Edward Wadham
Edward Wadham, JP (1828 - 1913) was appointed mineral agent to the Duke of Buccleuch in 1851 and later steward of the manor of Plain Furness. In these capacities he and his employees created many of the records in which record the development of the town of Barrow-in-Furness, England.
Early life
Edward Wadham was born 22 May 1828 at Frenchay, Nr Bristol, the third son of Thomas and Elizabeth Wadham. He attended school at Bitton, Gloucestershire. His siblings were:
- James Davison Wadham 1804 - 1871
- Thomas Wadham, born 1820
- Rev John Wadham, 1822 - 1883 became rector of Weston on Trent,
- William Wadham MD, 1823 - 1897 became a London doctor
- Henry Wadham, 1830 - 1863 became a barrister
- Elizabeth Wadham 1830 - 1903
- Sarah Wadham, 1833 - 1900
- Rachel Wadham, 1834 - 1856
- George Wadham, 1837 - 1910
After school he was apprenticed to Mr John Thornhill Harrison and employed in the tunnels of South Devon and on the Alston branch of the Newcastle & Carlisle Railway.[1]
Career
Edward Wadham arrived in Ulverston by the "New Times" stagecoach on 1 February 1851 as mineral agent to the Duke of Buccleuch. His first action was to install weighing machines at Dalton sidings and Ulverston Canal. The move was not popular with the carters. A significant conversation occurred on 5 April when he asked the Mr Cranke for an advance on his salary. Cranke offered him an easy mining job which he was unable to accept for fear of Mr Lumley, the Chief Steward. Cranke advised him to write for permission and on 17 April he wrote to Mr Lumley thanking him for his permission to take up any small engineering job that might come his way. He was soon engaged as mineral agent to the Earl of Lonsdale and surveying the line of tramways for Harrison Ainslie & Co. Mr Cranke was also consulted about his moving into Lindal Mount with William George Ainslie. They shared a house and a rented stable for some years and Edward later married William's sister. Wadham remained at Lindal Mount until he moved into Millwood in 1862. He was elected Associate of the Institution of Civil Engineers on 6 December 1853 and MICE on 17 December 1866. In February 1872 following a bad attack of rheumatism he was certified as unfit to work underground and the work of surveying the pits passed to his employees.
Positions held:
- Proprietor of the firm of surveyors known at different times as Wadham & Turner, Wadham, Turner & Strongitharm and Wadham & Son.
- Mineral agent to Duke of Buccleuch from 1851 to 1911.
- Mineral agent to the Earl of Lonsdale.
- Mineral agent to Marquess of Muncaster
- Director of Furness Railway from 1885 to 1911
- Director of Richard Thomas & Co and the Lydney Tinplate Co.
- Director of Walney Exploration Co and Vivian Diamond Boring Co and Barrow Salt Co
- Director of Gillfoot Mining Co
- Director of Barrow Steam Cornmill Co until it was wound up in 1884
- Manager of Longlands Mines
- Chairman of North Lonsdale Iron & Steel Co until he resigned in 1899
Politics
Wadham was a staunch Conservative and Unionist. He served on Barrow council from its inception in 1867 until 1906 and served as mayor for 3 terms from 1878 to 1881. He was active in the election of W G Ainslie and Charles Cayzer to parliament.
Wife and Children
Married Mary Elizabeth Ainslie, daughter of Montague Ainslie on 20 September 1860. They had 6 children:
- Amy, born 1861 died 1944
- Arthur Edward Montague, born 1863, married Marguerite Josephine Bridson (Greta) in 1900 and became County councillor for Cockermouth. died 1925
- Walter Francis Ainslie born, 1865 joined his father as a civil and mining engineer in 1887. Died 1946.
- Dora Louise born 1869 died of influenza in 1918.
- Winifred Mary born 1875, married Lt George Ainslie Rooke RN in February 1907. Died 1972.
- Gerald Douglas, born 1879, married Edna Elizabeth Bamford in 1910. Died 1957.
Other Interests
Wadham was a lifelong churchman, very active in C of E politics. As steward of the manor it was part of his responsibility to liaise with Paley & Austin and oversee the building of the churches at Kirkby Ireleth, Ireleth, Lindal and Dalton. Edward was sworn in as a magistrate in 1869 and served until 1908. He was vice president of North Lonsdale Agricultural Society in 1869, he also held the posts of president and secretary. He practiced farming on a small scale and Mrs Wadham carried off prizes for honey and for butter. Wadham enjoyed sailing, cricket, hunting (including otter hunting) and fishing but most particularly shooting. Amongst other places he shot on Barrow Island and Robert Hannay's estate at Ornockenoch. By his own account he shot rabbit, pheasant, black game, rooks, seagulls, a finger and thumb from his left hand, a coachman and a passer-by.
Sources
References
- ↑ ICE application form
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