| Administrative History | In the 17th century, Mr George Sitwell is recorded as one of the chief ironmasters of Renishaw, owning a number of furnaces and forges in the neighbourhood of Eckington. In 1776 the male line of the Sitwell's ended, and the property was inherited by the Hurt family, who sold off the Renishaw ironworks in 1792. In his 'History of the County of Derbyshire', Glover lists iron furnaces in Derbyshire in 1806, which included 'Renishaw, 1792, Chesterfield Canal, Walker, Appleby & Co'.
Appleby & Co Ltd was incorporated on 15th May 1899, continuing the old established business of Appleby & Co, iron founders and engineers, carried on at the Renishaw Foundry and Engineering Works, near Chesterfield, Derbyshire. However, trade directories of the time suggest that by 1895 the Renishaw Iron Company was leasing the extensive ironworks at Renishaw formerly carried on by Appleby & Co. The Renishaw Iron Co. Ltd. was registered on 26th March 1902.
In 1917, both companies were liquidated. A new company was incorporated on 15 June 1917, which took the name of the Renishaw Iron Co. Ltd. Appleby & Co Ltd became a wholly owned subsidiary of this company, occupying buildings including the Foundry and Machine Shop.
In 1956 the company was acquired by Tube Investments Ltd (through the Iron & Steel Holding & Realisation Agency). It now forms part of British Steel plc. |
| Custodial History | Records deposited at Derbyshire Record Office by the Renishaw Local History Society, in April and May 2004. |