Tipton Industry in 1859

TIPTON: has risen progressively from an inconsiderable village to its present extent and importance, from the abundant and apparently exhaustless mines of coal and iron-stone under almost every acre of its surface. The coal, which is of excellent quality, occurs in seams of about thirty feet in thickness, and is extensively wrought at the Moat and Tibbington collieries, on which, within half a mile of each other, are four powerful steam-engines, pumping from the mines not less than 10,000 tons of water every twenty-four hours, exclusively of numerous other engines in the immediate neighbourhood.

The iron is also wrought to a very great extent; there are not less than twelve blast-urnaces with apparatus for smelting the ore, and on an average 1500 tons of pig-iron are made weekly, in the production of which 1500 tons of coal are consumed. There are also twelve forges for the manufacture of wrought-iron articles of every kind, including boilers for steam-engines, iron-boats, fenders, fire-irons, hinges, nails, and tin-plates; and several factories for soap, muriatic potash, and red-lead.

The principal ironworks are those of Messrs. John Bagnall and Sons, at Toll-End, in which 250 tons of iron are made weekly; of Messrs. Edward Cresswell and Sons, producing about the same quantity; and those of Messrs. Bramah, Barrows, and Hall, in which 400 tons are made weekly. In the works of Messrs. John and Edward Walker, at Gospel-Oak, 100 tons of iron are made weekly, and belonging to the firm are a foundry for cannon of large calibre, and tin-plate and iron-works, together employing 350 persons; cannons also of wrought iron are made in this establishment, and have been brought to such perfection as probably to supersede those of brass, from their possessing a greater degree of tenacity, when hot, than those of brass.

At the Moat forge, belonging to Mr. Thomas Spencer, every description of hammered iron is made for marine engines and other uses; the Park Lane coal and iron works, the property of Messrs. Thomas Morris and Sons, and the Horsley iron-works, are also extensive, and there are several others on a smaller scale. The town and the various factories are lighted with gas from works at West Bromwich, 2 miles distant; and the trade is much facilitated by the Birmingham canal, and several of its collateral branches, which intersect the parish, affording a communication with almost every line of inland navigation,

 

[Description(s) from The Topographical Dictionary of England (1859) by Samuel Lewis - Transcribed by Mike Harbach ©2020]