Daniel Adamson

Engineer of Hyde & Dukinfield

Daniel Adamson (30 Apr 1820-13 Jan 1890) was born at Shildon, County Durham. He served an engineering apprenticeship with the Stockton & Darlington Railway Co and by 1850 he had risen to become the general manager of their engine works (the Soho Works at Shildon). Afterwards, he moved to Stockport where he became the manager of the Heaton Foundry Co on Lancashire Hill, Heaton Norris. This company specialised in the manufacture of boilers. In 1851 he established a small iron works on Muslin St (now Talbot Rd), Hyde, for the manufacture of boilers and steam engines. In 1872 he built his large Newton Moor Iron Works, which covered four acres. This works bordered the Great Central Railway line off the north side of Johnsonbrook Rd with an entrance (now Adamson St) off Dewsnap Ln, Dukinfield. Here, he became renowned for the manufacture of boilers and steam engines with notable innovations in the design of boilers, known as Manchester Boilers (aka Lancashire Boilers), which were exported around the world. His business was styled Daniel Adamson & Co Ltd.

Daniel Adamson.

Newton Moor Iron Works.

View of the works from the Great Central Railway line. The goods train in the siding is loaded with four boilers.

Left, an advertisement dated 1922, & right, a worksplate.

Manchester Ship Canal
Daniel Adamson is especially noted as the principal promoter of the Manchester Ship Canal project and on the 27 Jun 1882 he arranged a meeting at his residence on Wilmslow Rd, Didsbury, to discuss the matter. At this meeting he was elected as chairman of a provisional committee to promote the canal. He then became the first chairman of the Manchester Ship Canal Company. The Manchester Ship Canal Act was passed in 1885 and Queen Victoria formally opened the canal on the 1 Jan 1894. Sadly, Daniel Adamson did not see the opening of his canal as he died in 1890.

Manchester Ship Canal Medallion
The obverse of the medallion shows a bust of Daniel Adamson, the first chairman of the Manchester Ship Canal Company. The reverse shows a two-masted vessel under sail and steam. Surrounding the vessel is the inscription, MANCHESTER SHIP CANAL DEMONSTRATION OCT 3RD 1885. The Manchester Ship Canal Act (48 & 49 Vict.) was passed on the 5 August 1885 and on Saturday, 3 October 1885 around 30,000 people paraded from Albert Square to Belle Vue Gardens, enthusiastic at the prospect of more jobs, better wages and the imminent sight of ships sailing along a canal close to the factories where many of them worked. So large was the jubilant throng that when the front section reached Belle Vue Gardens the back was just leaving Albert Square.

Blue plaque
A blue plaque commemorating Daniel Adamson is located at the entrance to Adamson St on Dewsnap Ln, which led to the former Newton Moor Iron Works.

TAMESIDE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH DANIEL ADAMSON (1820-1890) Founder of the Newton Moor Iron Works, Daniel Adamson specialized in engines and boilers. From these works, Manchester Boilers were exported around the world. He was a pioneer of the use of steel in his boilers, which led him to dominate this field. Many of his designs were patented. Along with other business interests, his greatest impact outside his chosen area was his ongoing promotion of the Manchester Ship Canal. This Plaque is located at the entrance of the former site of Newton Moor Iron Works, which covered four acres. This road was named after Adamson in the late 1800s. Unveiled by Executive Leader of Tameside Council Councillor Roy Oldhsam CBE On 18th April 2001

Cruise Boat, Daniel Adamson
This steam boat was built in 1903 for use as a tug boat by the Shropshire Union Canal Co and it was then named Ralph Brocklebank. Until 1915 it was used to haul barges and it also carried passengers but after 1915 it only towed barges. In 1921 it was sold to the Manchester Ship Canal Company, primarily for use as a tug boat. However, it was also used as a cruise boat carrying passengers from Manchester to Ellesmere Port with a return journey by train. In 1936 it was fully converted as a cruise boat and renamed, Daniel Adamson, to commemorate the promoter and first chairman of the Manchester Ship Canal Company. In 1986 the boat was at the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port but it had fallen into disrepair and was in danger of being scrapped. A rescue plan was started that resulted a £3 million grant from The National Lottery which allowed the boat to be repaired and returned for use as a cruise boat. The nickname of the boat is 'The Danny'.

The cruise boat, Daniel Adamson.

The boat is seen here on the river Weaver in Cheshire.

Connection between Daniel Adamson & Co (Dukinfield) & Joseph Adamson & Co (Hyde)
Joseph Adamson (1843-1920) and Henry Booth (1818-1899) founded Joseph Adamson & Co in Hyde in Jul 1874. Joseph Adamson was born in Shildon, County Durham, and was the nephew of Daniel Adamson. Henry Booth was born in Ashton-under-Lyne and was a partner in the Daisy Field Colliery in Hyde prior to setting up his business of boiler making with Joseph Adamson. The company leased a site between the Sheffield & Midland Joint Railway line and the Lower Peak Forest Canal in Hyde.

Works of Joseph Adamson & Co, Hyde.

View from the Lower Peak Forest Canal.