John Storey Barwick
Sir John Storey Barwick, 1st Baronet | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1840 Sunderland, Durham, England |
| Died | 1915 |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, shipowner, coal industry executive |
| Known for | Founder of Easington Colliery; chairman of The Easington Coal Company Limited; involvement in quarrying, coal extraction, maritime shipping, and ship construction |
| Notable work | Easington Colliery |
John Storey Barwick, 1st Baronet of Ashbrooke Grange, J.P. (1840–1915), was a notable English entrepreneur engaged in quarrying, coal extraction, maritime shipping, and ship construction. He founded Easington Colliery in 1899 under the name The Easington Coal Company Limited, where he held the position of chairman. In 1912, Barwick was honoured with the title of first baronet of Ashbrooke Grange.
Early life
Barwick was born in Sunderland, Durham, as the eldest child of William Barwick (1816–1900), a Darlington-based farmer, and Mary Storey (1818–1888). Raised and educated in Sunderland, he pursued a career as a shipowner and operator of quarries. He passed away in 1915 at Thimbleby Hall near Osmotherley and was laid to rest at Sunderland Cemetery on Ryhope Road.
Career
Starting his professional journey as a clerk with Ryhope Coal Co. Ltd, owned by Lord Londonderry, Barwick progressed to managing director and sales agent roles. He acted as a business representative for Lord Londonderry.
He formed alliances with prominent northern industrialists such as Sir Christopher Furness and Sir Walter Scott, making significant investments across various sectors. Barwick participated in shipping enterprises led by Furness including the Northumberland Shipbuilding Company (NSB), renowned for introducing standardized cargo ships. In 1898, NSB was purchased by Rowland Hodge in a transaction that resulted in Hodge, Furness, and Barwick each acquiring an equal controlling stake of one-third. Additionally, Barwick became one of the principal shareholders in Furness Withy & Company, established in 1891 with a fleet servicing routes between New York and Newcastle.
Easington Colliery
The Easington Coal Company Limited was launched in 1899 through the collaboration of Sir Christopher Furness and Sir John Storey Barwick with an initial investment of £210,000. The company developed an untouched coalfield located along the coastline between Hartlepool and Seaham, targeting coal exports via ports at Sunderland and Seaham, both strongly connected to Barwick’s interests. As a director of the North Eastern Railway, Barwick played a key role in establishing railway links among these harbours. Mining operations faced difficulties due to coal seams lying beneath the North Sea, necessitating the use of a freezing plant to manage water ingress. By 1910, extraction had reached depths of 1,320 feet, ultimately producing premium-grade coal from an eleven-foot seam. The Iron & Coal Trades Review forecasted an annual production capacity approaching two million tons, potentially positioning it as the UK’s largest coal mine. Following Sir John’s death in 1915, his son assumed chairmanship until the colliery’s nationalisation in 1947. Easington remained operational for 94 years before closing in 1993 and was portrayed as the fictional Everington in the 2000 film Billy Elliot.
Other industries
In 1899, Barwick was appointed director of the Weardale Steel, Iron and Coal Co., established by Sir Christopher Furness to take over the Weardale Iron & Coal Company. This enterprise managed several collieries including Tudhoe, Croxdale, Black Prince, and Wheatley Hill.
By 1905, he had joined The Cargo Fleet Iron Co Ltd as a director. In 1909, together with Furness and Walter Scott, he acquired Wingate Coal Co., which they operated privately following a leveraged buyout primarily financed by the National Provincial Bank.
Barwick and Furness also invested in the Great Boulder Perseverance Gold Mining Company and acted as trustees and guarantors for Robert Stephenson and Company Limited. He held a directorship at the North Eastern Banking Company—formed to provide financial support for heavy industry—and maintained involvement with the European Petroleum Company.
Within maritime sectors, Barwick served as Director of Seaham Docks Limited and held memberships on the River Wear Commission, Local Marine Board, Chamber of Commerce; he also functioned as local director for Lloyd's British Testing Company.
In politics, Barwick was president of the Sunderland and North Durham Liberal Club in 1903 and played a leading role within the Sunderland Liberal Association. His public service extended to duties as both borough and county magistrate.
Personal life
Barwick was wed to Margaret Short (1853–1908), the daughter of George Short, a shipbuilder and the founder of Short Brothers of Sunderland. Together, they had six children: two sons and four daughters. His residences included Ashbrooke Grange in Sunderland and Thimbleby Hall located in Osmotherley, Northallerton, Yorkshire. Upon Barwick's passing in 1915, the baronetcy was inherited by his eldest son, Sir John Storey Barwick, 2nd Baronet (1876–1953).