The life of George Stephenson, railway engineer

Front matter

Cft?A'

m i

Cornell University Library

Contents

CHAPTEK I.

The Vill^e of Wylam. — Birthplace of George Stephenson. — His Parentage. — Wylam Waggon-way. — Dewley-Burn - Pp.1 — 6

CHAP. n.

Chap. VI

Killingworth Colliery.— Journey into Scotland.— Appointed Brakesman at Killingworth. — Intends emigrating to the United States. — Takes a Contract for Engine-brakeing. — Makes Improvements in Pumping Engines, and acquires Celebrity as a Pump-curer - - 33—44

CHAP. vn.

Self-improvement. — His Studies with John Wigham, the Farmer's Son. — Sends his Son to School.— The Cottage at West Moor. — Ingenuity of his Contrivances. — Is appointed Engine- wright of the Colliery. — Erects his First Engine. — Evening Studies. — His Obligations to the Newcastle Literary Institute ----- 45 — 55

CHAP. vni.

The Beginnings of Railways and Locomotives. — Early Tramroads. — Speculations as to mechanical Methods of Traction. — Cugnot's Model Locomotive. — Symington's Model. — Murdoch's Model. — Treve- Thick's Steam-carriage and Locomotive. — Blenkinsop's Engine. — Mr. Blackett's Experiments at Wylam . . - . 56 — 78

CHAP. IX.

Mr. Stephenson contemplates building a. Locomotive. — Is encouraged by Lord Ravensworth. — Want of competent Mechanics. — Mr. Stephenson's First Locomotive described. — Successful Application of the Steam-blast. — His Second Locomotive. — Summary of the important Results effected ...... 79_92

CHAP. X.

Fatal Accidents from Explosions in Coal Mines. — Blasts in the Killing, worth Pit. — Mr. Stephenson's Experiments with Fire damp. — Con. trives the First practicable Miners' Safety Lamp. — Its Trial in the Killingworth Pit. ^Further Experiments and Improvements on the Lamp. — Exhibited at Newcastle .... <)3_107

CONTENTS. XI

CHAP. XI.

The Invention of the Tube Lamp. — Mr. Stephenson charged with Pirating Sir H. Davy's Idea. — His Reply. — Dates of the respective Inventions. — Controversy on the Subject. — Testimonials presented to both the Inventors. — Summary of Evidence as to the Invention of the Lamp ------ Pp. 108—131

CHAP. XII.

Further Improvements in the Locomotive. — Invents an improved Rail and Chair. — Invents Steam Springs. — Experiments on Friction and

Gravity. — 'Yiews on Flat Gradients Superiority of Iron Roads over

CHAP. XIII.

His Self-education continued. — Views on Education The Sun-dial at

Killingworth. — Apprentices his Son as Underviewer at the Colliery. — Sends him to Edinburgh University . - - 144 — 152

CHAP. XIV.

Slow Progress of Opinion as to Railway Locomotion.— Sir Richard Phillips's Prophetic Anticipations. — William James. — Edward Pease, Projector of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. — Thomas Gray. — Mr. Stephenson constructs the Hetton Railway - - 153 — 172

CHAP. XV.

Defective Communication between Liverpool and Manchester. — A Tramroad projected. — Mr. James Surveys a Line. — Visits Mr. Stephenson at Killingworth. — Is admitted to an Interest in the Patent Locomotive. — Fails to introduce it on existing Railways - 173 — 182

CHAP. XVL

Mr. Stephenson's Introduction to Mr. Pease. — Is appointed Engineer to

the Stockton and Darlington Railway. — Makes a new Survey.

Proposed Employment of Locomotives. — Fixed Engines advocated. — Mr. Pease visits Killingworth. — Enters into a Partnership with Mr. Stephenson in a Locomotive Foundry - - . 133 — jgj

XU CONTENTS.

CHAP. XVII.

Working Survey of the Stockton and Darlington Line. — Wrought-iron Rails adopted. — The Gauge of the Railway settled. — The Tractive

Power to be employed Anticipations of Railway Results. — Public

Opening of the Line. — "The Experiment." — Rival Coach Companies. — Race between Locomotive and Coach. — Results of the Traffic. — Creation of Middlesborough-on-Tees - - Pp. 192—208

CHAP. XVIII.

Want of skilled Mechanics. — Mr. Stephenson establishes a Locomotive

Manufactory at Newcastle. — Alleged Monopoly " Edinburgh

Review" Article. — The Stephenson School of Engineers - 209 — 215

CHAP. XIX.

Project of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway revived. — The Canal Companies' Opposition. — Provisional Committee formed. — Their Visits to Killingworth. — Mr. Stephenson appointed to Survey a Line. — Difficulties encountered. — Articles in the " Scotsman " and " Quarterly " on Railways ..... 216—231

CHAP. XX.

The Liverpool and Manchester Bill in Committee of the House of Commons. — Mr. Stephenson in the Witness-box. — Mr. Giles proves the Impossibility of forming a Railway over Chat Moss. — Mr. Stephenson's Ignorance denounced by the Counsel for the Opposition. — Mr. Adam's Appeal. — Defeat of essential Clauses, and Withdrawal of the Bill ....... 232—251

CHAP. XXL

Rene-wed Application to Parliament for the Liverpool and Manchester Bill. — Messrs. Rennie selected as Parliamentary Engineers. — Passing of the Act. — Mr. Stephenson appointed chief Engineer. — The Drainage of Chat Moss. — The Directors contemplate the Abandonment of the Work. — Mr. Stephenson's Perseverance. — His Organisation of Labour.— The Railway Navvy. — Mr. Robert Stephenson joins his Father. — Adventurous Career of Trevethicfc - - 252 — 272

CONTENTS. XUl

CHAP. XXII.

General Opposition to the Locomotive. — Mr. Telford's Report — Variety of Schemes suggested for the working of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. — Messrs. Walker and Rastrick's Report in favour of fixed Engines and against the Locomotive. — Mr. Robert Stephenson and Mr. Locke's Reply. — The Directors offer a Prize of 500?. for the best Engine. — Construction of the "Rocket." — Invention of the Multitubular Boiler. — Mr. R. Stephenson's Account. — The Locomotive Contest at Rainhill. —Triumph of the " Rocket " - Pp. 273—294

CHAP. XXIII.

Public Opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. — Fatal Accident to Mr. Huskisson. — Lord Brougham's Panegyric of the Railway. — Results of the Traffic. — Further Improvements in the Locomotive. — Improvement of the Road - - -295-307

CHAP. XXIV.

Importance of Mr. Stephenson's Invention of the Passenger Engine. — Government and Railways. — Joint Stock Companies. — New Railways projected and made. — The London and Birmingham Railway. — The Kilsby Tunnel. — Excess in the Cost of 'Construction beyond the Estimates. — Magnitude of the Works. — Comparison with the Great Pyramid - - .... 308—329

CHAP. XXV.

Advance of Public Opinion in favour of Railways. — Singular Instances of Opposition to Railways and Predictions of Failure.— "Parliamentary Expenses. — Locomotion on Common Roads promoted by the Legislature.— Results of the Opening from London to Liverpool, &c. — Benefits to the Public. — Travelling by Stage Coach and Private Carriage superseded - - . . . 330—343

CHAP. XXVL

Leases the Snibston Estate. — Discovery of Beds of Coal. — Busiest Part of Mr. Stephenson's Life. — Becomes Engineer of Lines in the Northern and Midland Districts. — The Manchester and Leeds. — Lord Wharncliffe's Opposition in Committee. — The Summit Tunnel . —

XIV €ONTENTS.

The North Midland. — Comparison of the WorkB with Napoleon's Road across the Simplon. — Mr. Stephenson's Anticipations as to the Coal Traffic to London by Railway. — The York and North Midland. — Public Opening. — The Sheffield and Rotherham. — Mr. Stephenson's Pupils and Assistants .... Pp. 344 — 354

CHAP. XXVIL

Surveys an East Coast Line to Scotland. — Line from Chester to Holyhead. — West Coast Line to Glasgow. — Leeds and Bradford. — • Rapidity of Railway Development. — Is checked by the Monetary Pressure ------- 365—375

CHAP. XXVIII.

The Modern School of English Engineers. — Fast Men, — History of the Narrow Gauge. — Increased Width on the Great Western. — Mr. Brunei. — Battle of the Gauges. — The Atmospheric Railway, — The Undulating System. — Notions of Fast Travelling. — Mr. Stephenson invents a Railway Safety-brake. — His moderate Views of Railway Speed, &o., compared with those of the Fast Men - - 376 — 393

CHAP. XXIX.

Mr. Stephenson resigns the Chief Engineership of several Railways. — Residence at Tapton in Derbyshire. — Business Pursuits. — Proposed Testimonial to him. — His Interest in Mechanics' Institutes. — Chairman of Yarmouth and Norwich Railway. — Completion of the East Coast Route to Newcastle. — Public Celebration of the Event. — ^ Autobiographb Sketch. — The Newcastle High Level Bridge.

394—411

CHAP. XXX.

Railway Management. — Railway Success stimulates Speculation. — Multitude of new Projects. — Sale of Premiums of new Shares on 'Change. — The Railway Mania. — Mr. Stephenson holds aloof from, and discountenances it. — Immense Number of New Lines authorised by Parliament. — Sir Robert Peel's Encouragement of direct and uneven Lines. — Mr. Stephenson's Letter of Expostulation.— Legislative Bungling. — Great Waste of Capital. — Demoralising Effects of

CONTENTS. XV

tlie Mania. — The Navvy as a Contractor. — Mr. Stephenson's Mode of executing Railway Works - - - . Pp. 412—429

CHAP. XXXI.

Introduction to Mr. Hudson. — His Railway Career. — Acknowledgment of Mr. Stephenson's Services. — Public Statue proposed. — Results of the Railway Saturnalia. — Mr. Hudson dethroned - - 430 — 439

CHAP. XXXII.

* The Railway System early adopted by Leopold, King of the Belgians. — Mr. Stephenson consulted in the laying out of the Belgian Railways. — Is made Knight of the Order of Leopold. — Journey of Railway Inspection in Belgium. — Banquet at Brussels. — Interview with the King. — Visit to France and Spain. — Illness and Return to England 440-451

CHAP. XXXIII.

Horticultural Pursuits at Tapton. — His Pines, Melons, and Grapes. — Makes Cucumbers grow straight. — Stock-feeding. — Theory of Vegetation. — Fattening of Chickens. — Indoor habits. — Visits of Friends.

— Reverence for Nature. — The Microscope. — Spirit of Frolic. — A " Crowdie Night." — Humble Visitors. — Rebukes Foppery. — Visits to London and Newcastle. — The Clay Cross Workmen's Institute

452—461

CHAP. XXXIV.

Correspondence with Inventors. — Invents a Three-cylinder Locomotive. His self-acting Carriage-brake. — Public Opening of the Trent Valley Railway. — Railway Celebration at Manchester. — Illness and Death.

— Tribute of the London and North Western Railway Company to his Memory. — Personal Sketch . - - . 462 — 473

CHAP. XXXV.

Character of George Stephenson. — Race. — Self-reliance. — Improvement of Time. — Perseverance. — Encounter with Difficulties. — Thoroughness. — Determination. — Attention to Details. — Care for his Son's Education. — Admiration inspired by him. — Honest Thrift. — Patience. — Comparison with Watt. — Manners and Deportment. — Conversation. — Bold Theorising. — Close Observation of Facts. — Hatred of Humbug. — Generosity. — The Civil Engineers. — Conclusion ....... 474 — 489

XVI CONTENTS.

KESUMB OF THE KAILWAY SYSTEM AND ITS RESULTS. Bt R. Stephenson, Esq., M.P.

Length of Railways in Great Britain. — Cost. — Works. — Working. — Traffic. — Wear and Tear. — Fares. — Postal Facilities afforded by Railw!^^. — Legislation for Railways. — Management of Railways. — Electric Telegraph. — Accidents. — General Results. — Practical Application --.... Pp. 491-528

LIFE

GEORGE STEPHENSON.

Chapter I. Early Tears

About eight miles west of Newcastle-on-Tyne stands the colliery village of Wylam, consisting of a number of mean cottages, situated on the north bank of the river Tyne. The Newcastle and Carlisle railway runs along the opposite bank of the river ; and the traveller by that line sees only the usual signs of a colliery in the unsightly pumping-engine, surrounded by heaps of ashes, coal-dust, and slag ; while a neighbouring iron-furnace, in full blast, throws out dense smoke and loud jets of steam by day, and lurid flames at night. These works form the nucleus of the village, which is almost entirely occupied by coal miners and iron-furnace men. There is nothing to interest one in the village itself. But, a few hundred yards from its eastern extremity, stands a humble detached dwelling, which will be interesting to many as the birthplace of George Stephenson, the Railway Engineer. It is a common, two-storied, red-tiled building, portioned off into four labourers' apartments. The house is known by the name of High Street House, and was origi-

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2 LIFE OF GEORGE STEPHENSON. [cHAP. I.

nally so called because it stands by the side of what used to be the old riding Post Eoad or Street, between Newcastle and Hexham, along which the Post was carried on horseback within the memory of people still living. At an earlier period, this road used to be so unsafe, that the Judges, when on circuit, were escorted along it by a considerable body of armed men, as a protection against the freebooters who infested the district. A sum of money denominated " dagger money," was annually paid by the Sheriff of Newcastle, for the purpose of providing daggers and other weapons for the escort ; and this tribute continued to be paid to the Judges until quite recently.

The lower room in the west end of the humble cottage referred to, was the home of the Stephenson family, and there George Stephenson was born on the 9th of June, 1781. The apartment is now, what it was then, an ordinary labourer's dwelling, — its walls unplastered, its floor of clay, and the bare rafters are exposed overhead.

Robert Stephenson, or " Old Bob," as the neighbours familiarly called him, and his wife Mabel, were a respectable couple, careful and hard working. They belonged to the ancient and honourable family of Workers — that extensive family which constitutes the backbone of our country's greatness — the common working people of England. A tradition is, indeed, preserved in the family, that old Kobert Stephenson's father and mother came across the Border from Scotland, on the loss of considerable property there : Miss Stephenson, daughter of Robert Stephenson's fourth son John, states that a suit was even commenced for the recovery of the property, but was dropt for want of means to prosecute it. Certain it is, however, that Robert Stephenson's position throughout life was that of a humble workman. After marrying at Walbottle, — a village situated between Wylam and Newcastle, he removed with his wife Mabel to "Wylam, where he found employment

Chap. I.] His Mothek. 3

as fireman of the old pumping-englne at that colliery. The engine which he "fired," has long since been removed: as an old villager said of it, " she stood till she grew fearsome to look at, and then she was pulled down."

Mabel Stephenson was the only daughter of Robert Carr, a dyer at Ovingham. Her family had dwelt in the neighbourhood of Newcastle for generations. The author, when engaged in tracing the early history of George Stephenson, casually entered into conversation one day with an old man near Dewley, a hamlet close adjoining "Walbottle. Mabel Stephenson, he said, had been his mother's cousin; and all their " forbears " belonged to that neighbourhood. It appears that she was a woman of somewhat delicate constitution, nervous in temperament, and troubled occasionally, as her neighbours said, with " the vapours." But those who remember her concur in asserting that " she was a rale canny body." And a woman of whom this is said by general consent, in the Newcastle district, may be pronounced a worthy person indeed. It is about the highest praise of a woman which Northumbrians can express. The meaning of the word " canny " with them is quite different from that which it bears in Yorkshire or the Scotch Lowlands. To be " canny," amongst the Scotch, is to be somewhat innocuous and rather soft ; in Yorkshire, it means sly and knowing, with an assumed simplicity of manner ; but in Northumberland, it means goodness itself — something closely approaching to perfection. Applied to a woman, it " caps " every other compliment, and is a climax to them all.

The Northumbrian people generally, exhibit many striking and characteristic qualities, inherited most probably from the hardy and energetic Northmen who settled in such numbers along the north-eastern coasts many centuries ago. Taking them as a whole, they are bigger and hardier men *, — more

* Their tenacity of life would seem to be greater. Tlie locomotive engineer

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4 LIFE OP GEORGE STEPHENSON. [cfHAP. i.

enterprising, energetic, and laborious, — and of more marked individuality, — than the inhabitants of our more southern counties. They are rougher in manner and more difficult to polish ; but they are full of shrewdness and mother-wit, and possessed of great strength of character, of which, indeed, their remarkable guttural speech is but a type. The name Stephenson or Stevenson is said to signify, in the Norse tongue, the son of Steeve, or the strong ; and certainly the subject of this story exhibited, in a remarkable manner, this characteristic quality of his family.

George Stephenson was the second of a family of six children.* As at that time the wages of a fireman, when in full work, did not amount to more than twelve shillings a week, it may be inferred that, even with the most rigid economy, there was very little to spare for the clothing, and nothing for the schooling, of the children. As an aged neighbour, who remembers them well, says of the parents — " They had very little to come and go upon — they were honest folk, but sore haudden doon in the world," Kobert Stephenson was a slender man, of attenuated frame. He was an exceedingly

of a large railway Infonns me, as the result of a long experience, that the north-country engine-drivers and stokers usually recover from injuries to body and limb, which to south-country workmen are almost invariably fatal.

* The family bible of Robert and Mabel Stephenson, which seems to have come into their possession in November, 1790, contains the following record of the births of these children, evidently written by one hand and at one time : — •' A Eechester of the children belonging Robert and Mabel Stephenson-^ " James Stepheson Was Born March the 4 day 1779 " George Stepheson Was Bom June 9 day 1781 " Elender Stepheson Was Born April the 16 day 1784 " Robert Stepheson Was Born March the 10 day 1788 "John Stepheson Was Born November the 4 day 1789 " Ann Stepheson Was Born July the 19 day 1792."

Of the two daughters, Eleanor married Stephen Liddell, afterwards employed in the Locomotive Factory in Newcastle j and Ann married John Nixon, with whom she emigrated to the United States. John Stephenson was accidentally killed at the Locomotive Factoiy in January, 1831.

CHAP. 1.] BOY LIFE, 5

amiable person, and was long remembered for his curious love of nature as well as of romance. He was accustomed, while tending his engine-fire in the evenings, to draw around him the young people of the village, and toTeast their imaginations with his wonderful stories of Sinbad the Sailor and Robinson Crusoe, besides others of his own invention. Hence he was an immense favourite with all the boys and girls of the place, and "Bob's engine-fire" wasalways their favourite resort. Another feature in his character, by which he was long remembered, was his strong aflfection for birds and animals of all sorts. In the winter time, he had usually a flock of tame robins about him, and they would come hopping familiarly round the engine-fire, to pick up the crumbs which he saved for them out of his slender dinner. In summer time, he went bird-nesting in his leisure hours ; and one day he took his little boy George to see a blackbird's nest for the first time. Holding him up in his arms, the boy gazed with wonder into the nest full of young birds — a sight which he never forgot, but used to speak of with delight to his intimate friends, when he himself had grown an old man.

While a boy at Wylam, George led the ordinary life of working-people's children. He played about the doors ; went bird-nesting when he could ; and ran errands to the village. In course of time he was promoted to the office of carrying his father's dinner to him while at work ; and he helped to nurse his younger brothers arid sisters at home, — for in the poor man's dwelling every hand must early be turned to useful account. None of the children ever went to school; the family was too poor, and food too dear, to admit of that.

One of the duties of the elder children was to see that the younger ones were kept out of the way of the chaldron waggons, which were then dragged by horses along- the wooden tramroad immediately in front of the cottage door. Woodep railways were early used in Northumberland, and this at

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6 LIFE OF GEORGE STEPHENSON. [chap, u

Wylam was destined to be the first on which a locomotive engine travelled regularly between the coal-pit and the loading quay. At the time, however, of which we speak, locomotives had scarcely been dreamt of; horses were still the only tractive power ; and one of the daily sights of young Stephenson was the coal-waggons dragged by their means along this wooden railway at Wylam.

Thus eight years passed ; after which, the coal having been worked out on the north side, the old engine was pulled down, and the Stephenson family, following the work, removed from Wylam to Dewley Burn. The Duke of Northumberland (to whom most of the property in the neighbourhood belongs) had opened a new pit there. An engine was erected, of which Robert Hawthorn, father of the afterwards celebrated Newcastle engineers, was the plugman or engineman ; and Robert Stephenson was appointed to act as his fireman.

Dewley Burn at this day consists of a few old-fashioned, low-roofed cottages, standing on either side of a babbling little stream. They are connected by a rustic wooden bridge, which spans the rift in front of the doors. In the central one-roomed cottage of this group, on the right bank, Robert Stephenson settled for a time with his family. The pit at which he was employed stood in the rear of the cottages. It has long since been worked out and closed in ; and only the marks of it are now visible, — a sort of blasted grass covering, but scarcely concealing, the scorise and coal-dust accumulated about the mouth of the old pit. Looking across the fields, one can still discern the marks of the former waggon-way, leading in the direction of Walbottle. It was joined on its course by another waggon-road leading from the direction of Black Callerton. Indeed, there is scarcely a field in the neighbourhood that does not exhibit traces of the workings of former pits. But grass now grows over all the waggonroads there. The coal has all been " won," and pit engines, apparatus, and workmen have long since passed away.

Chap. II. Begins A Cakeee Of Labour

As every child in a poor man's house is a burden until his little hands can be turned to profitable account and made to earn money towards supplying the indispensable wants of the family, George Stephenson was put to work as soon as an opportunity of employment presented itself. A widow, named Grace Ainslie, then occupied the neighbouring farm-house of Dewley. She kept a number of cows, and had the privilege of grazing them along the waggon-ways. She needed a boy to herd the cows, to keep them oul of the way of the waggons, and to prevent their straying or trespassing on the neighbours' " liberties ; " the boy's duty was also to bar the gates at night after all the waggons had passed. George petitioned for this post, and to his great joy he was appointed, at the wage of two-pence a day.

It was light employment, and he had plenty of spare time on his hands, which he spent in bird-nesting, making whistles out of reeds and scrannel straws, and erecting Lilliputian mills in the little water streams that ran into the Dewley bog. But his favourite amusement at this early age was erecting clay engines, in conjunction with his chosen playmate, Tom Thirlaway. They found the clay for their engines in the adjoining bog, and the hemlock, which grew about, supplied them with abundance of imaginary steampipes. The place is still pointed out, "just aboon the cutend," as the people of the hamlet describe it, where the

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8 LIFE OH GEORGE STEPHENSON. [cHAP. II,

future engineer made his first essays in modelling. This early indication of a mechanical turn may remind the reader of a similar anecdote of the boy Smeaton, who, when missed one day by his parents, was found mounted on the roof of the cottage fixing a puny windmill.

As the boy grew older and more able to work, he was set to lead the horses when ploughing, though scarce big enough to stride across the furrows ; and he used afterwards to say, that he rode to his work in the mornings, at an hour when most other children of his age were fast asleep in their beds. He was also employed to hoe turnips, and do similar farm work, for which he was paid the advanced wage of fourpence a day. But his highest ambition was to be taken on at the colliery where his father worked; and he shortly joined his elder brother James there as a " corf-bitter," or "picker," where he was employed in clearing the coal of stones, bats, and dross. His wages were now advanced to six-pence a day, and afterwards to eight-pence when he was set to drive the Gin-horse.

Shortly after, he went to Black Callerton Colliery to drive the. Gin there. And as that colliery lies about two miles across the fields from Dewley Burn, the boy walked that distance early in the morning to his work, returning home late in the evening. Some of the old people of Black Callerton still remember him as a " grit bare-legged laddie," and they describe him as being then " very quick-witted, and full of fun and tricks." As they said, "there was nothing under the sun but he tried to imitate." He was usually foremost in the sports and pastimes of youth.

Among his first strongly developed tastes, was the love of birds and animals, which he inherited from his father. Blackbirds were his especial favourites. The hedges between Dewley and Black Callerton were capital bird-nesting places; and there was not a nest there that he did not know of.

CHAP. 11.] IS APPOINTED ASSISTANT FIREMAN. 9

When the young birds were old enough, he would bring them home with him, feed them, and teach them to fly about the cottage unconfined by cages. One of his blackbirds became so tame, that after flying about the doors all day, and in and out of the cottage, it would take up its roost upon the bedhead at night. And most singular of all, the bird would disappear in the spring and summer months, when it was supposed to go into the woods, to pair and rear its young, after which it would reappear at the cottage and resume its social habits during the winter. This went on for several years. George had also a stock of tame rabbits, for which he built a little house behind the cottage, and for many years he continued to pride himself upon the superiority of his breed.

After he had driven the Gin for some time at Dewley and Black Callerton, he was at length taken on as an assistant to his father in firing the engine at Dewley. This was a step of promotion which he had anxiously desired ; his only fear being lest he should be found too young for the work. Indeed, he afterwards used to relate how he was wont to hide himself from sight when the owner of the colliery went round, lest he should be thought too little a boy thus to earn his small wages. Since he had modelled his clay engines in the bog, his young ambition was to be an engineman. And to be an assistant fireman was the first step towards this position. Great therefore was his exultation when, at about fourteen years of age, he was appointed assistant fireman, at the wage of a shilling a day.

But the coal at Dewley Burn being at length worked out, and the pit being about to be " laid in," the family prepared for another removal. This time their removal was to JoUy's Close, a few miles to the south, close behind the village of Newburn, where another coal mine of the Duke's, called " the Duke's Winnin," had recently been opened out.

Jolly's Close then consisted of a small row of cottages

10 LIFE OF GEOBGE STEPHENSON. [chap. n.

situated upon a flat space of ground enclosed by lofty banks on either side, at the bottom of the narrow rift called Walbottle Dean. Jolly's Close, however, no longer exists, and only a few of the oldest people in the neighbourhood are aware that such a place ever was, A mountain of earth, shale, and debris, the accumulation of fifty years, lies tumbled over its site, — the rubbish, or "deeds," having been shot over from the hill side, once a green hill, but now a scarified, blasted rock, along which furnaces blaze and engines labour night and day. The stream in the hollow, which used to run in front of old Robert Stephenson's cottage door, is made to pay tribute in the form of water-power at every wheel in the Dean ; and only a narrow strip now remains of what was once a green meadow.

One of the very few old people in the neighbourhood, who knew the family well, describes the dwelling in which they lived, as a poor cottage of only one room, in which the father, mother, four sons and two daughters, lived and slept. It was crowded with three low-poled beds. This one apartment served for parlour, kitchen, sleeping-room, and all. The coLtage went with the work, and the use of it formed part of the workman's wage, — th.e Duke being both the employer and the landlord.