James Fussell
Encyclopedia
James Fussell was the name of several men from the same family who established a business grinding edge tools and forging iron plates at several sites on the Mells River
and its tributaries around Mells
, Somerset
, England. They were iron magnates operating several mills including the Old Ironstone Works, Mells
in Vallis Vale
between Mells and Great Elm
.
James Fussell I (died 1755) leased the site in Mells in 1744 from the Horners of Mells Manor
, to erect "a good, firme and substantiall Mill or Mills for Grinding Edge Tools and forging Iron plates". He expanded the business adding another mill at Nunney
in 1760.
James Fussell II (1748–1832) leased a water power site at Wadbury. He was a promoter of the Dorset and Somerset Canal
and further developed the business.
At one time it employed 250 people and continued for many years, with various members of the Fussell family operating a total of six sites in the local area: the Upper Works further up the Wadbury Valley, the Great Elm
Edge-Tool Works, the Chantry Works, the Railford Works and a small site at Gurney Slade. Tools produced by Fussells were exported to Europe and America, and the family expanded its activities to include coal mining and banking, with the business issuing its own banknote
s at one stage.
The business declined towards the end of the 19th century, due in part to a failure to convert from water to steam power until a late stage, and also to the collapse of English agriculture in the 1870s. By 1895 production had ceased, and the company folded in 1900.
Mells River
The Mells River flows through the eastern Mendip Hills in Somerset, England. It rises at Gurney Slade and flows east joining the River Frome at Frome.The river forms one of the boundaries of Mells Manor a country house estate in Mells....
and its tributaries around Mells
Mells, Somerset
Mells is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, near the town of Frome.The parish includes the village of Vobster which had a coal mine of the same name on the Somerset coalfield and quarry, both of which are now disused. The old quarry is now used as a diving centre...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England. They were iron magnates operating several mills including the Old Ironstone Works, Mells
Old Ironstone Works, Mells
Old Iron Works, Mells is a 0.25 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest, in the Wadbury Valley, south of the village of Mells in Somerset, notified in 1987...
in Vallis Vale
Vallis Vale
Vallis Vale is a 23.9 hectare biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest near Great Elm in Somerset, notified in 1952.Vallis Vale is an ancient woodland site and supports an Ash-Wych Elm stand type with a restricted distribution in Britain.Vallis Vale exposes some of Britain’s...
between Mells and Great Elm
Great Elm
Great Elm is a village and civil parish between Mells and Frome in the Mendip district of Somerset, England. The parish includes the hamlet of Hapsford.-History:...
.
James Fussell I (died 1755) leased the site in Mells in 1744 from the Horners of Mells Manor
Mells Manor
Mells Manor at Mells, Somerset, England was built in the 16th century for Edward Horner, altered in the 17th century, partially demolished around 1780, and restored by Sir Edwin Lutyens in the 20th century...
, to erect "a good, firme and substantiall Mill or Mills for Grinding Edge Tools and forging Iron plates". He expanded the business adding another mill at Nunney
Nunney
Nunney is a village and civil parish near Frome in the Mendip local government district within the English county of Somerset. The parish includes the hamlet of Holwell.The name of the village comes from Old English and means Nunna's island....
in 1760.
James Fussell II (1748–1832) leased a water power site at Wadbury. He was a promoter of the Dorset and Somerset Canal
Dorset and Somerset Canal
The Dorset and Somerset Canal was a proposed canal in the south west of England. The main line was intended to link Poole, in Dorset with the Kennet and Avon Canal near Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire. A branch was to go from the main line at Frome to the southern reaches of the Somerset coalfield at...
and further developed the business.
At one time it employed 250 people and continued for many years, with various members of the Fussell family operating a total of six sites in the local area: the Upper Works further up the Wadbury Valley, the Great Elm
Great Elm
Great Elm is a village and civil parish between Mells and Frome in the Mendip district of Somerset, England. The parish includes the hamlet of Hapsford.-History:...
Edge-Tool Works, the Chantry Works, the Railford Works and a small site at Gurney Slade. Tools produced by Fussells were exported to Europe and America, and the family expanded its activities to include coal mining and banking, with the business issuing its own banknote
Banknote
A banknote is a kind of negotiable instrument, a promissory note made by a bank payable to the bearer on demand, used as money, and in many jurisdictions is legal tender. In addition to coins, banknotes make up the cash or bearer forms of all modern fiat money...
s at one stage.
The business declined towards the end of the 19th century, due in part to a failure to convert from water to steam power until a late stage, and also to the collapse of English agriculture in the 1870s. By 1895 production had ceased, and the company folded in 1900.