Civil engineer. Born Devon. Worked for Smeaton, first as an apprentice and then as assistant until 1772. Promoted cast iron as a constructional material. Built the Grand Canal in Ireland. Built the Surrey Iron Railway which opened in 1803. Worked on the West India docks in London. Died Derbyshire.
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
William Jessop
Commemorated ati
Skempton Building plaques
2018: Eamonn Doyle has written to correct our "east to west", saying that the...
Other Subjects
First residential roof-top wind turbines
The published benefits of domestic wind turbines vary enormously. Taking a very rough average, each one saves about five tonnes of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere each year, and p...
John Compton
Organ builder. Born in Newton Burgoland, Leicestershire. He set up business in Nottingham and moved to London, eventually establishing a factory in North Acton. Many Compton organs were installed i...
Thames Tunnel Flood - 1828
During construction, the tunnel was flooded on six separate occasions the worst being the second flooding, on 12 January 1828, in which six workmen died. "Near shift change. Isambard was in the sh...
Antiquarian Horological Society
It unites collectors, scholars and museum professionals interested in the historical aspects of horology (the study of the art, science, social history and technology of timekeepers, such as clocks...
Thomas Crapper
Plumber. Born in Thorne, Yorkshire, and baptised 28th September 1836, (his exact date of birth is unknown). He is often mistakenly credited with the invention of the flushing lavatory (which actual...
Previously viewed
Josiah Wedgwood
Master potter. Born in Burslem, Stoke, Staffordshire, into a potters family. Married his cousin, Sally. Childhood smallpox left him with a limp. His inability to operate the potters wheel meant he ...
Person, Craft / Design, Industry, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, Seriously Famous
Lady Diana Beauclerk
Lady Diana Spencer was born in 1735, the eldest child of the third Duke of Marlborough. She was expected to follow a traditional path through life: educated in the fashion considered suitable for a...
Keith Richards
Guitarist, singer and songwriter. Born in Dartford. He attended primary school with Mick Jagger for several years. They later met up again, and went on to be founding members of the Rolling Stones.
Rawthmell's Coffee House
Braxton's Coffee House (1702) at no.24 Henrietta Street became Rawthmell's Coffee House in 1715 and later moved to no.25, where the (R)SA first met. The image shows the painting by Anna Katrina Zi...
Welsh Church - Peters
W1, Eastcastle Street, 30
Each of these foundation stones is at the base of a pillar, reading left to right: Peters, Rowlands, Lewis, Taylor. Disappointingly we h...
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