Wilden Ironworks facts for kids
The Wilden Ironworks was a very old factory in Wilden, Worcestershire, England, where people made things out of iron. It worked for many years and was later bought by the Baldwin family. A famous person from this family was Stanley Baldwin, who later became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
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The First Mill at Wilden
Wilden was once part of a large area of land owned by the Bishop of Worcester. In 1511, a man named William Baylly built a mill on the River Stour. This mill was likely a "fulling mill," which was used to clean and thicken cloth.
How the Mill Changed Over Time
Around 1633, the mill was changed to include a "slitting mill." This type of mill could cut large sheets of iron into thinner strips. In 1647, the mill was described as having had six "walk stocks" (for fulling cloth) and two "corn mills" (for grinding grain).
The Foley Family and Iron Production
The slitting mill was bought by Richard Foley, who then gave it to his son, Thomas. In 1647, Thomas built a "finery forge" at Wilden. A finery forge was a place where raw iron was heated and hammered to make it stronger and more useful.
What the Ironworks Produced
When Thomas Foley's oldest son, also named Thomas, renewed the lease in 1685, the ironworks had a slitting mill and two forges. This factory, like others in the Stour valley, used pig iron (a basic form of iron) that came up the River Severn from places like the Forest of Dean. The Wilden Ironworks made bar iron and other iron products. These were then used to make finished goods, like nails, in the nearby Black Country area.
Who Ran the Ironworks?
In 1669, the ironworks became part of the business of Thomas Foley's youngest son, Philip Foley. He ran them until 1679. After that, he arranged for his brother to lease the works to Richard Avenant and John Wheeler, who had been his managers. They managed the ironworks until 1692. Then, a new group called 'Ironworks in Partnership' was formed. This group included Philip Foley, his brother Paul, Avenant, and the Wheeler brothers. John Wheeler was the main manager. The partnership eventually stopped running its ironworks in the Midlands by 1705.
The Ironworks as an Estate Business
The lease for the forge was given to Richard Knight for its last few years. When the lease ended in 1708, the landlord decided to run the ironworks himself. This landlord was the third Thomas Foley of Great Witley. He later became Lord Foley in 1712.
Later Owners of the Estate
His son, Thomas, 2nd Lord Foley, operated the ironworks until he died in 1766. After his death, the ironworks, along with the rest of the Great Witley estates, went to his distant cousin, Thomas Foley of Stoke Edith. This Thomas Foley also became Lord Foley in 1776, a year before he passed away.
Lord Foley likely leased the forge to a company called Thomas Hill & Co. starting in 1776. In 1789, this company leased coal and ironstone mines at Blaenavon in Monmouthshire. They then built the Blaenavon Ironworks there. It's thought that they sent pig iron from Blaenavon to the Wilden Forge.
Changes in Ownership and Management
Thomas Hill & Co. continued to rent the Wilden works until 1825. By 1820, the Wilden works were run by a different partnership that included Thomas Hill and Thomas Barnet. In 1826, Henry Turner became the tenant. He was still there in 1837 but became unwell the next year. W. T. Lewty was running the business in 1840.
The Baldwin Family Takes Over
The Wilden Ironworks were eventually bought by E., P. & W. Baldwin. This family business had previously owned an iron foundry in Stourport. In 1870, Alfred Baldwin bought out his relatives and became the only owner of the company. However, he kept the old company name.
A Future Prime Minister Joins the Business
In 1888, Alfred brought his 21-year-old son, Stanley Baldwin, into the business. Stanley Baldwin would later become the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The company officially became E. P. & W. Baldwin Ltd in 1898. Over time, they bought other factories that made tinplate, mostly in South Wales.
The End of the Wilden Works
Finally, in 1948, the company joined with Richard Thomas & Co. to form Richard Thomas and Baldwins Ltd. They decided to close the Wilden Works, which by then was making tinplate. Many workers who lived in the village of Wilden lost their jobs. In 1964, Wilden Industrial Estates Ltd bought the works. Today, it is an industrial estate, which means it's a place with many different businesses.
How Goods Were Transported
The Wilden Works had a special way to transport goods. There are still parts of a lock at Pratt's Wharf on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. This lock connected the canal to the river, allowing canal barges to use the River Stour to bring goods to the works.
The Wharf's History
Isaac Pratt built the wharf in 1835. He was a businessman who mainly used it to carry timber to a steam saw-mill in Wilden. Later, it was used to transport coal and iron to the Wilden Works. There were two houses at Pratt's Wharf, one for a lock keeper and one for a clerk. This special transport link closed around 1950.
