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Oakes Family Tree (showing the heads of the family business in red)

1. James Oakes 1750-1828: James became a major shareholder and partner in the Riddings Ironworks, which was founded in 1800. He became the sole owner of the company in 1817 until his death in 1828. His father was Benjamin Oakes (1712-1765) from Derby. The family were innkeepers and carriers of St. Peter’s Street, in the town.  He married Dorethea Snape at Weeford, Staffordshire on 30 May 1786.

2. James Oakes 1788-1845: James was the son of James and Dorothea. He was born in Derby in 1788. He inherited the family business in 1828 on the death of his father, and remained head of the family firm until his own death in 1845. In 1814 he married Sarah Haden, who was the daughter of Thomas Haden, surgeon and twice Mayor of Derby.

3. James Oakes 1816-1868: James was the eldest son of James and Sarah. He was born at Riddings in 1816 and inherited the business on the death of his father in 1845. He married Marian Milnes in 1846. James and Marian did not have any children, and on his death in 1868 the business was inherited by his brother, Thomas Haden Oakes.

4. Thomas Haden Oakes 1819-1902: Thomas was born in Riddings in 1819. He inherited the family business on the death of his brother James, who died without issue. Thomas ran the business with the help of his brother Charles Henry until his death in 1902. Thomas never married, and also died without issue. The estate passed to his brother, Charles Henry Oakes. The two windmills built at Riddings by Thomas were named after his parents, James and Sarah in their honour.

5. Charles Henry Oakes 1825-1906: Charles Henry lived at Hollyhurst House, Riddings. In 1856 he married Georgina Macklin, daughter of the Reverend Rosingrave Macklin, Vicar of Christ Church, Derby. Over the years he had helped run the family business but only became head of the company on the death of his brother, Thomas Haden in 1902. He died in 1906, just four years later.

6. James Oakes 1858-1921: James was born at Riddings, Derbyshire, the eldest son of Charles Henry Oakes. James inherited the business on the death of his father in 1906. Under his stewardship, Riddings Ironworks was sold to Stanton Ironworks Co of Ilkeston in 1920. He did not marry, and died without issue in 1921. In his Last Will & Testament he left Riddings House and the grounds to his sister Georgina Francis Oakes for life (she died unmarried in 1946). The rest of the estate was left to his brother Charles Henry Oakes II.

7. Charles Henry Oakes II 1863-1929: Charles was born in 1863. He married Frances Catherine Balfour in 1894. Charles inherited the business from his brother James in 1921, and continued as head of the company until his death in 1929. Charles inherited the estate bypassing his elder brother Gerard Rosingrave Oakes, who was serving as a Major in the British Army. He died without issue, and on his death the business interests passed to his nephew, Charles Audouin Macklin Oakes, son of Gerard Rosingrave.

8. Charles Audouin Macklin Oakes 1907-1969: Charles was born at Felley Priory in 1907, the son of Gerard Rosingrave and Margaret Ethel Oakes. He inherited the business assets from his uncle Charles Henry in 1929. The vast majority of changes to the company were made during Charles’s time. In 1947 the collieries were nationalised and the company changed its name to Oanco. The brickworks and pipeyard at Pye Hill were sold the Hepworth Company in 1972 and other business interests were sold. In 1958 he was appointed the High Sheriff of Derbyshire. Charles died in 1969.