Fact File

Their statue of Andromeda was compared to the works of the great Renaissance silversmith Benvenuto Cellini.

Abraham Darby 1V

The son of Abraham Darby 111 (inexplicably named Francis) took over control of the Coalbrookdale works in 1810, to be joined in 1820 and 1830 by the grandsons of Samuel Darby, brother of Abraham Darby 111.

It was under the auspices of Francis Darby that parts cast at the works helped to power ships across the oceans of the world, and when further bridges and steam engines were built.

The two Darby grandsons, Abraham 1V and Alfred, initially took over the management of the Horsehay side of the business but made radical changes to the whole operation after 1830. The making of bricks had taken place since the mid 18th century and this side of the business was greatly extended by the Darby brothers, with the building of brick kilns on various sites and the making of ceramic products.

By 1851 they had purchased many iron works around the country, but despite being the largest company of its type in Britain they did not display the same zeal for innovation as their predecessors had done; though the quality of their castings was of a very high standard.

It was The Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace in 1851, which brought as much fame to the Darbys and the Coalbrookdale works as the building of the Iron Bridge had done several decades earlier.

Many exhibits were cast at the works: a range of 60 feet wide ornamental gates, a cast iron dome 30 feet high supported on six pillars covering a figure of an Eagle-Slayer. There was also an ornamental fountain - The Boy and the Swan - and a statue of Andromeda, the latter being compared to the works of the great Renaissance silversmith Benvenuto Cellini. The statue of Andromeda was one of the huge successes of the exhibition, and was purchased by Queen Victoria for £300.

In 1852 the Commissioners of the exhibition invited Abraham Darby 1V to re-erect the ornamental gates at Kensington Gardens, where they can still be seen today.

Whilst supplying many households with the necessities of everyday life, the Coalbrookdale work's products graced the palaces and mansions of the aristocracy also.

The works also sent exhibits to the 1862 exhibition, where a larger-than-life casting of Oliver Cromwell, based on a design by John Bell, was greatly admired.

Francis Darby had been instrumental in the manufacturing of ornate castings and ceramics, which were also exhibited at the two exhibitions, but having died in 1850 he did not live to share in the new found fame.

During the mid 19th century the company began to wind down its operations in other areas, and the day to day running of the Coalbrookdale works was left in the hands of managers.

In 1886 Abraham Darby 1V moved to Slough and Alfred Darby to Bridgnorth.

Alfred Darby 11 became chairman of the new limited company until his retirement in 1925 - bringing to an end the Darby dynasty.

Having researched this subject, I unequivocally accept the massive contributions made by the Darbys and others to the Industrial Revolution, but feel historians have overlooked the fact that Dud Dudley and Sir Basil Brooke of Madeley were the 'real' architects of that revolution.

 

Written by Colin Ayling © 2007