Grace's Guide To British Industrial History

Registered UK Charity (No. 115342)

Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 164,616 pages of information and 246,219 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.

William Henry Darlington

From Graces Guide

William Henry Darlington (1844-1909)

1844 Born in St Austell, Cornwall, son of James Seymour Darlington and Maria Nance

Married Annie Gummoe

1871 Living at Weston Road, Handsworth, Staffs: William Darlington (age 27 born St. Austell), secretary to manager of a Company. With his wife Annie Darlington (age 25 born St. Austell) and their son Seymour D. Darlington (age 16 (months?) born Birmingham). Also his niece Mary G. F. Darlington (age 7 Months born Spain).[1]

1881 William Hy. Darlington (age 37), manager of engine works, lived in West Bromwich with Annie Darlington 35[2]

1891 Wm Hy Darlington (age 47), manager steam engine factory, lived in Handsworth with Annie Darlington 45, and Seymour Darlington 20, engineer, steam engine factory[3]

W. H. Darlington became the General Manager of James Watt and Co (successors to Boulton and Watt), and was there in the last days of the company, helped by his sons Seymour Nance Darlington and Courtney Darlington.

He was responsible for saving many historically important documents and artefacts from the Soho Engine Works, helped by George Tangye and Samuel Timmins.

1901 A boarder, living on own means in Wimbledon[4]

1909 William Henry Darlington, age 66, died in Stroud[5]


Another W. H. Darlington was one of two sons of John Darlington Sr. who went into the engineering business. The other son was John Darlington Jr.

John Darlington Sr. (b. November 1779) was Engineer to Charlestown United Mines, before moving to the Alport mines in Derbyshire. Does this refer to John Darlington (1771-1841); all of these birth dates will be uncertain.

See Also

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Sources of Information

  1. 1871 census
  2. 1881 census
  3. 1891 census
  4. 1901 census
  5. BMD

'The Soho Engine Works 1796-1895' by Laurence Ince, ISSES, 2001