Gibbons family

Sectors:

  • Extraction Coal extraction
  • Financial services Commercial private banking services
  • Basic metals production Iron, steel & related alloys production
  • Fabricated metal products manufacture Metal forging, pressing, stamping, rolling, slitting, etc
  • Distribution - wholesaling, broking, market trading, etc Metal, iron & steel, distribution inc metal stockholders

Notes:

Traced origins in business as ironmasters and colliery owners to John Gibbons, 1703-78, manufacturing ironmonger in the West Midlands, who developed iron production at Pitchford, Shropshire. From this he developed extensive iron production, forging and slitting mill plant throughout the Midlands with merchanting businesses at Wolverhampton and Bristol. By the late 18th century John's sons, Thomas, William and Benjamin, were leading ironmasters at places such as Bilston and Cradley and the family advanced on the basis of interlocking partnerships. William in particular was noted as a lobbyist on behalf of the iron trade, acting on issues such as taxation and trade. The family also became involved in private banking at Wolverhampton which collapsed in 1816 damaging their business interests generally. Recovered with important plant now at Ketley, Corbyn's Hall and Level Works. From the mid century the various businesses were in steady decline and were largely given up by the 1870s [2023]

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