| Administrative History | James Eastwood was born in Alderwasley 6th March 1808, where he learnt to be a Hammerman at a forge. He spent time in Toxteth working at Mersey Steel and Iron Company Limited, Sefton Street. While in Toxteth he is recorded in the 1847 Gore's Directory as an Ironmaster.
In 1847 James Eastwood returned to Derbyshire and entered a partnership with Thomas Frost, who had foundries in the Morledge and Cotton Lane, Derby. In 1853 the partnership dissolved on death of Thomas Frost.
At some point in the 1850s, James Eastwood went into partnership with John Buxton, who leased Molynieux Colliery and plant at Teversal, Nottinghamshire from the Countess of Carnarvon. In 1866 James Eastwood became the leaseholder of this colliery after parting with John Buxton.
By 1867 James Eastwood was in partnership with his son Reuben Eastwood and Thomas Swingler and his son Henry Swingler.
Thomas Swingler was born in 1819 in Leicester and had brief association with Thomas Frost. By 1855, Thomas Swingler had set up his Victoria Foundry in the northern corner of the Litchurch site, with access to the adjacent Derby-Birmingham railway line, building his business on the rapidly expanding Midland Railway business in Derby. James Eastwood built his railway ironworks on neighbouring land bordered by Cotton Lane and Russell Street, Derby. Both businesses prospered, and they would eventually join forces to form the four-man partnership that included their respective sons.
They named the business the Victoria and Railway Ironworks and specialised in the manufacture of the whole range of equipment required to support a railway infrastructure; the rail track, points, junctions, turntables, water towers, cranes, station, goods, and warehouse buildings, and, above all, bridges.
Thomas Swingler died in 1873 and James Eastwood died 17th April 1874, with the business passing down through both families.
The business went into liquidation in April 1925.
[Administrative history based on research provided by James Eastwood’s Great, Great Grandson in 2023]. |
| Custodial History | These records were donated to to Derbyshire Record Office by the descendent of James Eastwood in July 2023. The deeds and various papers had previously been held by Taylor, Simpson and Mosley Solicitors, Derby, solicitors to Eastwood, Swingler and Company Limited and where passed to the descendent of James Eastwood when they were conducting family history research. |