James Shears and Sons

{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}

{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}

{{Infobox company

{{Infobox company

| name = James Shears and Sons

| name = James Shears and Sons

==The origins of the company==

==The origins of the company==

James Shears was born in about 1750, the son of Thomas Shears (1709–1778) and Sarah Towers (? – 1766). He was baptised at All Saint's Church, [[Ockham, Surrey]], on 2 September 1750.Ockham Parish Records (Baps, Marr, Bur 1568–1812), held at the Surrey History Centre, Woking Surrey James Shears was married to Ann Pitcher on 16 June 1772 at [[St Giles-without-Cripplegate]], London.Guildhall, St Giles Cripplegate, Marriages, 1754 – 1781, P69/GIS/A/01/Ms 6421/1 His death on 25 June 1820 at the age of 70 is recorded in the ''Morning Chronicle'', 26 June 1820.

James Shears was born in about 1750, the son of Thomas Shears (1709–1778) and Sarah Towers (? – 1766). He was baptised at All Saint's Church, [[Ockham, Surrey]], on 2 September 1750.Ockham Parish Records (Baps, Marr, Bur 1568–1812), held at the Surrey History Centre, Woking Surrey James Shears was married to Ann Pitcher on 16 June 1772 at [[St Giles-without-Cripplegate]], London.Guildhall, St Giles Cripplegate, Marriages, 1754 – 1781, P69/GIS/A/01/Ms 6421/1 His death on 25 June 1820 at the age of 70 is recorded in the ''Morning Chronicle'', 26 June 1820.

He entered the copper trade at the age of about 12,According to a letter written by his daughter-in-law, Frances Shears (née [[Spurrell]]), now held at the [[Norfolk]] Records Office, he celebrated fifty years in the copper trade in 1812. probably in the workshop of the coppersmith William Gore. Gore first appears in London directories in 1768 with premises at [[Fleet-ditch]] (an earlier name for [[Fleet Market]]). In 1770 the first mention occurs of William Gore at 67 Fleet-market, the address at which the company was to remain until at least 1822.

He entered the copper trade at the age of about 12,According to a letter written by his daughter-in-law, Frances Shears (née [[Spurrell]]), now held at the [[Norfolk]] Records Office, he celebrated fifty years in the copper trade in 1812. probably in the workshop of the coppersmith William Gore. Gore first appears in London directories in 1768 with premises at [[Fleet-ditch]] (an earlier name for [[Fleet Market]]). In 1770 the first mention occurs of William Gore at 67 Fleet-market, the address at which the company was to remain until at least 1822.

By 1779 Gore had taken James Shears into partnership and the firm became Gore & Shears. In about 1785 Gore either retired or died and Shears continued the business in his name alone. Both Gore and Shears were members of the London livery company, the [[Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers]]. In 1799 he was elected to the Corporation of the [[City of London]] as Councillor for the ward of [[Farringdon Without]].

By 1779 Gore had taken James Shears into partnership and the firm became Gore & Shears. In about 1785 Gore either retired or died and Shears continued the business in his name alone. Both Gore and Shears were members of the London livery company, the [[Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers]]. In 1799 he was elected to the Corporation of the [[City of London]] as Councillor for the ward of [[Farringdon Without]].

==Premises==

==Premises==

The company's original premises which were taken over from William Gore were at 67 [[Fleet Market]]. The company was still at this address in 1822 (when a fire broke out at the premises described as extending "from the west side of the Market to Shoe-lane").''Morning Chronicle'' 7 November 1822

The company's original premises which were taken over from William Gore were at 67 [[Fleet Market]]. The company was still at this address in 1822 (when a fire broke out at the premises described as extending "from the west side of the Market to Shoe-lane").''Morning Chronicle'' 7 November 1822

By this time [[Fleet Market]] was becoming increasingly dilapidated and by 1834 at the very latest Shears & Co had acquired freehold property at 27 [[Bankside]] on the [[Southwark]] bank of the [[River|Thames]]. This remained their main base for the rest of the company's existence.

By this time [[Fleet Market]] was becoming increasingly dilapidated and by 1834 at the very latest Shears & Co had acquired freehold property at 27 [[Bankside]] on the [[Southwark]] bank of the [[River|Thames]]. This remained their main base for the rest of the company's existence.

However, the evidence of contemporary directories and newspaper items shows that during its existence the company occupied other sites in and around London at one time or another including 22–24 Fleet Market (in 1811 where they had a lease on property that was due to expire in 1813); 25 Fleet Market (in 1815); 60 Lower Shadwell (also in 1815). They had copper [[rolling mill]]s at [[Merton, London (parish)|Merton]], Surrey (where they were in possession by 1815 and continued there until 1867): in 1819 they obtained a steam engine to power these mills from [[Boulton and Watt]].

However, the evidence of contemporary directories and newspaper items shows that during its existence the company occupied other sites in and around London at one time or another including 22–24 Fleet Market (in 1811 where they had a lease on property that was due to expire in 1813); 25 Fleet Market (in 1815); 60 Lower Shadwell (also in 1815). They had copper [[rolling mill]]s at [[Merton, London (parish)|Merton]], Surrey (where they were in possession by 1815 and continued there until 1867): in 1819 they obtained a steam engine to power these mills from [[Boulton and Watt]].

In 1867 the company's property included the copperworks, two wharves, an engineering works and other adjacent premises at Bankside, the copper mills at Merton and manufacturing premises at New Park Street, [[Southwark]].This property was all offered for sale in 1867 in the case of Shears v. Dickenson; a detailed list is given in ''The Times'' 30 March 1867, p 14a and several subsequent issues

In 1867 the company's property included the copperworks, two wharves, an engineering works and other adjacent premises at Bankside, the copper mills at Merton and manufacturing premises at New Park Street, [[Southwark]].This property was all offered for sale in 1867 in the case of Shears v. Dickenson; a detailed list is given in ''The Times'' 30 March 1867, p 14a and several subsequent issues

The copper and zinc works proved unsuccessful. The zinc works was offered for sale in 1825 almost as soon as it had been completed and the copperworks closed in 1831. Copper prices had fallen steeply since 1825 and the Llangennech Coal Company was proving more costly than had been expected since difficulties were being experienced in reaching coal in a new pit that had been started in 1825. Despite this the partners in the Coal Company, with seven others, formed the [[Llanelly Railway]] & Dock Co in 1827 to build a new deep-water dock in [[Llanelli]] and a railway to connect it to the new pit then in the process of sinking. An Act of Parliament was obtained in 1828 (9 Geo. 4 c. xci) but work on the railway and dock did not start until after coal had been proved in the pit in June 1832.M.V. Symons, ''Coal Mining'', pp 121, 167–8. Shortly afterwards, in December 1832, the Shears brothers withdrew from the Coal Company but James Henry Shears retained an interest in the coal industry, becoming involved with the Broadoak colliery at [[Loughor]] in 1834.

The copper and zinc works proved unsuccessful. The zinc works was offered for sale in 1825 almost as soon as it had been completed and the copperworks closed in 1831. Copper prices had fallen steeply since 1825 and the Llangennech Coal Company was proving more costly than had been expected since difficulties were being experienced in reaching coal in a new pit that had been started in 1825. Despite this the partners in the Coal Company, with seven others, formed the [[Llanelly Railway]] & Dock Co in 1827 to build a new deep-water dock in [[Llanelli]] and a railway to connect it to the new pit then in the process of sinking. An Act of Parliament was obtained in 1828 (9 Geo. 4 c. xci) but work on the railway and dock did not start until after coal had been proved in the pit in June 1832.M.V. Symons, ''Coal Mining'', pp 121, 167–8. Shortly afterwards, in December 1832, the Shears brothers withdrew from the Coal Company but James Henry Shears retained an interest in the coal industry, becoming involved with the Broadoak colliery at [[Loughor]] in 1834.

A likely factor contributing to Shears' disengagement from the Llangennech Company was the situation in which the affairs of the [[British Iron Company]] were then placed; this must have required much of his attention and finance. Immediately after its formation the company had invested heavily in taking out mineral leases, in setting up new ironworks and in buying new ones. Following dissatisfaction among the shareholders Shears was compelled to resign as a director in 1826 but he continued as one of three trustees of the company's property. The most serious issue concerned the Corngreaves estate near [[Dudley]] in the west Midlands for which the company had paid an excessive price at a time of high iron prices in 1825. Following a collapse in the market Shears and his fellow trustees commenced legal action to have the contract revised. The case with appeals lasted from 1826 until 1838; the final result was against the company and led eventually to its collapse.

A likely factor contributing to Shears' disengagement from the Llangennech Company was the situation in which the affairs of the [[British Iron Company]] were then placed; this must have required much of his attention and finance. Immediately after its formation the company had invested heavily in taking out mineral leases, in setting up new ironworks and in buying new ones. Following dissatisfaction among the shareholders Shears was compelled to resign as a director in 1826 but he continued as one of three trustees of the company's property. The most serious issue concerned the Corngreaves estate near [[Dudley]] in the west Midlands for which the company had paid an excessive price at a time of high iron prices in 1825. Following a collapse in the market Shears and his fellow trustees commenced legal action to have the contract revised. The case with appeals lasted from 1826 until 1838; the final result was against the company and led eventually to its collapse.

== Later history of the Company ==

== Later history of the Company ==

Following the death of Daniel Towers Shears a dispute concerning his estate arose between Frances Shears (probably his daughter) and his wife's family, the reasons for which are not clear. His assets were ordered to be sold by the Court of Chancery and a series of sales took place in 1867 of the premises of the company and its stock, stores and equipment.A detailed description of the plant and premises at this date is given in a series of advertisements in ''The Times'' 30 March 1867, p 14a, and 5 October 1867, p 12d; the stock of metals etc are detailed in ''The Times'' 17 June 1867 p 16d

Following the death of Daniel Towers Shears a dispute concerning his estate arose between Frances Shears (probably his daughter) and his wife's family, the reasons for which are not clear. His assets were ordered to be sold by the Court of Chancery and a series of sales took place in 1867 of the premises of the company and its stock, stores and equipment.A detailed description of the plant and premises at this date is given in a series of advertisements in ''The Times'' 30 March 1867, p 14a, and 5 October 1867, p 12d; the stock of metals etc are detailed in ''The Times'' 17 June 1867 p 16d

Whatever the outcome of these sales the company continued to trade under its original name and was controlled by Daniel's son William Shears. It remained at 17 and 27 [[Bankside]], described as coppersmiths, engineers and millwrights, until 1891 when a sale of its assets by order of the mortgagees took place.''The Times'' 4 July 1891, p 18e, 3 October 1891, p 14b No subsequent reference to the company has been found.

Whatever the outcome of these sales the company continued to trade under its original name and was controlled by Daniel's son William Shears. It remained at 17 and 27 [[Bankside]], described as coppersmiths, engineers and millwrights, until 1891 when a sale of its assets by order of the mortgagees took place.''The Times'' 4 July 1891, p 18e, 3 October 1891, p 14b No subsequent reference to the company has been found.