35. Jesse and Sarah Lambert of Shropshire

Jesse Lambert was born in 1804 in Dawley, Shropshire. His parents were John and Ann Lambert.

Sarah Cartwright was born in 1812 in Little Wenlock, Shropshire. Her parents were John and Margaret Cartwright.

Jesse and Sarah were married in 1831 in Dawley.

They had ten children:

• 50.1.1 - Benjamin Lambert (1832)
• 50.1.2 - Joseph Lambert (1834)
• 50.1.3 - Sarah Lambert (1837)
• 50.1.4 - Elizabeth Lambert (1838)
• 50.1.5 - Daniel Lambert (1841)
• 50.1.6 - Jane Lambert (1843)
• 50.1.7 - Jesse Lambert (1846)
• 50.1.8 - John Lambert (1848)
• 50.1.9 - Mary Ann Lambert (1850)
• 50.1.10 - Hannah Lambert (1852)

More on these individuals in Chapter 50.

The family lived in Horsehay (in the Old Potteries in 1841). Jesse was described as a puddler in 1841 and 1861, a forgeman in 1851, and, presumably by way of semi-retirement, a messenger in 1871. He died in 1875. 

Dawley Potteries (Old Dawley - Haynes)

 

Puddling was an improved process to convert pig iron into wrought iron with the use of a reverberatory furnace. A puddler and helper could produce about a ton and a half of iron in a 12-hour shift. The strenuous work, heat and fumes caused puddlers to have a short life expectancy, with most dying in their 30s. Puddling was never automated because the puddler had to sense when the balls had "come to nature".

Bedlam Furnace, Coalbrookdale (my photo)

Sarah was not literate. After Jesse’s death, she became an office cleaner, living with daughters Sarah and Hannah, a servant and dressmaker respectively - and with a 17 year age gap. She was retired by 1891 and died in 1901.

Horsehay had been nothing more than a farm, until 1755 when Abraham Darby II built a blast furnace next to what is now known as Horsehay Pool, thereby contributing to the birth of the industrial revolution and the early large-scale production of iron. The Coalbrookdale Company further developed the area, constructing brickworks and later a pottery in 1838. Coalbrookdale specialised in the smaller and more decorative ironwork pieces, whereas Horsehay produced many larger scale products, including pre-fabricated bridges for export all over the world. As late as the early 1980s, the site was being used to manufacture some of the largest cranes in Europe. The houses which were kept for the ironworks employees were clustered around Horsehay Pool in Spring Village, and they are still lived in today. The offices of the Ironworks are listed.

A railway from Horsehay to the nearby Severn wharves was built and the first waggon of 'pigs' (iron) was sent down Jiggers bank through Coalbrookdale and on to the wharves almost within sight of the Ironbridge. Ironbridge was completed by Abraham Darby III in 1779. "Ironbridge is known throughout the world as the symbol of the Industrial Revolution. It contains all the elements of progress that contributed to the rapid development of this industrial region in the 18th century, from the mines themselves to the railway lines. Nearby, the blast furnace of Coalbrookdale, built in 1708, is a reminder of the discovery of coke. The bridge at Ironbridge, the world's first bridge constructed of iron, had a considerable influence on developments in the fields of technology and architecture." World Heritage citation.

Ironbridge (my photo)

I remember spotting the All Labour in Vain pub on a big, old map in the Local History Centre in Shrewsbury years ago, and it conjured up industrial images in my mind. I was pleasantly surprised later on the same trip to see that the pub still existed. When I saw the pub's sign I was shocked! The pub has been demolished in recent years.

All Labour in Vain, Horsehay (credit)

All Labour in Vain Pub Sign (credit)

Next (Jesse's siblings)