The Builders of the Severn Valley Railway - Snapshot on 7th April 1861
This article considers the workers engaged in constructing the Severn Valley Railway at the time of the April 1861 census.
The 1861 Census taken on 7th April allows an overview of the workers involved in the construction of the Severn Valley Railway both for the contractors Brassey, Peto and Betts and the promoters, the Severn Valley Railway Company, albeit when opening was only 10 months away. The work started on 14th August 1858 and in John Fowler's report of February 1861 to the Railway Company's Board he said that 35 miles (out of 40) of cuttings and embankments were complete with 21 miles ballasted and permanent way laid. Many of the structures were also nearing completion and the station buildings commenced. Therefore, the analysis has its limitations as many of the 'navvies' would have moved on to other construction sites. The navvies in Shropshire in this census were previously analysed by Iris L Harris in a chapter in Trinder's 'Victorian Shrewsbury' in 1984. This article goes back to the original census records and adds on those for Worcestershire and Staffordshire (Upper Arley was in Staffordshire at this time) to give a complete picture. It also summarises the workers geographically along the line with references to their birthplace, status and age.
Approach[edit | edit source]
The census was undertaken by enumerators and split into Districts and by individual properties. It records those present with age, status (relationships, occupation and birthplace). It is handwritten (sometimes indecipherable) and subject to the vagaries of the enumerator in the records. In determining whether the individual worked on the construction, the use of 'railway labourer' or 'excavator on railway' together with proximity to the route was key. At each end of the line, a railway was already operational with the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway opening between Hartlebury and Kidderminster in 1852 and at Shrewsbury 3 lines – Shrewsbury and Chester in 1848, Shrewsbury to Birmingham/Stafford in 1849, and Shrewsbury to Hereford in 1853. There was one line under construction from Shrewsbury at the time of the census which was the Shrewsbury and Welshpool Railway; however, it had opened as far as Minsterley by the end of February 1861.
Meanwhile in the Coalbrookdale area, a branch to Lightmoor from Madeley Junction[note 1] was opened in 1854 with freight services operating on a separate line between Wellington and Horsehay Iron Works from 1857 and to Lightmoor in May 1859. Apart from the Severn Valley line where construction began in the summer of 1858, two other lines – the Wenlock and Severn Valley Junction Railway[note 2] (with contractors Brassey and Field, designer John Fowler) and the London and North Western Railway branch from Hadley to Coalport were under construction. The latter was finished in September 1860 (contractor Messrs Meakin) allowing freight trains to operate although it didn't run passenger services until 10th June 1861. The Wenlock branch opened at the same time as the Severn Valley Railway on 1st February 1862 having commenced in March 1860. The Resident Engineer was Joseph Fogherty aged 30, born in Limerick Ireland, and boarding in Eastfield Cottage in Coalbrookdale. Charles Walker's book 'Thomas Brassey, Railway Builder', refers to a 5-mile contract in Coalbrookdale being designed by John Fowler and opened in 1862 in addition to the Wenlock contract. This may be a mistake as the extension (Buildwas to Lightmoor) was only 3 miles long although built by Brassey and Field with work commencing in middle of 1861 on the northern half, opening on 1 November 1864.
Used to operate the existing railways, the standard railway occupations of porter, clerk, driver, stoker, pointsman, platelayer, guard, checker and station master have been excluded. The exception being in the areas well away from the lines (eg Bridgnorth). The contractor laid temporary tracks for hauling spoil with his own locomotives employed (witness the newspaper reported accidents) and laid the permanent way using platelayers. In these cases, small numbers of such designations have been included. In addition, entries with occupations of 'railway contractor or sub-contractor', 'railway carpenter' or 'railway mason' and 'railway timekeeper' have also been included. The latter's inclusion is justified by their use away from the operational lines – likely to refer to men employed to record the attendance of navvies at work. This was particularly important for the contractor who was constructing lines in the same area (Coalbrookdale) paid for by different promoters. They might work on the SVR contract on one day and the Wenlock one on another day. The SVR Company employed staff can be noted by the designation 'Civil Engineer' and 'Clerk of Works'.
Thomas Brassey from near Nantwich was, by the census time, age 55 a formidable contractor. He was to join with Samuel Morton Peto, age 51 from near Woking and Edward Ladd Betts 45 from near Dover in building the line. Brassey had a fine record of constructing new railway lines in the area – the 35 miles of the Shrewsbury and Chester line opened in 1848 and the 50 miles of the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway opened in 1853 with the Crewe and Shrewsbury, 32 miles long, completed in 1858 with Miles Day as agent. His connection with Shrewsbury was cemented by his wife's sister marrying William Field (Contractor) of Quarry House. He was already working on the Worcester and Hereford Railway, 26 miles long with Stephen Ballard as partner and agent when work started on the Severn Valley line. Brassey's method of working was based on a pyramid with himself at the top (with partners) supported by trusted agents who were reliably used to carry out his instructions. Below these were the sub-contractors who built part of the contract to an agreed price. Beneath these were the gangers each in charge of around ten men – the labourers.
Charles Walker reports that Brassey appointed four agents to manage the Severn Valley contract on site by residing along the route – Miles Day 49 from Stockport living in Wribbenhall (previously the agent for Brassey on the Shrewsbury and Crewe Railway), Thomas Dorrell 38 from Herefordshire living at 20 Oldbury Village, Bridgnorth, John Dent 50 from Durham living at Belle View Head, Shrewsbury and William Field who by April 1861 was working on the Wenlock Railway and appointed partner and agent on the Knighton Railway, so had been replaced by William Drewitt 49 of Worthen Shropshire who resided at Mountfield, Shrewsbury. All were married with family present. Records of labourers/excavators in Shrewsbury Districts (excluding Condover as it was on the Shrewsbury and Hereford line) and Kidderminster/Hartlebury have been included. 'Railway labourer' was not a definite designation as an occupation on a working railway (the exception being 'shed labourer') but a number in the attached lists may have been employed by the Railway Company on improvement works. In the case of the Buildwas, Ironbridge and Coalport areas, only records for the Districts of Buildwas, Broseley and Madeley (covering Ironbridge) have been included. Those for Much Wenlock and Barrow (87 records) are assumed to be employed on building the Wenlock and Severn Junction Railway; Thomas Harrison Seacome, age 31, was Brassey's Agent for that railway, residing at 33 Sheinton Street, Much Wenlock. Those for Wellington, Dawley, Wombridge, and Wrockwardine (80 records) are assumed to be employed on the extensive railways and tramways run by the ironworks and coal mines in the area as well as new works from Lightmoor to Coalbrookdale and the Hadley to Coalport branch. Brassey paid his men well, the average wage being around £3 per day which compared well with that for an agricultural labourer at £1 per day. Many worked on his many contracts, transferring from one railway contract to another.
Findings[edit | edit source]
The attached table summarises the snapshot of navies and other staff working in the vicinity of the branch in April 1861. It groups the locations working from north to south. The average age was 32 with the youngest (William Jones and George Smith) aged 11 lodging at Cressage and Wribbenhall, alongside older brothers. The oldest was Duncan Walker aged 74 employed as 'Railway Timekeeper' and lodging in Holy Cross, Shrewsbury. 33% were married, with 12% living with family members and 56% lodging. It should be noted that in a few cases married workers were also in a boarding house. The birthplaces were spread over the whole country but the highest recorded locations were locally 29%, Ireland 19% and West Midlands counties (excluding Shropshire, Worcestershire or Staffordshire where they were deemed local) 15%. 7 were born abroad and that appeared to be when their fathers were working on foreign contracts.
Shrewsbury - As railway construction in the area had been underway for fifteen years, it is of little surprise that the majority of workers were married and living in their own properties in the area close to the river and the station. Streets with high numbers were Coleham, Pump Street, Factory Yard, Nags Head Lane, Pickens Court, New Park Road, Ditherington (some of these streets have been built over). There were quite a few registered lodging houses taking in the labourers with many of the married men from Ireland also taking in a lodger from the same area. Pump Street, Coleham, Factory Yard and Pickens Court/Bell Shut saw a aggregation of Irish workers. There were a couple of Public Houses who hosted groups of labourers. As recorded above, it is quite likely that a number of the 218 recorded were employed by the operational railways rather than on construction of the Severn Valley Railway.
Cressage - Most workers were lodgers with fewer being married in this rural location. In Sheinton there were 3 large railway huts, two headed by 63 years old John Galley from Gloucestershire and 40 years old John Taylor who was described as 'Railway Contractor'. Both were married with children and had 3 and 6 lodging in the huts. There were also a large temporary building housing 10 labourers. There was a further railway hut in Cressage again headed by a married worker from Penkridge, Joseph Biddeford aged 38 looking after 4 labourers. Cressage Farm hosted 8 labourers with the Eagle Inn housing 5 and a lodging house in School Road taking in 4 from Ireland. In Berrington there were again 2 married workers – George Geran 30 from Staffordshire and Charles Egg 36 from Lancashire. They cared for 5 and 7 workers respectively. A 'Railway Contractor', John Gombs from Oxfordshire, resided nearby with his 3 children.
Ironbridge – The summary stretches from Buildwas to Coalport with workmen residing on both sides of the river, able to cross it using the bridges at Ironbridge and Coalport. Overall, this area has the greatest concentration with 295 navvies. There were significant earthworks and structures to construct but more than has been assumed, could have been employed on neighbouring contracts (see above). There was a history of transient labourers living in the area employed in the ironworks and coal pits as well as early railways and tramroads. The Broseley records refer to the west bank and the Madeley ones to the east bank. There were many properties used as lodgings on the Broseley side in Hockley, King Street (Irish community), Broseley Wood, Lloydhead, Werps (outbuildings referred to), Tuckies Field (also Irish grouping) and Malthouse. They were usually headed by a married contractor – eg Thomas Hosper referred to as 'Railway Contractor' from Gloucestershire age 39. In Benthall the lodging houses were in Bower Yard where 2 masons, father and son Thompson, resided from Durham. There were also large licensed lodging houses in Ironbridge with one housing 14 labourers (7 from Ireland) and another house 8 from Ireland. Streets with concentrations of workers included Foxholes, Severnside, Park Street and Clod Piece. There were significant numbers of locals working with families although Ireland as a birthplace predominated.
Bridgnorth – This section stretches from Linley to Eardington although few are recorded in the latter location. There was a greater variety of occupations recorded with 5 carpenters, 4 horse drivers, 2 platelayers, 2 civil engineers, a timekeeper, a policeman, a tunnel miner (married from Lancashire) and 4 engine drivers who resided in East and West Castle Street and Mill Street. There was also a stoker and engine cleaner lodging in East Castle Street. The contractor and resident engineer seemed to have been based in Bridgnorth – Henry Orlando Bridgeman (Fowler's representative) lived with his wife at 33 St Mary's Street age 36. In Astley Abbotts the three Wrens Nest Forges which had been abandoned in 1815 (adjacent to Linley station) were used for 5 separate households comprising 27 people. They included Henry Nottingham age 25 from Northants and his wife Mary and child. Henry was to lose his life on 16th May when he stumbled and a wagon ran over his shoulders and neck (Shrewsbury Chronicle) when working for Richard Walker, sub-contractor. There were also 13 labourers lodging at Colemere Green. In Bridgnorth itself, the main lodging houses were in Cartway with 20 residing at 3 houses and 2 pubs (including 13 from Ireland), at Listley Street with 15 (8 from Ireland), at Underhill Place/Street 19 (mixture of families and lodging house). There were 5 railway carpenters staying at Hanbury Cottage (now part of Bridgnorth station) and at the Post Office in Oldbury. The Hereford Times on 11th June 1859 reported the arrival of Mr Hassall, Sub-contractor, in Bridgnorth to construct the tunnel on 1st June, beginning at both ends and sinking a shaft at the bottom of the 'Town Hall' in High Street – the shaft would be 70 feet deep. Thomas Dorrell supervised for Messrs Brassey and Field.
Highley – The area covered is from Hampton Loade through to the Borle Brook. Again, there were a high proportion in lodgings with less local people employed. There were five lodging houses in Hampton village with one called Malthouse housing 8 labourers with 27 years old William Broughton from Northants in charge. The Hampton boathouse, adjacent to the Unicorn Inn, was looked after by John Wooll from Lancashire, hosting 7 workmen. While there were a few boarding in or near the Stanley Cottages (including 3 sub-contractors and a clerk), around 15 were located in Brooksmouth, north of the Borle Brook in two lodgings (farm buildings?) with a railway hut at Rea Coppice headed by John White 35 and his wife but largely vacated. There were 4 workers who appear to have been employed in France for Thomas Brassey residing in Hampton (James Poers age 45) and Highley (William Simons age 48 with French wife, William Morgan 35 and George Munro 47) as they had children born there.
Arley – There were locations either side of the river where the ferry could be used if necessary. The Victoria Bridge was still under construction. Most of the workers were lodging, 20 living in 5 railway huts on the bridge side of Arley station, each headed by a married labourer with family present. One was born in Ireland and one in Gibraltar but most were from the south west (5 did not declare their origins). A couple of the huts were virtually empty, probably as a result of much of the earthworks being completed. There was a large lodging of 7 workers in the village of Upper Arley headed by 42 years old Henry Robinson from Cumberland who was a railway carpenter. Two were recorded as 'Railway Contractor or Sub Contractor'.
Bewdley - While there were a number recorded residing on the west bank of the river in Ribbesford (the parish included the centre) and Bewdley, most were living in Wribbenhall close to the construction. In this area there were a majority in lodgings, but there were a good number residing with the family or settled in the town. There were two 14 year olds who were born in France (William Budd and Thomas Walker) residing in Eyemore (temporary building?) and Bewdley Road. Catchems End, Whispering Street (with 11 years old said to be 'at railway work') and 'Wribbenhall' all had lodgings. Recorded were a platelayer, inspector and timekeeper, all in Wribbenhall. It should be noted that Wribbenhall was actually in the District of Kidderminster Foreign but has naturally been summarised as Bewdley area.
Stourport – In this case, the areas of Stourport, Hartlebury and Kidderminster have been combined as there are limited recordings with the earthworks largely completed. As with Shrewsbury it is quite likely that a number of the labourers present at Hartlebury and Kidderminster were working on the West Midland Railway (formerly the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton line) although open for 10 years. In these areas there were far fewer workers in lodgings with most married or part of a family perhaps settling in the towns where industries such as carpet making or ironworks were well established. The only recorded lodging house was at 34 Worcester Street Kidderminster, although there were 3 from Ireland with families living in Blackwell Street and a 58 years old contractor, William Chillington in Hoo Lane, Kidderminster.
Conclusions[edit | edit source]
Overall, there were still around 1,000 workers employed on constructing the line in April 1861 which suggests over 1,500 at its peak (Nabarro suggest 900 but that looks well short). They would have had a significant impact on the local economy from such an influx; not only through spending power but through purchase of materials, horses, wagons etc. The majority found lodgings along the route but in the more rural areas railway huts had been erected to house workers with an established navvy in charge, usually with family present.
See also[edit | edit source]
- The Severn Valley Railway under GWR/BR ownership
- Construction of the Severn Valley Railway
- Railway Navvies of the SVR
Notes[edit | edit source]
- ↑ The branch lay at the northern end of the Wellington to Craven Arms Railway.
- ↑ This branch also lay at the northern end of the Wellington to Craven Arms Railway.
Bibliography[edit | edit source]
- Ancestry UK – 1861 Census
- British Newspaper Archive – Newspaper articles from local journals
- Harris Iris L – Chapter in Trinder's Victorian Shrewsbury 1984
- Marshall John – The Severn Valley Railway 1989
- Nabarro Sir Gerald – Severn Valley Steam 1971
- Walker Charles – Thomas Brassey Railway Builder 1969