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Samuel Rubery was one of the most influential people in
Darlaston, in the middle of the 19th century, when
industry, particularly iron and later steel, made the
town extremely prosperous. He was born in Darlaston in
1822 and married Mary, who came from Shareshill. They
had five children: Samuel, John Tunner, Jane, Alma, and Thomas William.
Samuel Rubery senior was an iron and steel merchant with
a warehouse in Blockall. He was joined in the business
by his son Samuel, who became a clerk there, in the
early 1860s. |
The location of the warehouse.
| Samuel senior became involved in local
politics when the old system of Vestry
Government at the local parish church was
finally abandoned and a Board of Surveyors
constituted. In 1846 the the initial members
were
George Jones - Chairman;
David Bowen, John Riley,
William Carter, Samuel Rubery,
Charles Green, Samuel Smith and
Samuel Mills.
George Jones was succeeded as Chairman by Samuel
Rubery, who in turn was succeeded by Samuel Mills. In 1869 the Local Government Act of 1858 was adopted
and a Local Board was elected. The members were as
follows:
George Addenbrooke, William Marshall,
G. P. Butler, Richard Mills,
A. Carter, C. Moore,
William Corbett, G. Perry,
C. Green, M. Read,
G. Green, Samuel Rubery,
Job Green, James Slater,
William Harper, Samuel Slater,
Enoch Horton, E. Wilkes,
George Humpage and William Winn.
The first meeting was held on 15th February, 1870 in
the upper room of the old malthouse behind the White
Lion in King Street. Samuel Rubery was Chairman.
He was also a churchwarden at St. George’s
Church and by 1880, Samuel and his family (other
than John Tunner) were living at Gunstone House,
13 Stafford Street, Brewood. He is described in the 1881
census as an iron merchant and a farmer. The family
had three live-in servants: a cook, a housemaid,
and a groom and gardener. |
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Samuel Rubery senior.
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John Tunner Rubery was born
in Darlaston in 1848 or 1849. He became
secretary to the board of the Darlaston Iron
Bridge and Roofing Company, which was founded in
1867. The company obtained a number of orders
for structural steelwork for projects in the
Liverpool area including part of the roof of
Liverpool Lime Street Railway Station.
In about 1874 John Tunner
Rubery opened an agency in Liverpool to
represent the Bridge and Roofing Company of
James Bridge, Darlaston, founded by Simeon
Carter. He advertised in the Commercial
Directory and Shippers Guide as an agent for the
Bridge and Roofing Company Limited, Horton and
Sons, David Lloyd and Company Limited, Llanelly
(anthracite and steam coal suppliers), and the
Darlaston Galvanising Company Limited.
In 1881 John Tunner married
Catherine Mary Anne Wilkes in Rushall, and in
1883 he returned to Darlaston where he founded
Rubery and Company, with his brothers, Samuel,
and Thomas William. They acquired Victoria
Ironworks in Booth Street
On 29th February, 1888 the
partnership was dissolved by mutual consent.
John Tunner was then joined by Alfred Owen and
later became Rubery Owen. Like his father, John
Tunner was a churchwarden at St. George’s
Church. |
| Samuel died in early 1884, after which
Samuel Rubery & Son Limited was run by two of
his sons, Samuel and Thomas William.. |
An advert from 1921.
| In 1931, Samuel Rubery & Son Limited closed,
and went into voluntary liquidation. The
premises were sold at auction at the Victoria
Hotel, Wolverhampton, on Monday 27th July, 1931
with a reserve price of £1250. |
An advert for the sale.
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