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developed under his father
Ambrose. The members visited Kirkstall Forge the next day. In 1883 Ambrose and his brother John died within two months of each other leaving the Forge with a bank overdraft of £59,000. The industry changed with an increasing move to steel, reducing the demand for wrought iron and it took a savvy agreement with the Cardigan Estate to reduce the rent from £800 per year to £350 to ensure the survival of the company. Ambrose had fought to preserve the firm in his later years but it was largely due to Edmund's grit and determination that it survived and prospered. He was ably helped by his younger brothers Bernard and Hugh who all worked enormously hard during these years.
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In the 19th century, as well as ironforging, the metalworking business produced axles for horse-drawn vehicles. As motor vehicles became more common, in the early 20th century, the forge specialised in motor vehicle axles and in steel bar. During the First World War, forging was stopped, allowing the
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It was under Edmund that innovation and investment returned to
Kirkstall Forge and by 1892 the company had produced bright steel bars that were the first to be produced commercially in the UK and were an immediate success. The bright steel bar production consolidated the firm's recovery in the face
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Ambrose Butler (1816–1883), grandson of John Butler, joined the partnership in 1831 aged just 15 as an assistant to his uncle George
Skirrow Beecroft, alongside his brother John in 1839. They alongside their brother Thomas later bought out George in 1855 for £71,200. Ambrose focused particularly on
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In 2016 construction began on the first office building, which was completed in
November 2017. The new building is named Number One and was occupied by Zenith Vehicle Contracts Ltd, Bupa, Mercedes-Benz Vans and CEG. Butler's, a bar/restaurant, opened in November 2017 on the ground floor of Number
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Edmund Butler (1848–1923 )had been involved in the management of the Forge under the guidance of his father
Ambrose and his uncle John Butler. In 1876 he was asked to read a paper before the meeting of British Iron and Steel Institute in Leeds about the new process of "reeling bars" that had been
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During the First World War, forging was stopped, allowing the business to concentrate on axle production. During the Second World War, production expanded to meet the demand for military vehicles, and the site was camouflaged to reduce the risk of bombing raids. During World War II, many bombing
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cart axle production, re-equipping the facilities on site to enable high-volume production of standardised products. By 1876 cart axles, and railway wheels and axles represented between 30 and 40% of the company turnover with
Ambrose's sons, Edmund, Bernard and Hugh all now working at the Forge.
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Ambrose bought two patents for a machine that could straighten out bars, and made them more round than ordinary rolled iron bars. These were known as "reeled bars" and were exhibited all over the world. Kirkstall Forge, then known as
Beecroft, Butler & Co. manufactured and exhibited railway
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The site was then bought by
Commercial Estates Group in 2005 and planning permission was granted for outline planning on 20 July 2007. In April 2011, Commercial Estates Group applied for an extension of the planning permission granted.
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The Butler family were involved for six generations from 1779 in the management of the Forge and eventually purchased it in 1893 from the
Cardigan Estate for £12,000. In 1779 John and Thomas Butler took over the lease with George and
109:, at her instigation. It was in need of investment and regeneration. They invested the sum of £1,000 (roughly £12,760,000 in today's money), which had been agreed between the Butlers and Beecrofts before they took the lease.
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In 1995 the business was taken over by the Dana corporation (Dana Spicer Europe Ltd), who over the following 6 years transferred production overseas, and closed the works, making 1500 staff redundant.
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In 1964, Kirkstall Forge bought the Regent Axle company based in
Burnley to expand its gear machining capabilities. In 1974, Kirkstall Forge Engineering was bought by GKN.
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of a worldwide decline in wrought iron which affected its key markets in railway products. Edmund became Lord Mayor of Leeds from 1901 to 1902.
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One, named after the Butler family who were involved with the management of the Forge for over six generations.
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In 1851 the forge changed its name, and Beecroft, Butler and Co became the Kirkstall Forge Company.
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218:"The Changing Face of Kirkstall Forge's Industry during the Early Twentieth Century"
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production began in the 16th century, making it the oldest forge in England.
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Carnegie, Chris; Blakey, Ben; Whitlock, Richard & Cory, Charles.
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The history of Kirkstall Forge through seven centuries 1200–1945 A.D
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The history of the forge can be dated to a 12th-century (1151 A.D.)
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was opened on 19 June 2016 near the site of an earlier station,
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which powered a corn mill for the monks of Kirkstall Abbey.
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313:"Report of the Chief Planning Officer: Kirkstall Forge"
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business to concentrate on axle production. During the
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Defunct engineering companies of the United Kingdom
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334:"Prototype homes to be tested at Kirkstall Forge"
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33:Office development at Number One Kirkstall Forge
136:raids were carried out along the Aire Valley.
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368:Automotive companies of the United Kingdom
197:Listed buildings in Leeds (Kirkstall Ward)
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295:"Ambrose Edmund Butler (1848-1923)"
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164:Kirkstall Forge railway station
158:The new Kirkstall Forge station
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258:Butler, Rodney F. (1945).
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277:"Kirkstall Forge Co"
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191:See also
62:Bradford
183:Housing
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238:1 July
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