Last updated at 08:48, Thursday, 12 July 2012

EDWARD Wadham was based in Furness when it was transformed from a rural backwater into a vibrant place of industry and commerce.

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As the mineral agent to the Buccleuch estates he knew and worked with all the men who turned Barrow into a boom town and made notes of all his activities.

His detailed handwritten diaries are now in the Barrow Archive and Local History Centre and enthusiasts have started work on transcribing them.

The group, led by Dalton’s Peter Sandbach, is keen to attract help from a few more volunteers to complete what is a major project.

One of the group members, Alan Postlethwaite, from Lindal, said: “The aim is to provide the Local History Centre with a readable typescript copy for generalreference.

“As the diaries cover most of the period from Wadham’s arrival in Furness in 1850 to his death at Millwood in 1913, working through them is going to take some time.”

Wadham’s first home in the Furness area was Lindal Mount, now the Old Vicarage in Lindal.

In 1861 he moved with his wife, Elizabeth Ainslie of Grizedale Hall, to the new Millwood House.

In 1866, Wadham became a Councillor on the first Barrow Borough Council.

He was a councillor for 31 years and was mayor three times.

They had six children and she survived him by 20 years.

Mr Wadham was a director of Barrow Hematite Company, the Walney Exploration Company and the Furness Railway Company.

His chief role was to make sure the Dukes of Buccleuch received royalties from iron ore raised at mines on the estate.

If you want to get involved in the transcription project, send an email to Peter Sandbach at metasequoia@hotmail.co.uk or telephone Alan Postlethwaite on 01229 468069.

We have a few extracts from the early years of the diaries to give a taste of what was going on as the Furness mines started to develop.

MARCH 14, 1851: Went round Whitriggs with Mr Davis’s foreman, made an appointment to go down pumping shaft on Tuesday at 12 noon. Found he had about 40 men employed in the pits, gave instructions for a section of Trial Pit No 239 to be ready for me on Tuesday.

MAY 30, 1851: Down to Rampside to bathe and back at 12.30 to play in the cricket match.

Ulverston v Dalton wherein the latter beat, of course.

To a tea-fight at Morgan’s in the evening.

DECEMBER 12, 1852: Very heavy flood – the water in street opposite my door more than knee-deep.

Much damage done to the railway by way of slippages, both on the old line and the part under present construction.

DECEMBER 27, 1852: A severe hurricane. Went down to Furness Abbey to see why the trains did not arrive at the proper time and found that the railway had been washed away at Salthouse Marsh, Roosecote and Ireleth, and in consequence all traffic was for the present suspended.

JULY 15, 1867: Attended first meeting of Barrow Town Council and elected Mr Ramsden Mayor.

SEPTEMBER 19, 1867: To Barrow to attend the ceremony of inaugurating the Borough of Barrow and the Barrow Docks – everything passed off well.

NOVEMBER 6, 1867: At the pits at 11 o’clock, found the engine bed very unsteady, ordered it to be stayed.

Had old mare shot. Sent the young mare to the pit.

NOVEMBER 28, 1867: In Ulverston, attended Board of Guardians and made a row about the improper burial of two bodies, cast upon the Isle of Walney.

First published at 16:20, Wednesday, 11 July 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk