Description and History of Site:-
Site Cleared 2017. In 1824 Stephen and Joseph Whitham, millwrights, of Kirkstall, leased (and not long after purchased) a half an acre of land from Sir James Graham, on which they erected a foundry. They specialised in milling and fulling machinery, and later added steam engines. In 1863 the premises consisted of an entrance lodge, offices, a model shop, engine shop, smith's shop, erecting shop, mechanics' shop, boilermakers' shop, iron foundry, stores, forge, iron warehouse, stables, and a house. The fixtures comprised engines, boilers, steam hammers, rolling mills, furnaces, lathes, pinching and shearing machines, pruning machines, smiths' hearths, cupolas, furnaces and cranes, By 1873 they were the largest re-rollers in Leeds, with 40 puddling furnaces (including 11 doubling furnaces), and 4 mills and forges. The business appears to have come into difficulties about this time and in 1891 they went bankrupt, the premises being placed in the hands of the mortgagees. The works were sold off in three parts, to the British (later American) Screw Co., who built a new factory on the site of the old railway sidings. The second part was sold to Jonas Woodhead and Sons of Bradford, axle makers, and the third part to W. Wainwright, a machine broker. [Ward, 1972]

In 1855, the company provided a pair of 100 hp steam engines for the Arthington Pumping station.

By 1882, when the Institution of Mechanical Engineers visited the works, the operation was described thus:

"This firm are makers of steam engines of all descriptions, with compound cylinders and automatic cut-off expansion gear, or on the Corliss principle; also deep-lift pumps, plant for blast-furnaces, steam-boilers of all kinds, and wrought-iron girders and tanks. Oil-mill machinery, both for the old and new processes, is produced here: the first hydraulic oil-presses ever used having been made by this firm. Iron is also made by Whitham's Puddling Machine; and there is a forge and mill for ship and boiler plates, angles, &c."

Further Reading and References:-
Ward, M.F.,' Industrial Development and Location in Leeds North of the River Aire, 1775 TO 1914', Unpublished PhD thesis, Leeds, 1972.
https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/1882_Institution_of_Mechanical_Engineers:_Visits_to_Works#Joseph_Whitham_and_Son

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Key Words :- iron foundry milling fulling machinery engineers oil-mill manufacturer

Address :- Kirkstall Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS4 2AG
Grid Ref :- SE 2809 3418
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.803166 , Long -1.574972
Local Authority :- Leeds Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Site demolished or no longer extant
Site Condition :- Site redeveloped to industrial / commercial use
Site Dates :- 1824 - 1891
Record Date :- 6 December 2018

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