Northumberland Foundry
of Launceston
Named after the Duke of Northumberland, who at one time owned the nearby Werrington Park
ca.1827 John Box established Northumberland Foundry at St Thomas’s – near the site of the GWR railway station. The foundry building still exists and was for sale recently [2020].[1]
But Launceston Then pronounces: ‘The Northumberland Foundry was founded in the early 19th Century by William Langdon. The building was 68 feet by 30 feet, included Smith’s and Fitting shops, Grinding shed and Engine house. There was office at the entrance to the works; large Store, with Pattern Loft over; Coach House and Stable, with lofts over, and a large yard (enclosed) between the foundry and stable.’
1830 No ironfounders listed but five blacksmiths including William Langdon of St Thomas’s.[2]
Ca.1849-52 circa – or earlier. W. B. Box, son of John Box, ran the foundry for three years.[3]
1853 Inny Consols, South Petherwin. ‘The waterwheel was impressive: it was cast by Langdon and Pinch of Launceston and was 35 foot diameter by 10 foot breast. The water of the Inny flowed through the sett and the wheel was estimated to generate 140 horse power. It was used to fork [ie pump] the mine and put to work late in October 1853 it cleared the engine shaft to 20 fathoms in 2½ hours, the wheel turning at 4 revolutions a minute. .. The wheel which was much admired by practical men on the ground, was contracted for by Messrs Langdon and Pinch of Launceston to whom the cast iron and other work does great credit ..’[4]
1856 William Langdon advertising mine plant – windbore, 16-in working barrel etc.[5]
1858 NORTHUMBERLAND FOUNDRY, St. Thomas, Launceston. W. LANGDON & SON Take this opportunity of returning thanks to the public for the liberal support they have hitherto received, — a continuance of which they respectfully solicit...[6]
1858-66 Adverts for William Langdon & Son, Northumberland Foundry. Stocks of grates, stoves, rain-water pipes.[7]
1858 The Langdons provided £37-5-11d of mining equipment including clay moulds, steel bars, bucket irons, etc, to Great Tregune Consols in 1858. Including 4 pumps worth £15-12-5d. In end they had to take Great Tregune Consols agent John Rowe to court for non payment, c 2-1859. [The mine had sale of plant in 1866 including a 40ft by 4ft waterwheel – Launceston Then] Great Tregune Consols, Altarnun, by the headwater of the River Lynher. SE of Tregirls, S of Five Lanes. SX 2252 7968
1861 Railway – LAUNCESTON and SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY. The plans of this proposed railway have been duly deposited as required the Parliamentary Standing Orders. The terminus will probably be near Mr. Langdon’s foundry at St Thomas.[8]
1865 William Langdon jun’s wife delivered a child 13-9-1865. Wm Langdon jun, of Northumberland Foundry.
1869 William Langdon sen, died 10 January 1869, aged 69.
1870 WANTED, a good, steady, General SMITH. Constant employment.—Apply Wm. Langdon, Northumberland Foundry, Launceston.[9]
1873 West Rose Down Mine, Linkinhorne. Sale of machinery, including two steam engines, 200 fathoms of pitwork [pumps etc], 144 fathoms flat rods, a horse whim .. for purchase any of the above prior the sale, to WILLIAM LANGDON, Northumberland Foundry, Launceston, Cornwall.[10]
1874 Sale of machinery from East Phoenix Mine, Linkinhorne, including two steam engines, pumps, 36 heads of stamps, a water-wheel etc. ‘Catalogues can be obtained from Mr W Langdon, Northumberland Foundry, Launceston ..’[11]
1880 Bicton Silver-Lead and Manganese Mines. Visit .. in the centre of the estate the company are erecting their offices, cutting shed, ore stores, cobbing shed, smithy, etc. The whole are lofty and of solid construction, the smithy with corrugated zinc roof and all the newest appliances, like all the rest, being capitally fitted up by Mr. Wm. Langdon, of the Northumberland Foundry, Launceston.[12]
1881 Deaths – June 28, at Northumberland Foundry, Launceston, Mr. Wm. Langdon, aged 51.[13]
1884 Wanted at once, a green sand moulder – apply to H & E Box, Northumberland Foundry, Launceston.[14]
1884 MOULDERS, BLACKSMITHS, FOUNDRY MEN, and others are requested to keep away from the Northumberland Foundry. Launceston, as the men are on strike.[15]
1885 NOTICE is hereby given, that the PARTNERSHIP heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned HENRY BOX and EDWARD BOX, carrying on business as Ironfounders, Smiths, and Machinists, at the Hamlet of Saint Thomas-by-Launceston, in the County of Cornwall, under the style of “Henry and Edward Box," has been this day DISSOLVED by mutual consent. All Debts due to and owing the said late firm will received and paid by the said Henry Box, by whom the Business will in future be carried on at the place of Business aforesaid in his own name alone. Dated this 4th day of July, 1885. Edward Box, Henry Box ..[16]
1888 Arthur W. Box running Northumberland Foundry. Advert for kitchen stoves manufactured on the premises, for bar iron, and estimates given for water-wheels and other machinery. ‘Engineering repairs done on the premises and experienced workmen sent into the country.’[17]
1903 CAST SCRAP IRON.— Apply Northumberland Foundry, St. Thomas. Launceston. Cash or exchange.[18]
Surviving waterwheel
- Waterwheel at site in Devon: Quither Mill, Milton Abbot. SX 442810. Overshot waterwheel about 17ft by 3ft, ‘Langdon, Launceston’ on shroud casting. By a converted barn. Launder piers (two) survive. Possibly used for manganese mining at Quither.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Source: Cornish & Devon Post advert for foundry in 1888 ‘Established over 60 years’. And Cornish and Devon Post 4 April 1896 p 8
- ↑ Pigot’s Directory of Cornwall 1830, 147 – University of Leicester
- ↑ Cornish and Devon Post 4 April 1896 p 8
- ↑ Royal Cornwall Gazette 4 November 1853 p 7
- ↑ Launceston Weekly News 12 July 1856 p 1
- ↑ Launceston Weekly News 21 August 1858
- ↑ Launceston Weekly News and Cornwall and Devon Advertiser 27 May 1865
- ↑ Launceston Weekly News 30-11-1861 p 8
- ↑ Western Morning News 22 October 1870 p 2 col 1
- ↑ West Briton 17 April 1873 p 1 col 1
- ↑ Western Morning News 3 March 1874 p 1
- ↑ Cornish & Devon Post 28 February 1880 p 7
- ↑ Western Times 30 June 1881 p 2
- ↑ Western Morning News 26 June 1884 p 2 col 1
- ↑ Western Morning News 28 June 1884 p 2 col 1
- ↑ Western Morning News - 9 July 1885 p 1
- ↑ Cornish & Devon Post - 21 July 1888 p 1
- ↑ Cornish & Devon Post 29 August 1903 p 1