Edge-tool making in Chew Magna

Somerset is well documented as having had a number of edge-tools makers, notably the
Fussells dynasty (James, John & Isaac) of Mells and Nunney, but also Robert Coombs at
Doulting, Arthur Steeds at Gurney Slade and also WC Padfield & Sons.

It is known that there were edge-tool works at Chew Magna, this essay explores what
little is known of them in a little more detail. John Collinson in his opus: The History
and Antiqutities of the County of Somerset published in 1791 mentions that:

‘….its only manufacture are a few edge-tools and stockings.’

Collinson’s work was offered for subscription in 1784, so it is probable his research was
done earlier, indicating that there was an edge tool works in existence in the 1780’s or
earlier.

Collinson also mentions that in the Domesday book the demense of Chew Magna had
three mills worth 20 shillings each, and that the manor had two worth 10 shillings each.
This indicated that the river Chew, and the tributaries, the Winford brook, that rises to
the east near Winsford, and the Littleton brook provided water power for a large
number of mills within the boundary of a relatively small town (now more of a village).

That the streams provided adequate power is shown in Benjamin Donn’s 1769 map of
the Eleven Miles Around Bristol. There was a snuff mill situated at Winford, and
between there and Chew Magna there were two gunpowder mills. It is difficult to see on
the map the positions of the mills at Chew Magna, but an archaeological survey
published in 2003 indicates there were still four in the 18th century(1).

Part of Donn’s Map of 1769

In 1792 William Acraman, a Bristol merchant, ship owner and engineer built a new mill
in the village, with ten workers cottages in Battle Lane. The new mill, thereafter known
as Acraman’s Mill, allowed him to establish or enlarge the existing edge tool making
there. Acraman had considerable interests in Bristol in ship building and engineering..

Acraman and Sons - Anchor makers, of Bristol.

1800 'Tuesday night, two trowmen, belonging to a Severn and Wye trow,
having stolen an anchor from Messrs. Acraman and Sons, one of them going
down the ladder of the Quay-wall, Bristol, and using the most impious
language whilst in this act of wickedness, the anchor fell on his head and killed
him. (2)

In 1801 a Miss Lydia Acraman married a Robert Blinman(?) Dowling of Chew Magna. (3)

The Acramans also had some sort of business partnership with Robert Blinman
Dowling, as in 1814 he was listed as the joint owner of a three mast ship with others ,
two of whom were named as John Acraman. (4) Later the Acraman’s owned, or part
owned, many other ships registered in Bristol, and were also agents for the East India
Company.

Extract from Records of Bristol Ships 1800-1838

The Record of Bristol Ships is also a useful reference as the index lists the various
combinations of family members over a period from about 1811 to 1838.

Extract from the Index of the Record of Bristol Ships 1800-1838

In 1823 the works was producing edge tools, including shovels and spades, and frying
pans. It was also producing brass and copper items. (5)
William Acraman died in March 1825, and the edge tool works passed to two of his sons,
but the works were initially managed by Lydia Dowling (1771 -1836) sister to John
Acraman (see above), and the wife of R D Dowling (1771-1848)..

The family business was later taken over by the heirs of William:

W. D. and W. E. Acraman - William Daniel Acraman and William Edward

Acraman (Successors to Acraman and Sons??)
The firm was in existence by 1823. By the 1830s it had become D. E.
and A. Acraman (Daniel, Edward and Alfred Acraman, iron and tin
plate merchants, wholesale ironmongers, iron and brass founders
and engineers, Patentees and manufacturers of patent proved chain
cables and anchors, Shalder's patent fountain pumps The business
was ultimately to become Acramans, Morgan & Co (6)

The baptism records for the Parish(7) from 1813 to 1825 lists a number of edge tool
makers, spade makers and blacksmiths. In each case only the earliest date for each name
is shown: many appearing several times for the baptism of other children.

1813 - Henry Howell edge-tool maker

1813 - John Moss
1814 - James Proviss
1814 - Benjamin Pardoe
1814 - Simon Sinegar (Sonegar in 1822)
1815 - William Veale
1816 - William Foards
1817 - Thomas Veale (spade maker in 1813??)
1817 - John Slocombe
1818 - James Rendle
1819 - John Foards (John Ford in 1829??)
1819 - James Veal
1823 - Benjamin Lyde
1825 - Edward Carter

1813 - John Gover blacksmith

1814 - James Gate
1817 - Josiah Emery (possibly recorded as Joshua in 1825 and Emmery in 1829)
1819 - Samuel Gover
1820 - William Bennett
1821 - Isaak Dagger

1813 - Thomas Veale spademaker

1816 - John Moss (edge-tool maker in 1813??)
1818 - Ambrose Hill
1825 - William Powell
The baptism records for the Parish(8) from 1826 to 1840 continue to list the father’s
occupation..

1826 – William Foord edge-tool maker

1826 – William Toombs
1828 – John Moss
1829 – Thomas Veale
1829 – John Ford
1830 – William Powell
1831 – William Rebdall
1833 – Thomas Carter

1828 – James Gover blacksmith

1829 – Joshua Emmery
1829 – Isaac Dagger
1830 – Samuel Gover
1831 – John Travis
1833 – Harding Chiswell
1834 – James Travis
1835 – Henry Gover
1835 - John Smith
1836 – Howden Chiswell
1836 – Henry Flower
1836 – John Ford (possibly the same listed as an edge-tool maker in 1829)
1839 - Thomas Ford
1840 - James Rendall
1840 - John Rendall

1827 – Richard Smith grinder

1828 – William Powell spademaker (listed as edge-tool maker in 1830)

1835 – Thomas Veales (also edge-tool maker in 1828 and 1832)

1836 – John Smith toolmaker (listed as a smith in 1835??)

It is not certain that all the blacksmiths listed above worked for Acramans, some may
have worked in the village smithy, but it does indicate that during that period the works
employed a large number of workers.

The Veales, Flower and Toombs families are listed in the Parish records prior to 1812(9)
– their trades are not given, but it is possible some of them worked at edge-tool making
pre 1792.

Matthews Directory of Bristol for 1836 shows:

and

John McArthur, a third generation of the Glasgow based iron-founders, came to work for
Acraman in 1838, but left in 1839 when he and Charles Morgan bought the works at
Chew Magna (Morgan may be the same who become the partner with Acraman – see
above)(10).

Acraman’s helped to build the SS Great Britain at Bristol, but in 1842 the company
crashed with debts of £75,000.

In 1848 the mill was sold to the Bristol Waterworks Company and the buildings
demolished. The site, although not directly flooded, became part of the compensation
reservoir. The cottages in Battle lane were sold – one still exists(11).

Thus the edge tool making in Chew Magna came to an end, and the workers retired or
dispersed to other firms.

Some workers moved to Underwood’s edge tool works in Coaley, Glos

The 1851 Census for Coaley shows:

George Veale
Charles Veale
Thomas Carter
Thomas Flower
William Rendall (Rebdall???)
James ??????

All of whom were born in Chew Magna (12)…

It is possible some of the smiths did not work in the edge-tool works, or started up on
their own after closure. In Hunt’s Directory of 1850, James and Samuel Gover are listed
as blacksmiths, as is Samuel Palmer (not listed above).
McArthur’s became a well established Bristol company who, under the trading name of
MGL Distribution, after five generations and 175 years of trading, finally closed their
doors in 2014.

Addenda:

The Acraman Family Tree (13) shows some interesting additions to the previous
information…

William (1) Acraman (1679-1721) m Joanne (née Hodges) (1676-1718)

John (1) Acraman (1712-1758) m Ann (no details)

William (2) Acraman (1740-1825) m Lydia (née Wade) (1739-1791) - founder of works

William and Lydia had six children:

John (1767-1767) recorded as Akerman

William (3) (1769-1830) m Elizabeth (????? died 1853)
Mary (1770 -???)
Lydia (1771-1836) m RB Dowling (1771-1848) - partner with John Acraman(??)
John (1772-1836) m Elizabeth Hood (1770-1853)
Daniel Wade (1775-1847) m Anne Priest (1775-1803) m Maria (?) after ??
Joseph Farthing (1779-1857)

Daniel Wade had a son William Edward (1799-1874) who is most likely the WE who
became a partner with WD (query his father??) although there is another Daniel (1801-
1879) a great grandson of William (1), or William (3) may have a second Christian
name, not recorded on the family tree..

Who was Alfred (the third Acraman listed in 1836)?? There was an Alfred John
Acraman (1809-1880) son of William (3), nephew of Daniel Wade and cousin to
William Edward, are these three (in bold) the partners of D.E. & A Acraman??

From the Record of Bristol Ships 1800-1838 this appears to be confirmed…

Owners of the William Money, a three mast square rigger, registered in Bristol in 1838

In 1835 the Bristol Mirror reported the death of Lydia Acraman Dowling (1802-1835):
her mother died a year later in 1836. As earlier Lydia senior was reported as running
the edge-tool business for her brothers (William, John(?), Daniel Wade & Joseph
Farthing(?)), if she was still involved, it may explain why it in 1839 was sold to Morgan
and McArthur.
Further research may uncover more details.

No known edge tools bearing the stamp of Acraman or Morgan & McArthur have yet
been discovered, but it is possible a few still exist. They were known to supply iron and
equipment to Harveys of Hayle (Engine Builders) (14) so it is likely that they also supplied
iron, shovels and tools etc directly to the tin mines of Devon and Cornwall: thus it’s
possible some may be found there…

References and sources to be added…

(1) http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/sites/default/files/chew_magna_eus_report.pdf

(2) http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Acraman_and_Sons

(6) http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/W._D._and_W._E._Acraman

(7)http://paternoster.orpheusweb.co.uk/famhistory/somerset/transcripts.htm

(8) op cit

(9) op cit

(10) https://www.flickr.com/photos/brizzlebornandbred/2130887132 notes by Paul

Townsend
(14) Men of iron, the history of McArthurs, H S Torrens, 1984 – p35-36

Mathews Annual Directory for Bristol 1836, available on-line at Google books:
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Zs7_x5xwx_oC&pg

Bob Burgess © 2017