ABSTRACT
The Shelton Bar Iron Company was formed in 1852. Authoritative sources record that the company was the creation of the second Earl Granville. 2 This was not so, although it is true that Granville was the main instigator in developing the iron industry in North Staffordshire, and the Shelton Collieries and Ironworks, of which he was the sole proprietor, pre-dates ‘Shelton Bar’. His application to join with the founding proprietors of the latter company was considered at a meeting held on 13 July 1852 3 when it was resolved that ‘his Lordship be admitted a partner as from the commencement of the undertaking as the holder of six shares in the firm. From 1855 Granville occupied the chair at partners' meetings. By 1870 the company owned the largest ironworks in North Staffordshire 4 and Lord Granville was its principal proprietor. In 1886 the company was incorporated, with limited liability, as the Shelton Iron and Steel Co. Ltd. and three years later the Shelton Iron, Steel and Coal Co. Ltd. (SISC) was formed to acquire both that undertaking and Lord Granville's Shelton Collieries and Ironworks. 5 Granville was the first Chairman of the new company. 6 In 1920 SISC was converted to the status of a private company following purchase of its share capital by John Summers & Sons Ltd.
