Bolckow, Vaughan & Co. Ltd.

Registered in 1864

Warning: This is not intended to be an exhaustive history of the company, but an indication of the changes of ownership and the links between companies and directors in those companies. Only collieries, pits etc. in the North of England are shown - the company may own other properties etc. outside this area and there may have been other changes of ownership etc. for which we currently do not have details.

Registered – November 19, 1864, and owns coal, iron and other mines in Yorkshire and Durham (formerly the property of Messrs. Bolckow and Vaughan), blast furnaces, steel works and rolling mills; also shares in various companies. In 1899 the company purchased for £215,000 the properties of the Clay Lane Iron Cp. Ltd., consisting of the South Skelton ironstone mine, adjoining the company's North Skelton mines, and six blast furnaces with wharf adjoining the company's iron and steel works at Eston. During 1916 the share capital of the Eston Sheet and Galvanizing Co. Ltd., was acquired, and in 1920 that of the Darlington Rolling Mills Co. Ltd. In February 1923, the company secured control of Redpath, Brown and Co. Ltd., constructional engineers, holders of ordinary shares in that company being offered £3 10s. per share, payable £2 in cash and the balance in fully-paid ordinary shares of the purchasing company at par. New collieries at Ferryhill, Co. Durham, known as the Dean and Chapter, have been opened up ; the company also owns half interest in the Luchana Mining Co. Ltd., owning mining properties in Spain.

Capital – £6,000,000, divided into 25,000 five per cent. preference shares of £20 each and 5,500,000 ordinary shares of £1 each ; 23,604 preference and 5,024,960 ordinary shares have been issued, the preference and 3,164,060 ordinary being fully paid and 1,860,900 ordinary having 12s. per share called up. The nominal capital was originally £2,500,000, but was subsequently increased to £3,650,000, and further increased, in 1882, to £4,000,000 in £20 shares ; in 1900 the ordinary shares were sub-divided. Increased to £5,000,000 in September, 1918, by creation of 1,000,000 ordinary shares, and in October 1918, 1,009,340 were offered to shareholders at 22s. 6d. each. In order to carry through the acquisition of Redpath, Brown and Co. Ltd., the capital was increased to present amount in February, 1923, and an issue made of six per cent. debentures as below.

Eight per cent. First Debentures – £1,000,000, in debentures of £50 or multiples thereof, for periods of 5, 10 or 15 years, at lender's option, the company reserving the right to pay off the whole, or part, at any time after December 31, 1927, at a premium of £2 per cent. Interest payable January 1 and July 1. In November, 1920, the debentures were offered for subscription at par, share and debenture holders of the company receiving preferential consideration.

Six per cent. First Debentures – Authorised: £1,000,000, offered for sale in January, 1923, by the British Trade Corporation at 99½ per cent., the final call of 59½ per cent being payable April 12, 1923.

Source: Mining Manual & Mining Year Book for 1924