Great Western Iron Co. Ltd c1879 (General)
Can anyone supply information about this firm?
I am particularly interested in its Managing Director,Arthur Duff Morison (born in Scotland c 1840) who was living at Bradley House,Sowdely,in 1879 with his mother (née Katherine MacPherson)
He may have moved away from the area shortly afterwards,possibly working abroad (Australia??);
By 1881,his mother was living in Fulham with 2 servants.When she died in 1887,her death certificate was signed by her son.
Her remains were subsequently taken to Scotland for burial in the family tomb.
As yet, I have been unable to trace the whereabouts of A Duff Morison after that date or find a death certificate.
I am a descendant of the MacPherson family and would be grateful for any information about this family, the Iron Co., local background etc.
Catherine Russell
Arthur DUFF MORISON - Probate Record
by m p griffiths 
, Tuesday, November 09, 2010, 21:01 (5135 days ago) @ Catherine Russell
Morris & Co.Commercial Directory and Gazetter, Newnham 1876
MORISON Arthur Duff Esq. Cliff Cottage
Great Western Iron Co. (Limited) Iron & Steel Makers, Great Western Iron Works, Soudley & 55 St George's Street, London S.W.
Arthur Duff MORISON, Managing Director
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cbennett/newnham1876.htm
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Arthur DUFF MORISON
Probate Calendar, Ancestry
Probate Date: 29 May 1896
Death: 14 June 1894
Worthing, West Sussex, London, England
Arthur DUFF MORISON of Durrington Manor, Nr Worthing died 14 June 1894 at Ostend Belgium. Adminstration London 29 May to William Francis MANNERS, Gentleman. Effects £1,000
? There is an Obituary on Google for a William Francis MANNERS MA Camb. M.R.C.S. Eng - 17 August 1910 in Degema, Southern Nigeria, eldest son of the late Colonel Manners of Newport, I of W - left a widow and 3 children. (age 3 on the 1861 census) - father William WHICHCOTE MANNERS (born I - O-W) - married Francis SIMPSON, 4 December 1856, Parish Church of Clapham - died 24 Jan 1894 - Probate also on Ancestry.
Arthur DUFF MORISON - Probate Record
by rookancestrybest , United Kingdom, Wednesday, November 10, 2010, 19:10 (5134 days ago) @ m p griffiths
There is a Manners family in Derbyshire which is part of the landed gentry and owns Haddon Hall. (I think but I need to check they were related to Bess of Hardwick) it would be interesting to see if there is a connection. There's a school called Lady Manners in Bakewell.
Arthur DUFF MORISON - Probate Record
My apologies for the delayed reply.I am travelling at the moment for professional reasons and the message was posted during a brief interlude at my home base,shortly after discovering the existence of this excellent site.
Acting on impulse and under time pressure,I did not quote Census and Directories data,gave details from memory and focused on the "gaps".Sorry for not clarifying that.
In fact,having drawn a blank on the Great Western Iron Works (in retrospect,I think by analogy with the Great Western Railway I had naively assumed something on a much larger scale) I had -temporarily-abandoned this area of research.My next step,when I had time to pick up the threads again,would have been to search Probate and explore the Australian records.
Your information (and that of others who have responded) has given me a complete breakthrough,for which I am most grateful.
The death certificate of AD Morison should provide some clues.Unless he married late in life. since he had no siblings,that family line will have ended with him.
I may also be able to locate an obituary,hopefully on line or at Colindale.
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer.Your help has been invaluable.
Best Regards,
Catherine Russell
A DUFF MORISON - Passenger List
by m p griffiths , Friday, November 12, 2010, 15:26 (5132 days ago) @ Catherine Russell
Not sure whether there are two A DUFF MORISON's
however, on Ancestry - UK Incoming Passenger Lists 1878-1960
there is
A DUFF MORISON - birth abt 1852 (although the age has been altered - would be 35 or 38)
From New York - 14 August 1890 to Southampton
on the Aller, Nodeutsher LLoyd
: English Merchant, married
Great Western Iron Co. Ltd c1879
by Roger Griffiths , Tuesday, November 09, 2010, 21:25 (5135 days ago) @ Catherine Russell
There's a lot of information in the book Industrial History of Dean by Cyril Hart. History of the Great Western Iron Works (Soudley) is included in detail. Bradley House was built for Samuel Hewlett c1830. There's an excellent photograph of the impressive Works, which was demolished in late 19th Century, in the book. The caption says c1830 but the pic.is much later. The locomotive and wagons are not much earlier than 1880. The Works were never a commercial success.
Roger
Arthur Duff MORISON 1840 approx
by slowhands , proud of his ancient Dean Forest roots, Wednesday, November 10, 2010, 10:08 (5135 days ago) @ Catherine Russell
1861 The Palace Brighton
Arthur Morison abt 1839 Scotland Boarder Brighton, Sussex
1871 Ashton Under Lyne Lancs
Arthur D Morison 30
Katherine Morison 49
1881 Bradley House Ayleford
Katherine Morison abt 1826 Inverness-Shire, Scotland Head Westbury On Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire
Edwin C. Everett abt 1863 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Servant Westbury On Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire
Maria James abt 1865 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Servant Westbury On Severn - East Dean, Gloucestershire
Name: Katherine Duff Morison
Estimated birth year: abt 1814
Year of Registration: 1887
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
Age at Death: 73
District: Fulham
County: Greater London, London, Middlesex
Volume: 1a
Page: 183
I assume he is at some point the mail / managing director in London - Latimer Clark, Muirhead & Co., formed in 1875 to manufacture electrical apparatus and machinery - the following note/letter could well relate to Telegraphic equipment and might explain his travel to Belgium etc.
23 Regency Street.
Westminster S.W.
local Co. in Sydney for their Patents an arrangement with that Co might abolish competition to obtain the influence of W.Cracknell. Sydney- but it is possible you might be able to do a advantageous deal with that gentleman personally.
The Gen. manager of the Aust. Co.in Australia has arranged for starting a Sydney station.
Shd. you think 50000 pounds too high then there might be 25000 pounds capital in10 pound shares & say 15000 pounds paid up. The suburbs of Sydney only be made as wide in area as you wd; consider right & fair to the local Co.
In great haste for mail.
Yours faithfully,
Latimer Clark Muirhead & Co.Limited
A Duff Morison
Mail Direc.
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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>
Latimer Clark Muihead
by m p griffiths , Wednesday, November 10, 2010, 14:06 (5135 days ago) @ slowhands
On the National Archives, there appear to be papers relating to this Company - dated 1894.
The heading indicates that there may have been proceedings in the High Court with regards to the Company's future. These papers can be viewed through the internet.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
Search: Latimer Clark Muirhead
Muirhead & Company
by slowhands , proud of his ancient Dean Forest roots, Wednesday, November 10, 2010, 15:32 (5134 days ago) @ m p griffiths
Off thread, but of interest to an electrical engineer...
Latimer Clark and Muirhead parted and then :-
http://www.bromley.gov.uk/environment/conservation_urban_design/blueplaques/alexander_m...
Alexander Muirhead founded Messrs Muirhead and Company in 1894. Muirhead established the technological supremacy of the company in the fields of telegraphy and was the first man to make a recording of a human heartbeat. Muirhead and Co. went on to supply the first X-rays to Beckenham Hospital at the turn of the century.
Alexander was a highly skilled electrical engineer, and his laboratory in Downe had an international reputation for the design and construction of telegraphic instruments of the very highest quality.
The collection of all Muirhead`s electrical instruments from the Elmers End electrical works was acquired by the Science Museum in 1989.
Alexander lived in Bromley Kent from 1893 - 1920.
The company was formed in 1904 to take control over the electrical instrument business founded by Alexander Muirhead, D.Sc., F.R.S. and carried on by him in partnership with his brother.
During the latter part of the 19th century Dr. Muirhead was working on developments in Submarine Cable Telegraphy notably duplex methods. In 1894 an association with Sir Oliver Lodge on wireless telegraphy was begun, and in 1900 the Lodge-Muirhead Wireless Syndicate was founded. The association between Lodge and Muirhead produced many historical experiments in wireless telegraphy.
Prior to the First World War and during the interval between the two wars the Company specialised in the development and manufacture of terminal equipment for submarine cable stations, and in addition it produced a wide range of electrical and scientific instruments. By the 1930's the submarine telegraph section of the communications industry was in decline but by that time the Company had acquired considerable reputation for the precision and accuracy of its electrical and mechanical products.
and onwards until today :-
http://www.muirheadaerospace.com/our-company/history.html
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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>
Arthur Duff MORISON 1882 Phone Directory approx
by slowhands , proud of his ancient Dean Forest roots, Friday, November 12, 2010, 15:38 (5132 days ago) @ slowhands
Phone Directory London 1882
1002 Morison A Duff 31, Lombard St EC
Phone Directory London 1886
3082 Morison A Duff 23 Regency St Westminster
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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>