Maude & Lloyd Zinc Rollers & Richard Lloyd (1809-)

caution !! this is an initial draft ... these notes are on my server for safe keeping !!

 

 

 

 

In 1844 John Budd's zinc works was selling bone dust?

In 1849 the Manchester Courier advertised the zinc wares of Richard Lloyd & Company, Acton Bridge. Had John Budd left the operations at Acton Bridge to his leading hand a blacksmith from Cardiganshire?

In 1850 The Chester Chronicle was advertising sheet zinc, saw mills and bone crushing facilities at Acton Bridge. The company address No 3 Harrington Street ... William Edward Maude's Liverpool office. Had John Budd sold out to a fellow Liverpool merchant?

The 1853 Gore's Directory of Liverpool indicates Richard Lloyd was in partnership with W E Maude, a Liverpool merchant and commission agent. Maude & Lloyd had offices in Peel Buildings at 3 Harrington Street. Although John Budd was still in the metal broking business at this time, it seems he sold the Acton Bridge Rolling Mills sometime between 1843 and 1850.

It seemed that William Edward Maude bought the factory and teamed up with managing technical partner Richard Lloyd.

But who was Richard Lloyd?

The 1851 census listed a Richard Lloyd (1809-) living at Gate Inn, Weaverham and identified by a transcriber as a 'Line Manufacturer'? However when the entry was inspected diligently ... 42 year old Richard Lloyd was born in Cardiganshire, married and occupied in work as a Zinc Manufacturer. This was confirmed on The Cheshire Electoral Roll of 1851, 'Richard Lloyd, Weaverham, Acton Bridge Zinc Works'. This suggested a birth date of 1809?

The 1841 census confirmed just one Richard Lloyd (1811-), a Blacksmith, who was born in Cardiganshire and living in Llanbadarn-Fawr. Wife Jane (1811-) and children Margaret (1835-), (born in Talybont?); Mary (1837-); Jane (1839-); both born in Llanbadarn. Also living with them was 10 year old Elizabeth Rees (1831-) ...

In 1835 Richard married Jane Rees. (Wales, Marriages, 1541-1900 - 06 Feb 1835, Llanbadarnfawr, Cardigan, Wales - Richard Lloyd, spouse: Jane Rees - indexing project (batch) number: M09870-1 system origin: Wales-ODM source film number: 105152)

The 1851 census indicated that during Richard's exploits with zinc at Acton Bridge, Jane stayed at home and was taken by young Samuel Evans, a Blacksmith at the lead mines, ten years her junior. The girls Margaret (1836-) and Mary (1838-) were with them but there was no sign of young Jane (1839-). By 1851 it appeared Jane had had two sons Richard (1843-) & Thomas (1845-) ... both Lloyds born in Llanbadarn ...

When & why Richard came to Acton was not clear? Why did he leave his family behind in Llanbadarn leaving Jane alone and tempted by a young buck from the lead mines with bulging biceps?

Was he recruited by John Budd? When did William Maude get involved?

Certainly after the court case John Budd's relationship with his partner would have been been shattered and the source of investment funds from the Ewbanks would have dried up. Clearly the prospects for the business were bright, why else would the Ewbanks try to give young Cooper full control?

Richard Lloyd had the technical expertise and William Maude, from a banking family, had the capital for investment ... however the initial trading appeared to be under the sole name of Richard Lloyd & Company.

An advert in 1853 Gore's Directory raises the suggestion that Maude & Lloyd were now sourcing their spelter from Silesia. For sure the Liverpool merchants were focused on international trade and sourcing their spelter from wherever and whenever a profit could be made. It seems the opportunity seized by William crockford in Flintshire was under almost immediate threat from imports. Technology spreads rapidly, patents only last for 15 years and then only if they can be enforced ... its seems comparative advantage was rapidly moving away from the extractive industries to manufacturing, and by 1850 England was leading the world in manufacturing technology.

A dusty report from the law times indicated William Maude & Richard Lloyd parted company in 1854 ... the Liverpool Mercury confirmed the dissolution of the partnership in 1855 ... it looked like Lloyd left the Acton Bridge interest to Maude, I wonder why?

After the dissolution an advert appeared in The Cheshire Observer - warehouse facilities on the Acton Bridge wharf suitable of corn or cheese factor, complete with crane & weighing machine - offered for letting ... ?

There was an ominous entry in the Cheshire Workhouse Records, 1848-1967 - Richard Lloyd, aged 50 years - on the 18th December 1855 - event: Death?

Interestingly there was an alternative Richard Lloyd & Company, mill furnishers from Birmingham, who could have purchased and modernised the Acton Bridge Mill ... but there is no supporting evidence?

From Peck's Trades Directory of Birmingham, 1896-97 - Richard Lloyd & Co mill furnishers, Galton Works, 135 Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham.

1803 - Company founded. Richard Lloyd & Co Ltd, Birmingham, importers and merchants of machine tools.
1880 - advert the engineer of 2nd January.
1884 - advert kelly’s directory of Worcestershire.
1903 - advert the motor of November.
1910 - catalogue of English & American machines, tools & engineering sundries, leather & textile beltings, pulleys, shafting & mill gearing.
1917 - canadian machinery - 'The Richard Lloyd & Co, Galton Works, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham, England will be pleased to hear from Canadian firms manufacturing machines and small tools who are seeking agents in Great Britain. Richard Lloyd & Co are large exporters and importers of high class engineers tools and supplies, being also contractors to H M government departments and British railways'.
1918 - private company.
1919 - make, import and factor tools.
1937 - engineers' supplies. 'Galtona' Small Tools.
1937 - Company made public.
1943 - name change.
1961 - engineers, manufacturers and suppliers of machine tool equipment including milling cutters, ground thread taps and engineers tools. 643 employees.

 

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