Robert Daglish
Encyclopedia
Robert Daglish was an English steam engineer.
.jpg)
Robert Daglish was born in Northumberland
but by 1804 had moved to Wigan
, Lancashire
as engineer and manager of the Haigh Ironworks
of the Earl of Balcarres
. During his time there, he designed a number of steam engines for pumping and winding work in local collieries, all of which were hailed as a radical improvement on existing designs, and led to greater safety and efficiency.
In 1812, he left Haigh to work for coal owner John Clarke as manager of the Orrell
collieries on the other side of Wigan. Here, a horse tramway was being used to haul coal three and a half miles from the collieries to the Leeds-Liverpool Canal quay at Crooke. Daglish, after obtaining the necessary patent licence, built the first steam powered locomotive in Lancashire to the design of John Blenkinsop
, a Leeds engineer. The 'Blenkinsop pattern' locomotives possessed a fifth wheel, resembling a large cog wheel, the teeth of which engaged in slots on the outside of the rail as an aid to traction. Christened 'The Yorkshire Horse', Daglish's locomotive successfully replaced the use of horses on the tramway whilst George Stephenson
was still developing "Blucher" at Killingworth colliery. Two more locomotives were built to the same pattern, each of which could haul a load of over thirty tons up a one in thirty six gradient, or a load of ninety tons on the level, at a speed of between three and five miles per hour. Previously fourteen draught horses were needed to perform similar work and it was estimated they cost the considerable sum of five hundred pounds per annum on stabling and fodder.
In the years that followed, Daglish's reputation as an engineer led to him being appointed consultant engineer on many railway projects, both in England and on the American continent. In 1825, for instance, he commenced the surveying and engineering of the Bolton and Leigh Railway
, Lancashire's first public railway.
He also became a partner in 1818 in the St Helens
Foundry, which traded as Robert Daglish & Co. The company went on to build an international reputation for the casting and building of steam pumping and winding for the mining industry and was particularly successful at producing locomotives and bridges for the expanding railway network. Among the many projects they undertook one was to supply the pistons for Stephenson's Rocket, They also cast the members for the Rory O'More Bridge
in Dublin. The bridge was completed in 1859 and inscribed on the arch of the bridge is: "Robert Daglish Junr. St. Helens Foundry Lancashire". Robert Daglish junior was the son of Robert senior and was well known for his work on bridges.
Robert Snr is buried in the churchyard of St Thomas the Martyr in nearby Upholland
. His tomb is marked "In this vault lie the remains of Robert Daglish Esq, of Orrell Lodge who died December 26th 1865, Aged 88 years". He married Margaret Twizell in North Shields on 1 April 1802 who died 3 October 1849 aged 70 and is buried with him. They had at least four sons including Robert Jnr, all born in Wigan, as well as a daughter Elizabeth born in North Shields
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
but by 1804 had moved to Wigan
Wigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
as engineer and manager of the Haigh Ironworks
Haigh Foundry
The Haigh Foundry was leased in 1835 by E.Evans and T.C.Ryley in Haigh, Lancashire. It had initially been established in the Douglas Valley, in Haigh, circa 1790 by Alexander Lindsay, 6th Earl of Balcarres and his brother Robert as an ironworks and foundry...
of the Earl of Balcarres
Alexander Lindsay, 23rd Earl of Crawford
Alexander Lindsay, 6th Earl of Balcarres and de jure 23rd Earl of Crawford was the son of James Lindsay, 5th Earl of Balcarres.He entered the army at the age of fifteen as an ensign, in the 53rd Regiment of Foot...
. During his time there, he designed a number of steam engines for pumping and winding work in local collieries, all of which were hailed as a radical improvement on existing designs, and led to greater safety and efficiency.
In 1812, he left Haigh to work for coal owner John Clarke as manager of the Orrell
Orrell, Greater Manchester
Orrell is an area of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. The area is contiguous to the town of Wigan itself and the centre of the district is situated to the west of the town centre...
collieries on the other side of Wigan. Here, a horse tramway was being used to haul coal three and a half miles from the collieries to the Leeds-Liverpool Canal quay at Crooke. Daglish, after obtaining the necessary patent licence, built the first steam powered locomotive in Lancashire to the design of John Blenkinsop
John Blenkinsop
John Blenkinsop was an English mining engineer and an inventor of steam locomotives, who designed the first practical railway locomotive....
, a Leeds engineer. The 'Blenkinsop pattern' locomotives possessed a fifth wheel, resembling a large cog wheel, the teeth of which engaged in slots on the outside of the rail as an aid to traction. Christened 'The Yorkshire Horse', Daglish's locomotive successfully replaced the use of horses on the tramway whilst George Stephenson
George Stephenson
George Stephenson was an English civil engineer and mechanical engineer who built the first public railway line in the world to use steam locomotives...
was still developing "Blucher" at Killingworth colliery. Two more locomotives were built to the same pattern, each of which could haul a load of over thirty tons up a one in thirty six gradient, or a load of ninety tons on the level, at a speed of between three and five miles per hour. Previously fourteen draught horses were needed to perform similar work and it was estimated they cost the considerable sum of five hundred pounds per annum on stabling and fodder.
In the years that followed, Daglish's reputation as an engineer led to him being appointed consultant engineer on many railway projects, both in England and on the American continent. In 1825, for instance, he commenced the surveying and engineering of the Bolton and Leigh Railway
Bolton and Leigh Railway
The Bolton and Leigh Railway was the first public railway in the historic county of Lancashire, England. It opened in 1828 for goods.-History:...
, Lancashire's first public railway.
He also became a partner in 1818 in the St Helens
St Helens, Merseyside
St Helens is a large town in Merseyside, England. It is the largest settlement and administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens with a population of just over 100,000, part of an urban area with a total population of 176,843 at the time of the 2001 Census...
Foundry, which traded as Robert Daglish & Co. The company went on to build an international reputation for the casting and building of steam pumping and winding for the mining industry and was particularly successful at producing locomotives and bridges for the expanding railway network. Among the many projects they undertook one was to supply the pistons for Stephenson's Rocket, They also cast the members for the Rory O'More Bridge
Rory O'More Bridge
Rory O'More Bridge is a road bridge spanning the River Liffey in Dublin, Ireland and joining Watling Street to Ellis Street and the north quays....
in Dublin. The bridge was completed in 1859 and inscribed on the arch of the bridge is: "Robert Daglish Junr. St. Helens Foundry Lancashire". Robert Daglish junior was the son of Robert senior and was well known for his work on bridges.
Robert Snr is buried in the churchyard of St Thomas the Martyr in nearby Upholland
Upholland
Upholland is a civil parish and village in West Lancashire, England. It is situated approximately 3 miles east of Skelmersdale, also in West Lancashire, and 4½ miles west of Wigan in Greater Manchester.-Geography:...
. His tomb is marked "In this vault lie the remains of Robert Daglish Esq, of Orrell Lodge who died December 26th 1865, Aged 88 years". He married Margaret Twizell in North Shields on 1 April 1802 who died 3 October 1849 aged 70 and is buried with him. They had at least four sons including Robert Jnr, all born in Wigan, as well as a daughter Elizabeth born in North Shields