Staveley Works
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- Category: Sample Data-Articles
- Published on 22 August 2011
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From White's Gazeteer, History and Directory of Derbyshire, 1857: Staveley Works, 1 mile E from Staveley, is an ancient iron smelting establishment; there are documents in existence proving it to have been a place of considerable importance centuries ago, but its early history will not bear any comparison with the vastness of operations in teh present day. Here are the collieries and extensive ironworks of Richard Barrow Esq. with blast furnaces, producing 200 tons of metal weekly. Castings and foundry work of all kinds are executed at this extensive establishment. Neat residences for the clerks and overlookers have been built in the vicinity, besides a great number of cottages.
(The history and archive images of the Staveley Works are currently being compiled by the Staveley History Society)
In the interim, an article from the Derbyshire Times, Saturday 16 August 1856 for your entertainment:
Stealing Brass and Copper from the Staveley Works
Thomas Cuncannon, an Irish collector of marine stores, residing in Chesterfield, was charged with stealing 40 copper stays, and 14 brass tube ends, of the respective weights of 32 lbs. and 10 lbs., the property of Richard Barrow, Esq., the proprietor of the Staveley Iron Works. From the evidence adduced it appeared that Mr. James Radford, superintendent of police at Chesterfield hearing that Cuncannon had sold the above mentioned articles to Mr. Sneath, of Brampton, had his suspicion excited that all was not right. He went to the residence of Cuncannon, and enquired whether he had brought any brass or copper lately. He said he had not, having no money to buy any with. He then went to Mr. Sneath, who delivered up the brass and copper tubes and stays, and Mr. Radford took them to the works at Staveley, on the 7th. of August. He then ascertained that the tubes and stays were the property of Mr. Barrow, and that they formed part of the fittings of two locomotive engines which had been recently taken to pieces. Two of Mr. Barrow's engineers swore to the property, and stated the times and circumstances of the engines being taken to pieces. Mr. Sneath proved that he brought the brass and copper of Cuncannon, and that he gave him 8d. per pound for the copper, and 9d. for the brass. In defence the prisoner made the following statement; "I was coming home from the Staveley Works on Monday last, and called at Mr. Marsden's shop at Brimington. A woman, whose name I do not know, at the adjoining house, called to me and asked me if I would buy a bit of copper. I told her I had no money to buy any with. She asked me if I could sell any for her. I said I could if she would allow me anything for my trouble. She then produced the brass and copper, which I sold to Mr. Sneath. I had been to the Staveley Works. There are plenty of people who know that I had nothing in my basket before I went to the woman's house next to Mr. Marsden's shop in Brimington. The Mayor said they had no alternative than to commit him for trial at the next Sessions, to be held at Derby in October. He must produce the woman of whom he had stated he brought the brass, then in all probability, if his statement turned out to be true, he would get off.
