I happened to be at the National Archives today and had a few minutes spare, so I had a quick look
at the file for this company. There is very little on the file - brief notes follow and really just
confirm what has already been said. .
BT31/1348/2619 Shropshire Copper Co Ltd
Reg 13.6.1867. Obj – Acquire Shropshire Mining Co Ltd and lease of minerals in or under Westcott
Farm, and other parts of the Gatten Estate, Shropshire, demised by lease of 30 Dec 1865 between
Jonah Harrop Esq of one part and James Humby, Merchant.
Capital £45k 18,000 shares of £2.10s.
R/o 8 Northern Assurance Chambers, Tithebarn St, Liverpool
Largest shareholders Robert Curwen and Joshua Prowse, Merchant, Liverpool. Most shareholders from
Liverpool and others parts of Lancashire.
18.1.1866 – Shropshire Mining Co Ltd registered.
Extraordinary GM 25 May 1868 – to be Vol WU. - . T W Read, 30 Castle St, Lpool, Liqr.
Ex GM 8 Dec 1871 – VWU complete.
Russell Wear
----- Original Message -----
From: "Christopher Jones" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, April 09, 2010 7:06 PM
Subject: Re: The Shropshire Copper Co.Ltd, 1867
I can only add another slight detail, which may or may not have an archival trail...the financial
management of the Shropshire Mining Company Ltd, as directed by Mr Robert Curwen and James Humby of
Liverpool, seems to have annoyed some of its shareholders, one of whom took out a summons who appear
to have taken a summons out against the gentlemen named on the basis of a false declaration in the
prospectus issued in 1866. The summons was first heard and allowed at the Liverpool Police Court,
but when heard was dismissed at the magistrates - it may be reported in the Liverpool newspapers at
the time (March 1869). At the time the old company is described as never having made a dividend and
being merged with a new one- the Shropshire Copper Company Ltd.
I'll see if there's anything else on this.
Chris
----- Original Message ----
From: M J Shaw <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thu, 8 April, 2010 20:43:39
Subject: Re: The Shropshire Copper Co.Ltd, 1867
The information from Christopher Jones is very interesting, thank you all. I can now add a little
more.
Official statistics for Westcott mine quote
1867-70 Westcott Mine Co as owners
1867-9 John Kitto and
1870 James Nancarrow are agents
Why the concern made returns as Westcott Mine Co rather than Shropshire Copper Co Ltd I have no idea
The only other ref I have is:
Shropshire Archives 1709/54/3 - a receipt for a counterpart lease to Humby and Curwen of Westcott
Mine, 30-12-1865 (from Sprott Stokes and Turnbull (solicitors) bound calendar)
I have not found the original document. The land was in the Gatten Estate at that date owned by
Jonah Harrop.
Kelly’s Directory for 1870 notes that there was a copper mine at Gatten, I have no evidence that it
was worked in the late 1860s.
I know nothing but the PRO BT31 entry for Shropshire Mining Company Limited.
I hope that some of the above names might help others to add to the story.
Michael Shaw
----- Original Message ----- From: "Christopher Jones" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 2010 7:57 PM
Subject: Re: [mining-history] The Shropshire Copper Co.Ltd, 1867
Following on from Michael' comment, the London Gazette's official notices of the windingup show the
last notice as:
In the Matter of the Companies Acts, 1862 and
and 1867, and in the Matter of the voluntary
winding up of the Shropshire Copper Company
Limited.
NOTICE is hereby given, that in pursuance
of the 142nd section of the Companies
Act, 1862, a General Meeting of the Shareholders
of the Company will be held at the offices of the
undersigned, Thomas William Read, the Liquidator
of the said Company, situate at No. 30,
Castle-street, Liverpool, in the county palatine of
Lancaster, on Friday, the 8th day of December,
1871, at two o'clock in the afternoon, for the purpose
of having the account of the undersigned
Liquidator of the Company, showing the manner
in which the winding up has been conducted and
the property of the Company disposed of, laid
before the meeting, and hearing any explanation
that may be given by the Liquidator. — Dated this
28th day of October, 1871.
T. W. Read, Liquidator.
see: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/23791/pages/4481
3 Nov 1871, issue 23791, p.4481
-similar information, with Memoranda and articles of association and some shareholder returns should
be in the National Archives BT31 file:
BT 31/1348/3619
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=6&CATID=6028119
As far as I can find the company was registered 13 June 1867 to purchase and work the mines
belonging to the 'Shropshire Mining Company Limited'.
However, in the Gazette of 4 June 1869 we find the report of the winding up resolution, signed by
the Chairman, Robert Curwen:
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/23504/pages/3203 - this appoints the above liquidator.
The property and machinery would presumably then have been sold off. This seems to have included a
certain Westcott Farm, Gatten Estate, Shropshire - this property must feature in Shropshire archives
Gatten material?
The Shropshire Mining Company, registered 1866 also has a BT31 file:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=6&CATID=6027371
Oddly this earlier company sees to have take longer to kill off as its winding up seems to go on
(see the Gazette) until July 1874.
Chris
----- Original Message ----
From: M J Shaw <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wed, 7 April, 2010 16:26:33
Subject: Re: The Shropshire Copper Co.Ltd, 1867
I know of the company both from a share certificate which a list member told me of and from a
dissolved company reference in the PRO BT files (which I have not seen), otherwise I drew a blank on
them, I look forward to finding out more. There was a copper boom in the 1860s which included
Shropshire and various mines or trials which I would expect to have been (unsuccessfully) active at
that date I have no record of, Haytons Bent being the most likely, others include Yorton and various
places in the Weston/Whixhill area. Mines at Pimhill and Rednal were either active or being
investigated around that time, but in neither case do I know who by.
Michael Shaw
----- Original Message ----- From: "Bernard Moore" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 07, 2010 3:36 PM
Subject: [mining-history] The Shropshire Copper Co.Ltd, 1867
> Dear All,
>
> Mr Russel Wear of this List has kindly proved beyond any doubt that the
> above Co. was operating until 1869, therefore this Co. was extant and doing
> something between said dates...................
>
> Can anyone enlarge???
>
> Regards, Bernard
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