Joseph Dorning Leigh
Joseph Dorning Leigh (1822-1878) of Patricroft, Manchester
Maker of stationary engines. [1]
c1822 Born at Eccles probably the son of Thomas Leigh who was a Wharfinger - the owner of a Wharf
1861 Living at Winton Road, Barton upon Irwell (age 39 born Eccles), Engineer and Ironfounder employing 48 men and 44 boys. With his wife Mary (age 28 born Eccles) and their children Maria (age 3) and Ann Dorning (age 3 months). Plus one servant. [2]
1866 Joseph Dorning Leigh, Ellesmere Foundry, Patricroft, near Manchester.[3]
1868 Partnership dissolved between Joseph Dorning Leigh and William Leigh (see J. and W. Leigh) [4]
1871 Living at 40 Worsley Road, Barton upon Irwell (age 49 born Eccles), Iron Founder and Engine Works employing 77 men and 12 boys. With his wife Mary (age 38 born Eccles) and their children Maria (age 13), Ann Dorning (age 10), Ellen (age 8) Catherine (age 6) and Frances (age 3). Plus one servant. [5]
1872 800 HP two cylinder winding engine at Acton Hall Colliery, Featherstone. [6]
c.1874 Made a large cylinder (84" bore, 10 ft stroke) for a Bull-type pumping engine being installed at the Imperial Gold Mine, Thames, New Zealand. Other parts of the engine were made locally and also by the Union Foundry, Ballarat and Langlands & Co of Melbourne, Victoria [7]
1878 December 4th. Died at his home Winton, Patricroft aged 56 years [8]
1879 Listed as Joseph D. Leigh of Patricroft, Colliery Engineer [9]
1879 December. Legal case over his estate. Described as an Engineer late of Patricroft. Names his widow Mary and Jonathan Leigh as executors. [10]
1881 His daughters Ellen (age 18 born Winton) and Frances (age 13 born Winton) are living at Meadow Bank, Worsley Road, Worsley, with their grand-father Thomas Leigh (age 80 born Swinton) who has 'income from land, house interest from money and annuity' [11]
c.1890 Horizontal two cylinder steam winding engine at Writhlington Colliery, Somerset. Photographed by George Watkins in 1965. Thought to have been secondhand when brought to the colliery. Cylinders 28" bore, 4' 6" stroke. Drum 22 ft diameter. [12]
1893? Two cylinder winding engine at Lewis Merthyr Colliery, Trehafod. Photographed by George Watkins in 1967.[13]
1896 Premises and equipment of Ellesmere Foundry advertised for sale.[14]
1879 Obituary [15]
JOSEPH DORNING LEIGH was born at Swinton, near Manchester, on 15th March 1822.
He was one of the first apprentices of the firm of Messrs. Nasmyth Gaskell and Co., Engineers, Bridgwater Foundry, Patricroft, near Manchester.
At the expiration of his apprenticeship he remained in the employment of the firm until April 1845, when he accepted an engagement as general manager to Messrs. Christopher Starr and Co., Engineers, Pernambuco, South America. He remained with that firm about six years, and was successfully engaged in making and erecting steam engines, sugar mills, steam dredgers, light-houses, &c.
After travelling through the States of America, and gleaning a considerable amount of information and experience, he returned to England at the end of July 1851. Here he commenced business as engineer and toolmaker, and brass and iron founder, erecting the works known as the Ellesmere Foundry, Patricroft, near Manchester. This business he carried on until the time of his death, which took place after a brief illness at his residence, Winton, Patricroft, near Manchester, on 4th December 1878, at the age of fifty-six.
He was a quick and thorough practical mechanic, and of high inventive genius.
Whilst at the Ellesmere Works he supplied machinery to several foreign governments, and also for the gold diggings and collieries in Australia.
He became a Member of the Institution in 1866.
SG 21st November 2011 writes:
In addition to the Frog Lane engine they are known to have constructed the following winding engines (all twin cylinder horizontals), this list is obviously incomplete but will need to serve until additional materials emerge
Braysdown Colliery Company, Braysdown, Radstock Somerset
c.1862 26”x48” winding from around 580 yds (source Down and Warrington P201/2))
Writhlington Colliery, Radstock ( possibly secondhand here)
c.1870 28”x54”. Slide valves, Gooch link motion, piston tail rods, flat eccentric rods 12’drum winding from 500yds. Replaced by electric winder in 1966 (source George Watkins and Down and Warrington)
Lord Vernon, Poynton and Worth Collieries, Park Pit
1875 – 30”x72”, Cornish valves, parallel cast iron drum 16’ diameter. From C 1885 wound Lawrance Pit (310 yd deep) from same engine house. Engine used until colliery closed in 1935 (source Geoff Hayes)
Geo Insole and Son, Cymmer Jubilee Colliery, Upcast Shaft
c.1877 - 28” x54”, plain 11’ drum, winding from 360 yds. Colliery closed in 1940 and engine presumed scrapped (source Rhondda Collieries, John Cornwell, Vol 1 P49 1987 D. Brown and Son ISBN 095926822)
Bridgewater Trustees, Ashtons Field No 1 Pit, Farnworth, Nr Bolton
1880 - 30”x 60” , Corliss valves ( according to the National Association of Colliery Managers visit in 1922) Engine used until colliery closed for coal winding in 1931 (source Geoff Hayes)
Fernhill Colliery, Blaenrhonnda
1881 JW Leigh 25”x 60”, Slide Valves and Gooch valve gear, parallel drum 12’x6’6”, post brakes and Whitmore controller by H.J.H. King of Nailsworth. Engine worked latterly on compressed air, disused by the time of Geoff's visit on 23/9/1980 and subsequently scrapped (Source Geoff Hayes)
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ 'Stationary Steam Engines of Great Britain: Vol 10' by George Watkins
- ↑ 1861 Census
- ↑ 1866 Institution of Mechanical Engineers
- ↑ [1] The London Gazette, June 2, 1868
- ↑ 1871 Census
- ↑ ‘Steam Engine Research Resources’ compiled and published by Stanley Challenger Graham on LULU.com. 2009
- ↑ [2] 'The Engineer' 13th March 1874 (pdf)
- ↑ Manchester Times, Saturday, December 7, 1878
- ↑ 1879 Slater's Directory of Manchester and Salford
- ↑ The Standard, Saturday, December 20, 1879
- ↑ 1881 Census
- ↑ 'Stationary Steam Engines of Great Britain, Volume 7': The South & South West, by George Watkins, Landmark Publishing Ltd
- ↑ ‘Stationary Steam Engines of Great Britain, Volume 4: Wales, Cheshire & Shropshire‘, by George Watkins, Landmark Publishing Ltd
- ↑ Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 2nd May 1896
- ↑ 1879 Institution of Mechanical Engineers: Obituaries