Dewrance & Co. Ltd was a manufacturer of engine and boiler accessories, such as pumps and gauges.

History

It was established in London in 1835 as a partnership by Joseph Woods, with John Dewrance. It was involved in the building of the locomotive ''Lion'' in 1838 for the

Liverpool and Manchester Railway The Liverpool and Manchester Railway (L&MR) was the first inter-city railway in the world. It opened on 15 September 1830 between the Lancashire towns of Liverpool and Manchester in England. It was also the first railway to rely exclusively ...

. In 1844 after Wood's death the firm became a company specialising in manufacturing engine and boiler accessories. It produced a brass pressure gauge for

Lloyd's Register Lloyd's Register Group Limited (LR) is a technical and professional services organisation and a maritime classification society, wholly owned by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a UK charity dedicated to research and education in science and ...

of shipping to pressure-test ships' boilers before insuring them. Such gauges have become collectable. A pair are on display at the

Internal Fire – Museum of Power The Internal Fire Museum of Power is a museum of internal combustion engines in West Wales. The museum's collection is mostly of larger stationary diesel engines, as used for generating sets and pumping stations. The museum is located at Tan-y-gr ...

. Dewrance died in 1861 and left the business to his son. The firm's introduction of the groove-packed plug cock in 1875 was a major innovation because it made steam safety valves easier to operate. Sir John Dewrance, who was married to the granddaughter of

Richard Trevithick Richard Trevithick (13 April 1771 – 22 April 1833) was a British inventor and mining engineer. The son of a mining captain, and born in the mining heartland of Cornwall, Trevithick was immersed in mining and engineering from an early age. He w ...

took over the business in 1879. In 1937 after Dewrance's death it became a wholly owned subsidiary of

Babcock & Wilcox Ltd Babcock International Group plc is a British aerospace, defence and nuclear engineering services company based in London, England. It specialises in managing complex assets and infrastructure. Although the company has civil contracts, its main b ...

. In 1961 it had 2,000 employees. The firm was sold by

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in 1998 to

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. It was then operating from

Skelmersdale Skelmersdale is a town in Lancashire, England, on the River Tawd, west of Wigan, northeast of Liverpool and southwest of Preston. In 2006, it had a population of 38,813. The town is known locally as Skem . While the first record of the tow ...

Dewrance family

John Dewrance

John Dewrance conducted experiments on the distribution of heat in steam boilers. There are claims he was responsible for the construction of

George Stephenson George Stephenson (9 June 1781 – 12 August 1848) was a British civil engineer and mechanical engineer. Renowned as the "Father of Railways", Stephenson was considered by the Victorians a great example of diligent application and thirst for ...

’s locomotive the

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and for supporting it at the Rainhill trials. He was appointed Locomotive Superintendent of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway from 1840 to 1844 during which time his designs at the Edge Hil workshops were noted for their neatness. In October 1845 he entered the employ of the

Great Southern and Western Railway The Great Southern and Western Railway (GS&WR) was an Irish gauge () railway company in Ireland from 1844 until 1924. The GS&WR grew by building lines and making a series of takeovers, until in the late 19th and early 20th centuries it was the ...

of Ireland and was selected from three candidates as Locomotive Superintendent in March 1847 at a salary of £300 pera anuum with housing assistance. He was immediately seconded to locomotive manufacturer

William Fairbairn & Sons William Fairbairn and Sons, was an engineering works in Manchester, England. History William Fairbairn opened an iron foundry in 1816 and was joined the following year by a Mr. Lillie, and the firm became known as Fairbairn and Lillie Engine Mak ...

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, London to gain experience. Following a review in October 1947 his services were dispensed with due to claim his remuneration was inappropriately high for his abilities. He was then appointed Locomotive Superintendent by the rival

Midland Great Western Railway The Midland Great Western Railway (MGWR) was the third largest Irish gauge () railway company in Ireland. It was incorporated in 1845 and absorbed into the Great Southern Railways in 1924. At its peak the MGWR had a network of , making it Irela ...

(MGWR) of Ireland, again for £300 per annum with a house in Cabra Road, Dublin. Following the decision of the MGWR director's to let the operation of the line Dewrance was released with three months salary. Dewrance died in 1861 and left the business to his son.

Sir John Dewrance

Sir John Dewrance, who was educated at

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and then at

King's College London King's College London (informally King's or KCL) is a public research university located in London, England. King's was established by royal charter in 1829 under the patronage of King George IV and the Duke of Wellington. In 1836, King's ...

before marrying the granddaughter of

, took over the business in 1879. He took out 114 patents relating to steam fittings and boiler mountings. He was involved with the

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. In 1899 he became chairman of Babcock & Wilcox Ltd. From 1920 to 1926 he was the President of the

Engineering Employers’ Federation Make UK, formerly the Engineering Employers' Federation, represents manufacturers in the United Kingdom. Purpose Make UK provides businesses with advice, guidance and support in employment law, employee relations, health, safety, climate and envi ...

. Dewrance died in 1937 with the firm becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of

. The Sir John Dewrance prize is awarded to the two best mechanical engineering students each year at City University.

Recognition

One of the

GWR Hawthorn Class The Great Western Railway Hawthorn Class were broad gauge steam locomotives for passenger train work. This class was introduced into service in 1865, a development of the Victoria Class. Twenty locomotives were ordered from Slaughter, Grünin ...

locomotives built by

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was named after the company in 1865.

British Empire Medal The British Empire Medal (BEM; formerly British Empire Medal for Meritorious Service) is a British and Commonwealth award for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown. The current honour was created in 1922 to ...

s were awarded to Arthur Edgar Caswallon Evans, a Brass Turner in the

1946 New Year Honours The 1946 New Year Honours were appointments by many of the Commonwealth Realms of King George VI to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries, and to celebrate the passing of 1945 and the beginnin ...

, to Jasper Sidney Jeal, a Centre Lathe Turner in the

1953 Coronation Honours The 1953 Coronation Honours were appointments by Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours on the occasion of her coronation on 2 June 1953. The honours were published in ''The London Gazette'' on 1 June 1953.New Zealand list: The reci ...

and to Maud Unwin, a Fettler, in the

1956 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 1956 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. They were announced on 2 January 1956 to celebrat ...

. James McWaters Storey, the Managing Director, was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the

1959 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 1959 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. They were announced on 30 December 1958 to celeb ...

. The firm's archives are held in the British National Archives.

Notes

References

* *Dewrance Sir J 1912, letter to Science Museum, Nominal file 565 * *Hastings R 1843, The Chemist, Volume 4 *Knight J & Lacey H 1844, The Mechanics Magazine, Volume 41 * * * *Thomas, R.H.G. 1960, The Liverpool & Manchester Railway, Batsford, London *Transactions 1938, Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland, Volume 81 * Manufacturing companies based in London 1835 establishments in England Manufacturing companies established in 1835 British companies established in 1835