of Bury, Curtis and Kennedy, of Liverpool, where all descriptions of railway and marine engines and plant were manufactured. He there proved himself an energetic pupil, being principally employed in making the plans of locomotive and marine engines, and afterwards in superintending the working of them.

In 1845 he obtained the appointment of Locomotive-Superintendent on the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway, being employed for the first fourteen months in superintending the construction of the rollingstock. This appointment he held for eight years, until the railway was absorbed by the Great Western.

In 1853 the late Mr. Thomas Brassey secured his services to go out to Canada as Locomotive-Superintendent of the Grand Trunk Railway, and to take charge of the construction of the rolling-stock before going out, but upon the opening of the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway, Mr. Brassey appointed him to manage and work that line for him, as Resident Engineer and Locomotive-Superintendent during his lease; this he did until its termination in 1862.

In 1863 Mr. Jeffreys became General Manager of the South Eastern of Portugal Railway, but after a few months resigned this appointment on being offered the position of Consulting Engineer and representative to the Low Moor Iron Works, which position he filled until July, 1879, when he became the partner of Sir James Kitson, Bart, (then Mr. Kitson), in the Monkbridge Iron Works, Leeds.

On the conversion of the business into a limited liability company Mr. Jeffreys became a Director, and held that position until he died.

He had a very extensive acquaintance with railways and railway matters, and was regarded as an authority concerning that branch of engineering. He became a Member of the Institution on the 1st of December, 1863.

Mr. Jeffreys died, after a short illness, at his residence, Hawkhills, Chapel-Allerton, Leeds, on the 3rd of April, 1880, at the age of sixty-four.


1889 Obituary [3]

EDWARD ALEXANDER JEFFREYS was born at Shrewsbury on 20th August 1824, being the son of Mr. William Jeffreys, solicitor of that town.

At the age of fourteen he was sent as apprentice to the engineering firm of Messrs. Bury Curtis and Kennedy, of Liverpool, where he was principally employed in making the plans of locomotive and marine engines, and afterwards in superintending their working.

In 1845 he obtained the appointment of locomotive superintendent on the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway, being employed for the first fourteen months in superintending the construction of the rolling stock. This appointment he held for eight years until the line was absorbed by the Great Western Railway.

In 1853 he was engaged by Mr. Thomas Brassey to go out to Canada as locomotive superintendent of the Grand Trunk Railway; but upon the opening of the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway, Mr. Brassey appointed him to manage and work that line for him during his lease, which he did until its termination.

On 1863 he obtained the appointment of general manager of the South Eastern of Portugal Railway, but after a few months relinquished it on being offered the position of consulting engineer and representative to the Low Moor Iron Works. This position be filled until he was offered a partnership in the Monk Bridge Iron Works in July 1879, of which he became afterwards a director when the works were converted into a limited company. Having a very extensive acquaintance with railways, he was regarded as an authority in matters of railway engineering.

He died after a short illness at his residence, Hawkhills, Chapel Allerton, Leeds, on 3rd April 1889, at the age of sixty-four.

He became a Member of this Institution in 1856.


1889 Obituary [4]

EDWARD ALEXANDER JEFFREYS was born at Shrewsbury on the 20th August 1824. He was the son of Mr. William Jeffreys, solicitor, a member of a well-known firm in that town. At the early age of fourteen he was sent as apprentice to the late firm of Bury, Curtis & Kennedy, of Liverpool, where all descriptions of railway plant and marine engines were manufactured. He there proved himself an energetic pupil, being principally employed in making the plans of locomotive and marine engines, and afterwards in superintending the working of them.

In 1845 he obtained the appointment of locomotive superintendent on the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway, being employed for the first fourteen months in superintending the construction of the rolling stock. This appointment he held for eight years, until the railway was absorbed by the Great Western.

In 1853 the late Mr. Thomas Brassey secured his services to go out to Canada as locomotive superintendent for the Grand Trunk Railway, and to take charge of the construction of the rolling stock before going out; but upon the opening of the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway Mr. Brassey appointed him to manage and work that line fur him during his lease. This he did until its termination. In 1863 he obtained the appointment of general manager on the South-Eastern Portugal Railway, but after a few months resigned this appointment, on being offered the post of manager of the Lowmoor Ironworks, which position he filled until Sir James Kitson, Bart., offered him a partnership in the Monkbridge Ironworks in July 1879. He was subsequently connected with these works, first as a partner, and afterwards, when it was converted into a limited liability company, as a director.

Mr. Jeffreys had a very extensive acquaintance with railways and railway matters, and was regarded as an authority in matters of railway engineering.

He died at his residence, Hawkhills, Chapelallerton, Leeds, after a short illness, at the age of sixty-four.


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