| Administrative History | A forge and furnace is known to have existed at Staveley in 1652 when George Sitwell of Renishaw Hall leased it from Lord Frechville of the Manor of Staveley. In 1681 the first Duke of Devonshire became the owner after purchasing the Manor from Frechville. A new coke fired furnace was built in the 1780s by W Matler who leased the site later known as the 'Old Works'. Richard Barrow purchased the furnace and forge in 1840. He also took a lease on the site later known as the 'New Works' and built two new furnaces. Barrow formed the Staveley Coal and Iron Company in Dec 1863. In 1878 it was incorporated as Stanton Ironworks Co Ltd. In 1939 it became a wholly owned subsidiary of Stewarts and Lloyds Ltd. During the ownership by Stewarts and Lloyds Ltd, the company became known as Stanton and Staveley Ltd (1962). In 1967 Stewarts and Lloyds and all its subsidiaries (including Stanton and Staveley Ltd) was nationalised and became part of the British Steel Corporation but it passed back into the private sector in 1985 when it was acquired by Pont-á-Mousson SA. The new name was Stanton plc.
The main area of business of the company concerned the production of spun cast iron and concrete pipes, iron castings, pig iron and chemical products. Raw materials were supplied as follows - coal from Shipley Colliery along the Nutbrook Canal and limestone from the Cromford Canal. Pig iron was sent out via the Erewash Canal. |
| Custodial History | Donated by a private individual in April 2004. |