Owner Comments:
Warwickshire Wilkinson DH #336
Obverse: Bust of John Wilkinson facing right, his hair tied behind IOHN WILKINSON IRON MASTER.
Reverse: A small brig sailing left Ex: 1788
Edge: WILLEY SNEDSHILL BERSHAM BRADLEY
Diesinker: John Hancock
Manufacturer: Thomas Williams
Issuer: John Wilkinson
Rarity: Common
The token celebrates the successful launching of the Trial, the world’s first iron barge, on 6 July 1787. The Trial was designed to carry heavy loads down the Severn River and various canals. The barge was registered for 20 tons but could carry up to 32 tons. Empty, the barge required less than 10” of water to float. It was made of 5/8” thick iron plates riveted together and, while it was 70’ long it was only 6’ 8 ½” wide. This allowed it to sail various canals and fit into the canal locks.
John Wilkinson (1728-1808), arguably the best known of the 18th century ironmasters, grew up in Cumbria but at the age of 20 moved to Bradley, near Bilston, to work in the iron trade. In the mid 1750s he became manager of the Willey ironworks on Lord Forester’s estate, near Broseley, and later senior partner; in 1758 he built his first blast furnace at Bradley, which became such a success that by 1772 he had purchased the local manor and estate.
In 1774 he constructed the New Willey ironworks. Wilkinson’s vast business empire also encompassed an iron mine and blast furnaces at Snedshill, near Oakengates, sold in 1793-4 and an ironworks at Bersham in the parish of Wrexham, Denbighshire, which he took over from his father Isaac in 1762 and where cannons and the cylinders required for Watt’s rotating steam engine were produced.
Atkins: Warwickshire 250