Edward Hutchinson

1882. Automatic lifting bogie for Bishop Auckland Ironworks.

1864 Edward Hutchinson, Pease, Hutchinson and Ledward, Skerne Ironworks, Darlington., was elected a member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in November.

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1884 Obituary

'Death of a Cleveland Ironmaster.
We regret to record the death of Mr Edward Hutchinson, C.E., which has taken place in Brazil, a telegram having been just received notifying the sad event in Darlington, where Mr Hutchinson had resided for some time prior to the end of last year, when he went out at the instigation of Mr John Dixon, C.E., to superintend, as engineer, some large works on the River Amazon. Mr Hutchinson, who had not yet attained middle age, and has left a widow and six young children, was well known for a long period in the North of England in connection with the iron trade, having been a partner in the firm of Pease, Hutchinson, and Co., at the Skerne Works, which were afterwards turned into a limited company. Some years after Mr Hutchinson became associated with the Skerne Company as manager. He took the Bishop Auckland Ironworks in 1880; but, like many more, became caught in the receding tide of the American boom, and failure was the result. Mr Hutchinson was recognized as a man possessing considerable talent, not only as a practical man in the iron trade, but in other respects; and his death in the prime of life will generally be deplored.'

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1884 Obituary

'The Cleveland district has lost one of its ablest engineers in Mr. Edward Hutchinson, who died of fever a few days since. Being in delicate health, and thinking that a change to a warmer climate would prove beneficial to him, he accepted an appointment in December last from Mr. John Dixon, of Laurence Pountney Hill, to superintend the erection of a pier at the mouth of the Amazon. Up to a month since the reports he sent home were highly satisfactory, and a letter received even after his death had actually occurred was written in a satisfactory and hopeful tone. But his physical constitution had previously been seriously weakened by the inroads of pulmonary phthisis, and he quickly succumbed to an attack which a stronger man would probably have successfully battled with.
He leaves a widow and six children, resident in Darlington. Mr. Hutchinson served his apprenticeship with Messrs. Gilkes, Wilson and Co., locomotive builders and general engineers at Middlesbrough, between the years 1850 and 1855. He then entered the drawing-offices at Messrs. Robert Stephenson at Newcastle, and became one of the best known and ablest draughtsmen in the locomotive department. For a time he again entered the service of his old employers at Middlesbrough, and for them superintended the erection of several iron trellis bridges on the Darlington and Tebay line. These bridges were designed by the late Sir W. Bouch, and were the prototypes of the subsequently unfortunate Tay Bridge. After this Mr. Hutchinson devoted himself to the study of rolling mill machinery, and in 1861 established the firm of Pease, Hutchinson, and Sedward, and built the Skerne Ironworks at Darlington. These works were successfully conducted until about 1873, when his old partners retired, and they were then transferred to a limited company, entitled the Skerne Ironworks Company, Limited. This company was not very successful, and after various vicissitudes the works fell into the possession of the debenture holders, and still remain idle.
About the autumn of the year 1879, Mr. Hutchinson, encouraged by the improved prospects in trade afforded by the American "boom," acquired the Bishop Auckland Ironworks, then inoperative, and commenced rolling ship plates. A reaction in prices soon succeeded, however, and in little more than two years he was-compelled to discontinue operations and abandon the enterprise. He then entered the service of the Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Company, of Darlington, and so remained until obliged by weakened health to seek an engagement in a warmer climate as already stated. Mr. Hutchinson was a "born mechanic." He was the author of various papers on mechanical subjects contributed to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and to the Cleveland Institute ; and was one of the original founders of the latter society in 1864. He was also the author of a very interesting treatise on bridge building, published a few years since and bearing his name. To his inventive powers was also due the ingenious and effective appliance known as the "Hutchinson steam lift," now largely used at the roughing rolls in North of England plate mills. When his death took place he had nearly completed the fiftieth year of his age."

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