Bullivant & Co, Millwall London, supplier of Taikoo Sugar Refinery’s aerial ropeway cables
HF with thanks to IDJ for the two adverts. The cable used in the Aerial Ropeway constructed to link Takoo Sugar Refinery and its Sanitarium was made by Bullivant & Co. which began as a UK company.
William Munton Bullivant was an early innovator in the stranded wire cordage field, invented in the mid-19th century by German mining engineers in the Harz Mountains and gradually improved upon and stimulated by the Industrial Revolution.
Sometime after 1875 Bullivant formed his own wire rope manufacturing firm, Wm. Bullivant & Co, at Millwall, on the south bank of Thames estuary, in London.
A characteristic of the British wire rope market was that firms tended to be located in their specialist markets. For example roperies were located near the collieries and shipping yards they serviced and so Bullivants began to specialise in maritime and traction applications.
Graces Guide in its brief notes on the company begins “Bullivant and Company, New Mills Court, Stroud, Gloucestershire. wire rope makers and engineers, and of Mark Lane and Millwall.” However, the company appears to be based in Millwall, London and I am can’t find any information that it had works in Stroud. 72 Mark Lane, London was its registered office.
1889. Plan of the works, Millwall, Isle of Dogs, London, UK
This article was first posted on 12th December 2014.
See:
- Grace Guides Bullivant and Co. http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Bullivant_and_Co
- Bullivants Company history in Australia
- http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=213683 Nine Samples of metal cables on stand, metal/wood, Bullivant & Co Ltd, London, England, c. 1902
Related Indhhk articles:
I’m researching Bullivant’s, and I’m not aware of a site in Stroud. In 1912 Bullivant’s set up a satellite factory in Leighton Buzzard, which was managed by my great-uncle, Tom Selby. Tom Selby was mate of the Cutty Sark and went on to work for the Indo-China Steamship Company. He then joined Bullivant’s. After the Leighton Buzzard site was closed he went out to Australia to set up a factory for Bullivant’s. The MIllwall site was managed first by my great-grandfather James Selby, and then by his son George Selby. A third brother, Chris Selby went to Vancouver to set up a Canadian factory.
Hello Robin
I am also researching Bullivant’s and your great uncle, but this is for a book that is being written about Leighton Buzzard during World War 1. So if you have information about your great uncles time there or perhaps a photo of him you would be willing to share. I would be most grateful.
Hello, my dear friend is mark Bullivant the last descendent of the family I believe. He often speaks of Fred and Eric Bullivant. Can I ask him anything? Pass on info?
Hi Lloyd, I am also a descendent of the family and knew Eric,. I am just starting to research WMB. It would be great if you could put me in touch with Mark. George Bullivant
Lloydwilson17@hotmail.co.uk. Feel free to email me. Sorry for late reply iv just seen this.
Hi Robin and all,
I am interested in Henry Lowthian BARGE and the work he carried out at Bullivant’s. He sadly passed away in 1918, the same year that he gained the OBE for his work with the company. I believe he was involved with submarine netting.
The interest comes from my interest in Canvey Island history, and Henry Lowthian BARGE spent some time on the Island, lived there for a while and married a local lass.
Hi Martin,
Heny Lowthian Barge was my great grand-uncle and I too am researching him!
If you’d like to share any research, feel free to get in touch: castleymusic@gmail.com.
Hi Martin,
Henry Lowthian Barge was my great grand-uncle and I too am researching him!
If you’d like to share any research, feel free to get in touch: castleymusic@gmail.com.
hello three – I found this iren spil in the harbour of Ballen on the island of Samsø and it says Bullivant no 2 – mark lane 72, london – would like to post a photo – are doing a arti cle of the bullivand thing on Samsø
Hello Jens
I would very much like to see the photo you have of the Bullivant object you saw on Samsø island. I will email you directly about this and perhaps you could send me the image. It would also be very interesting to read the article you say you are going to write about Bullivant & Co.
Best wishes
Hugh Farmer
Hello,
I am researching a Bullivant´s ropeway in Huelva (Spain) Would anybody have any information about it? I t was built at the mine Almagrera till the station at “El Empalme”. My email: jjlapuerta@hotmail.com
Thanks a lot!
Regards,
Juanjo
I have in my collection your catalogue No 21 could you please tell me when it was printed and is it of any value