James Oxley (Frome)

of Frome, Somerset

Brewery engineer, holding a number of patents relating to brewing equipment and processes.

See also James Oxley (b.1824)

1868 Supplied twelve vats for Guinness & Co., capable of containing 30,000 barrels, and Guinness were erecting another new vat house to hold twenty more vats of the same size, by the same maker.

Coxley sank two mine shafts at Buckland Dinham in an attempt to find coal. Valuable seams were found, but the workings were overwhelmed with water. He also found coal in the vicinity of Trudoxhill.

1858 'Messrs. Allsopp and Son's New Brewery.—This gigantic concern now in course of erection at Burton-on-Trent, will be the largest in the kingdom, and calculated to brew 180,000 qrs. of malt per annum, the ale from which will amount to a gross value of nearly two millions. The arrangement of the working plant and apparatus is being conducted upon an entirely novel and ingenious principle by Robert Davison, esq., of London, the eminent brewers' engineer, from whose plans the different vessels, &c., are being prepared by Mr. James Oxley, Frome.'

1863 Advert:- 'NOTICE TO POTTERS, BREWERS, AND OTHERS.
WHEREAS, JAMES OXLEY, of Frome, Somerset, has exhibited, constructed, and been offering for sale and use a MACHINE which is a colorable imitation and infringement of the Patent Filter Press of Messrs. Needham and Kite, of the Phoenix Ironworks, Vauxhall, London: We hereby give you Notice, that the said James Oxley has no right or license from Messrs. Needham and Kite to exhibit, sell, or use their said machine, or to imitate the same, and that the said James Oxley has applied to the said Messrs. Needham and Kite for license, and been refused ; and further, that any person purchasing or using the said machine of the said James Oxley will be liable equally with the said James Oxley for an Infringement of the said Patent, and for all the consequences thereof, and will be proceeded against by Messrs. Needham and Kite accordingly.
FARNELL AND BRIGGS, Isleworth, Middlesex, Solicitors for the said MESSRS. NEEDHAM AND KITE 15th January, 1863.'

1863 Adverts:- 'NOTICE TO POTTERS, BREWERS, AND OTHERS.
WHEREAS a Notice has been published by the Solicitors for Messrs. NEEDHAM & KITE, which is calculated to injure Mr. JAMES OXLEY, of Frome, Somerset, Brewers' Engineer, in his business, and which Notice has no foundation in facts : Now I, as Solicitor for the said James Oxley, HEREBY GIVE NOTICE, that he has not exhibited, constructed, or offered for Sale, any MACHINE which is in any way an imitation or infringement of any invention or Patent Rights of the said Messrs. Needham and Kite. And further that the said James Oxley has not obtained or sought to obtain from them, a License to exhibit, sell, use, or imitate their Machines: but that, on the contrary, he has declined to act as Agent for the sale thereof, and has been exhibiting, selling, and using Machines of his own invention, for which has obtained Letters of Protection from the Patent Office. And, inasmuch as his Machines so protected are no infringement of Needham and Kite's Patent Rights, the said James Oxley will continue to exhibit, sell, and use them, and will be prepared to indemnify any purchaser thereof, against all loss or liability to be incurred by him by reason of such purchase. And I further give notice that the said James Oxley will hold Messrs. Needham and Kite responsible for all losses, costs, and expenses which may sustain, or be put to by reason of the Notice so published, or in any way in reference thereto.
Dated Frome, 20th January, 1863.
LMALIM MESSITER, Solicitor for the said James Oxley.
Mr. Oliver Lodge, Wolstanton, Stoke-upon-Trent, Agent in the Potteries, for Mr. Oxley, will show a Model of the Machine, and give any information that may be desired.'

1878 Partnership dissolved. '...the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned, James Oxley and James Abbott Oxley, as Brewers' Engineers, at Frome, in the county of Somerset, under the style or firm of James Oxley and Son, has been dissolved, by mutual consent, as from the 18ih day of September, 1878. The business will in future be carried on by the said James Oxley alone...'

1886 Partnership dissolved. '... the Partnership heretofore subsisting between the undersigned, James Oxley and Charles Wesney Clark, trading as Oxley and Clark, and carrying on business at Butts Hill, Frome Selwood, in the county of Somerset, as Brewers' Engineers and Back and Vat Makers, has been this day dissolved by mutual consent; and that the said business will henceforth be carried on by the said James Oxley, at Butts Hill, Frome Selwood...'

1926 Advert: 'Re C. G. S. Harris in Bankruptcy. THE OLD BREWERY, PILTON, NEAR SHEPTON MALLET, SOMERSET. Sale of Entire CIDER MAKING PLANT, STOCK AND UTENSILS including:— USEFUL STEAM ENGINE AND FITTINGS by Messrs. “Oxley,” Frome. Double and Single Screw Cider Presses. “Mensley” Cider Mill.....'

William George Wilson succeeded James Oxley. Wilson had worked first at Abraham Haley's foundry at Butts Hill, then successively for Mr. Oxley as foreman, traveller and finally manager. When Oxley got into difficulties, Wilson formed a new company with himself as managing director, which became Wilson & Co. The firm closed about 1932. Wilson and Scotchman was founded in February 1910 by William George Wilson Junior and George H. Scotchman to produce vats, pumps, malt machinery and refrigerators with premises at Keyford on the site of The Cooperage. The firm continued until the 1970’s and houses are now built on the site.

See Also

Loading...