Richard Foley (1614-1678)
Richard Foley III (1614–1678), an ironmaster at Longton in north Staffordshire.
Eldest son of Richard Foley (1580-1657) from his first marriage
1651 Richard Foley III expanded his interests to north Staffordshire, when he bought the manor of Longton, where there were coal and ironstone mines.
1661 He leased Meir Heath furnace in that manor.
1666 There was an associated warehouse for slit rod at Normacote Grange - together with Consall and Oakamore forges, the group was known as the Moorland works. They supplied rod and bar to north Staffordshire ironmongers and were operated by Richard III in partnership with his younger stepbrother Philip I (d. 1670). He also brought together Lawton furnace and the forges of Cranage and Warmingham in Cheshire. Both the Moorland and the Cheshire works supplied rod and bar to north Staffordshire ironmongers. Henry Glover of Stourbridge was brother-in-law to the Foley sons' and was their agent.
1675 More than 1000 tons of iron were cast at Meir Heath between 2 June and 15 July the following year.
1678 Richard Foley III died and the north Staffordshire works passed to his son Richard Foley IV (d. 1684).