• Miscellaneous Information Home
• Transport In Somercotes
• Local Councils
• Featured Articles

Although the Saxelbye partnership and afterwards the Oakes family managed the overall business of the ironworks and associated collieries and ironstone mines, the day to day running of the company lay in the hand of the ironworks managers. It is true that during the early years David Mushet appeared to have been left to run the business on behalf of the partnership but during his absence from Pye Bridge on his many business trips Theodore Silverwood continued the work on his behalf. When Mushet finally left in the spring of 1810, Silverwood was appointed manager of the ironworks by the new owner, James Oakes. 

THE SILVERWOOD FAMILY

Theodore Silverwood (C.1872-1839) was probably born in 1772, and was baptised at Gainsborough, Lincolnshire on 11th July that year. His early life is not well documented and it is not known when he arrived at Pye Bridge, although he was living in the area by the very early 1800s. He married Ann Horsley at St. Martin of Tours Church at Alfreton on 25th May 1805 by which time it seems that he was already the “coal agent” working for Thomas Saxelbye & Company. Theodore must have been very well educated and appears to have specialised in geology. His name appears in several magazines regarding his work in the local area in relation to geological investigations and from the articles it can be assumed that he was held in high regard for his work. John Farey, in the Philosophical Magazine, Volume 43, published in 1814 wrote of Silverwood: “… but have therein, hardly done sufficient justice to his great kindness to me when on my Survey, or said all which I ought, of such a benefactor to the Science of Geology…” He seemed to have worked closely with David Mushet, but although it is documented that he was offered a position at the Whitecliff Iron Works with Mushet and Halford, he instead chose to continue his work at Pye Bridge.

It has already been noted that Theodore and his wife Ann were both much respected within the local community, having both been commemorated in Riddings church, but there is sadly little written about their work. The letters written by Silverwood to Mushet regarding the running of the ironworks shows a man who was not intimidated by the workforce and could, when called for, make hard business decisions, but it is likely that both he and his wife were prominent members of the communities of Pye Bridge, Somercotes and Riddings and paid sufficient heed to the physical and spiritual welfare of their neighbours. Theodore is listed in the Poll Book of 1826 as an “ironmaster of Somercoates” and also appears in the 1832 listing as a freeholder in the same village.

Theodore and Ann had several children (not all of whom appear below).

• Theodore Silverwood junior (1810-1838) was born at Pye Bridge in 1810, and baptised at St. Martin’s, Alfreton on 13th May the same year. Theodore junior was a partner in a grocery business with John Hollingworth, who came from a local family.  John died in December 1836, after which Theodore junior appears to have taken over the entire business. He married John’s sister, Ann Hollingworth on 27th June 1837 at Alfreton. He died on 27th March the following year, and a short obituary appeared in the Derbyshire Courier, dated 3rd March 1838: “On Tuesday 27th Ult. After a short but severe illness, to the regret of all who knew him, Mr. Theodore Silverwood, of Pye Bridge, aged 28 years, the youngest son of Mr. Silverwood, of Alfreton Iron Works.”

• Edward Silverwood (1837) was born at the end of August 1837 and was baptised at Alfreton on 21st September. He died just five days later, on the 26th, and was buried the same day in the churchyard of St. Martin’s. He was just three weeks old. Infant mortality during the 19th century was particularly high. During 1837 the burial register for St. Martin’s Church records a total of 36 burials for deaths in Somercotes, Riddings and Pye Bridge, of which 15 of these were children aged 5 years or under, including Edward Silverwood.

• William Silverwood (1805-1844) was the first born, in 1805. He was probably educated at Derby Grammar School and after completing his education returned to live at Somercotes. Not much about his life is documented, but it is thought that he worked with his father for James Oakes & Company. He was the sole executor of his brother Theodore’s Will, and his name appears in several editions of a newspaper notice advertising an auction for the sale of coal and ironstone under land at Bentley, near Walsall, although how he came to be involved with this is not known. His details in the newspaper notice are given as “William Silverwood Esq., Somercoates, near Alfreton, Derbyshire.” He died on 28th October 1844. The Leicester Chronicle printed a short obituary on 9th November: “On the 28th ult., at Somercoates, Derbyshire, in his 39th year, W. Silverwood, Esq.”

Theodore senior died on 3rd March 1839. His obituary was printed in the Derbyshire Courier published on 9th March: “On Sunday, the 3rd  instant, in the 67th year of his age at his residence, Somercoates, in this county, Mr. Theodore Silverwood, of the firm of Oakes and Co., Alfreton Iron-works. His loss will be deeply regretted not only by his family and more intimate acquaintances, but by the numerous workmen in his employ, and his neighbours generally, by whom he was deservedly esteemed for the undeviating uprightness and the comprehensive benevolence which marked his character during the long period of his residence amongst them”.

 

THE HORSLEY FAMILY

Erasmus Thomas Horsley (1802- 1871) was born in 1802, in Riddings (according to the 1871 census). He married Ann Watson at All Saints, West Bromwich on 10th March 1823. Although it is not known how he came to marry in West Bromwich, it is documented that sometime after this the family lived in Pye Bridge. It has already been noted that he became manager of the Alfreton Iron Works and is likely to have been employed by James Oakes & Company for many years. Despite this, the census return of 1851 lists the occupations of Erasmus as Engineer, Grocer and Miller. It is possible that he owned or leased other properties in Pye Bridge, as members of his family were listed as grocers and millers. Like Theodore Silverwood, Erasmus was an educated man who made certain that his children, at least the male line, were also suitably prepared for life by enrolling them at Derby Grammar School. Erasmus and Ann had many children several of which are listed below.

• William Horsley (1827-1870) was born in 1827 at Pye Bridge. After his education he married Sarah Burn of Shirland on 11th January 1849. He declared his occupation at the time of the marriage as a miller. A notice of the wedding was recorded in the following edition of the Derby Mercury: “At Alfreton on Thursday the 11th inst., by the Rev. H. Barlow, incumbent of Pitsmoor, Sheffield, Mr. Wm. Horsley, Pye Bridge, Alfreton to Sarah, only daughter of Mr. Burn, Shirland House.” The marriage sadly did not last long. The Derbyshire Courier on 8th September 1849 reported that: “On Saturday, Sept. 1st at Shirland House, the residence of her father, after a lingering illness, Sarah, the beloved wife of Mr. Wm. Horsley, Pye Bridge, in her 22nd year.” It seems that after the death of his wife William spent some time with his brother Charles at Islington, London, where Charles had made his family home. He was still only in his early twenties, and married his second wife, Ann Watson, in Islington on 16th October 1850. At some point shortly after the marriage William and Ann moved back to Pye Bridge, where they were recorded in the 1851 census return. Prior to the death of his first wife, Sarah, William was involved in a curious incident, reported in the Derbyshire Courier. A full transcription of the article, published on 11th August 1849 follows: “An accident of serious nature occurred at Pye Bridge, near Alfreton, on Monday last, to Mr. William Horsley, who was assisting his man take a wasp’s nest, with the aid of gunpowder, and while so doing he incautiously held the powder flask too near the fire, by which an explosion look place, blowing one of his thumbs nearly off, and lacerating his hand very much. Mr. Spencer, surgeon, was sent for, who attended to the case, and, we hear, he is doing well.” William died on 15th October 1870, his death being reported in the Derby Mercury on the 26th: “HORSLEY – On the 15th inst., at Pye Bridge, Alfreton, suddenly, Mr. William Horsley, aged 48. Friends will please accept this intimation.” He was buried in the churchyard at St. James, Riddings on 20th October 1870.

Painting by T Sampson, 1845. From left to right are Charles, Anne, William, Thomas, Elizabeth, Erasmus-James and Theodore Horsley. The portraits on the wall are of their parents Ann and Erasmus Thomas Horsley. The view through the window centre left is of the Brickfields, Derby.

 

• Charles Horsley (1829-1905) was born on 30th May 1829 at Pye Bridge, and baptised at St. Martin’s, Alfreton on 31st December 1833 with several of his siblings. He is arguably the most successful of Erasmus’s sons and his life is by far the best documented. He attended Derby Grammar School between 23rd July 1841 and 21st December 1845, the notation in the school admissions register reading “Son of Thos. Horsley, Engineer; Manager of Ironworks, Coal Mines (Oakes & Co.), Riddings, Alfreton…” After leaving the Grammar School he took an apprenticeship at Graham & Company, of the Milton Iron Works near Sheffield, and then worked for a company named Sylvestres. By 1851 Charles was living as a lodger at Alfred Place, St. Giles in the Field, London and gave his occupation as an engineer. He had moved to London and worked initially with Alfred Penny as agents for James Oakes & Company at their Wenlock Iron Wharf. When Penny left to establish his own business in 1850, Charles took over the agency becoming the London agent and civil engineer to the company, a role he continued until his death. He married Louisa Young at Nottingham in 1854, but the family made their home in Islington, London, which is where they were recorded in the 1861 census when Charles was documented as a Civil Engineer and Iron Agent. By 1871 Charles and Louisa had seven children. He became a Member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers in 1873, a Member of the Society of Engineers (and was its President in 1881), a Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers (elected 8th April 1892), and was named in a list of Fellows of the Astronomical Society in 1895. He was also a Justice of the Peace, and sat on various committees in association with this role. As well as working as agent for James Oakes & Company, he sat on the board of directors and was chairman for several water and gas companies. Charles died at Islington on 4th January 1905. An obituary was printed in the Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, published the same year: “Charles Horsley was born on 30th May 1829 at Pye Bridge, Derbyshire, and was educated at Derby Grammar School. Upon leaving there he went as a pupil to Messrs Graham and Co., Milton Iron Works, and thence to Messrs Sylvestres. Shortly after this he assisted in the erection of the tubular bridge over the Menai Straits. He then joined Mr. Alfred Penny, whom he ultimately succeeded, as London agent and consulting engineer to Messrs James Oakes and Co., of Alfreton, Derbyshire, which position he held until the day of his death. He invented a gas exhauster and also a syphon which have been extensively used in the gas world. He was one of the members of the Joint Committee of the Staines Reservoir Works from 1898 to 1905. For many years he was an active member of the Magisterial Bench for Middlesex, and in 1887 was one of the sixty chosen to carry on the work during the time the cities of London and Westminster were being amalgamated under the title of County of London. He, in conjunction with Mr. Torrance, was returned unopposed as one of the representatives of East Islington for the first London Council; he was chairman of several and director of many gas and water companies. His death took place at his residence in Highbury, London on 4th January 1905, in his seventy-sixth year. He became a member of this institution in 1873; he was also a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, and President of the Society of Engineers in 1881.”

• Erasmus James Horsley (1836-1885) was born at Pye Bridge on 18th September 1836 and baptised at Alfreton on 16th October the same year. Although baptised with the name Erasmus he only used the name James, even on official documents. Like his brothers, James studied at Derby Grammar School and afterwards returned to live at Pye Bridge. In 1861 both James and his brother William appear in the United Grand Lodge of England Freemason Membership Register both living at Pye Bridge and both described as “gentlemen”. It is likely that he worked for James Oakes & Company with his father at this time, as he described himself as an engineer of Pye Bridge on his marriage certificate, when he married Emma Smith at St. Michaels, Derby on 22nd February 1867. James and Emma are recorded in the census returns of 1871, 1881 and 1891 at Sherwood and Beeston, Nottingham when James gave his occupation as a coal agent. They had one son and appeared to be reasonably well-off, being able to afford to employ a servant throughout their married life. In 1901 James and Emma lived at Draycott, near Shardlow, Derbyshire and it is here that James died 1908.

• Thomas Horsley (1825-1885) was born at Pye Bridge in 1825, and he was baptised along with several of his siblings on 31st December 1833 at Alfreton. After attending Derby Grammar School he returned to live at Pye Bridge and his name appears in several newspapers in 1845 when he is listed as “Thomas Horsley Esq., Pye Bridge, Derbyshire” on the provisional committees of both the West Midland Railway and the Derby, Gainsborough and Great Grimsby Junction Railway. After his marriage to Eliza Tempest in 1849 he moved to Boythorpe, Chesterfield where he worked as an engineer. He continued to move with his family, living at Kirkby Old Hall, where he is documented in the 1861 and 1871 census returns, but by 1881 the family had settled at Kings Newton, near Melbourne, Derbyshire. By this time Thomas is described as a civil engineer. He died in November 1885 and was buried in Melbourne Churchyard.

Erasmus Thomas Horsley continued to live in Pye Bridge and work for James Oakes & Company until his retirement. The relationship between Erasmus and the Oakes family does not seem to be always congenial, but there can be no doubt that he was well respected by the family, as he and several of his sons worked for the company for many years. Erasmus died in 1871 and he left instructions in his Will that his household possessions were to be sold by auction. The auction was extensively advertised in local newspapers, and gives a picture of a wealthy middle class gentleman who lived in one of the largest houses in the area at the time. The house itself was not for sale. It was probably Pye Bridge House, owned by James Oakes & Company and rented to Erasmus in his position of ironworks manager, although it seems that he still occupied the house after his retirement. The list of furniture and effects sold show the great contrast between a person in a position of authority, like Erasmus, and the ordinary ironworker or miner, some of which earned barely enough to survive. The contrast is also evident in the family as a whole. Erasmus could afford to send his male children to an expensive school for their education, whilst his daughters were expected to marry within their social class or higher. For the ironworker and miner, however, his male children were expected to work from an early age, often seven or eight years old, in order to support themselves and the family. Daughters would help keep the home, and when a little order probably enter service as a domestic servant until they married. A full transcription of the auction notice follows, from the Derbyshire Times & Chesterfield Herald, published on 8th July 1871.

By Messrs Carter and Son

PYE BRIDGE, NEAR ALFRETON

JAMES CARTER and SON are instructed by the Executors of the late Mr. E. T. Horsley, to SELL BY AUCTION on MONDAY, TUESDAY, and WEDNESDAY, the 17th, 18th, and 19th days of JULY, 1871, the whole of the HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE AND EFFECTS at his late residence, situate at Pye Bridge, near Alfreton, and comprising the usual contents of a genteel Family Residence, consisting of large quantity of Sitting Room and Bed Boom FURNITURE, A FINE-TONED CHAMBER ORGAN, in richly carved Rosewood case, by Bevington and Sons, height 9ft. 3in., depth 3ft. 1in., width, 4ft. 9in. with 7 Stops, one octave of Pedals, and five Composition Pedals, can be blown by the hand or foot, and is well adapted for either a Gentleman's Private Residence or a place of Worship; an elegant stock of richly Cut Glass and China, including A FINE COLLECTION OF OLD DERBY CHINA, consisting of a splendid Desert Service, known as "The Shewsbury Pattern," a quantity of Landscape and other pattern Plates, Cups, Saucers, &c.: a very fine pair of large Bottles with Landscapes painted by Prince, Ablett, and others: sundry Plated Articles of first-rate quality, excellent Feather Beds and Blankets, elegant Library Furniture, sundry Framed and Unframed Engravings, a small but choice collection of Cabinet and other Pictures, by Mrs. Carpenter, Tennant, and other eminent Artists, a carefully selected Library of Books, a powerful and complete Microscope in case, by Dollond, and a large Telescope and Stand by the same eminent maker; a quantity of Greenhouse and other Plants in pots, a genteel Phaeton and Lamps, sets of Harness, sundry Yard, Garden, and Stable Implements, &c., as per catalogues, which will be ready ten days prior to the Sale, and may be had by post or otherwise, on application to the Auctioneers, Clumber Street, Nottingham; or at the Residence, Pye Bridge, near Alfreton.

Order of Sale. First Day - House-place, Entrance Hall, Library and Books, Mircroscope, Telescope, &c., Bed Rooms No. 4 and 5, Servant's Bed Room, Laundry, and Bath Rooms. Second Day - Servant's Sitting Room, Glass, China, Old Derby China, Pictures, Drawings, Engravings, and Drawing Room contents. Third Day - Cooking Kitchen and Larder, Dining Room, Plated Goods, Bed Rooms No. 1, 2, and 3, Stable and Coach-house, Yard, and Out-houses, Garden and Greenhouse, Tool-house, &c. The sale will commence each day at Eleven o'clock. On view, by Holders of Catalogues only, on Thursday and Friday, the 13th and 14th days of July, from Eleven to Four o'clock.