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Description
Edward Pease,known as the"Father of the Railways",was the eldest son of Joseph Pease, who founded the Pease Partners Bank. Edward was educated locally and at a Quaker boarding school in Leeds. He joined his father in the family woollen business, where he was given a good grounding in all aspects of the industry. It was to be his chief interest for the next 40 years until he became actively involved in promoting and supporting the Stockton and Darlington Railway project. A report of 1818 came out strongly in favour of a tramway, and Edward and his colleagues promoted this scheme, believing that the motive power would be provided by horses. More...
Edward Pease,known as the"Father of the Railways",was the eldest son of Joseph Pease, who founded the Pease Partners Bank. Edward was educated locally and at a Quaker boarding school in Leeds. He joined his father in the family woollen business, where he was given a good grounding in all aspects of the industry. It was to be his chief interest for the next 40 years until he became actively involved in promoting and supporting the Stockton and Darlington Railway project. A report of 1818 came out strongly in favour of a tramway, and Edward and his colleagues promoted this scheme, believing that the motive power would be provided by horses. However,an historic meeting with George Stephenson change his opinion and convinced him of the viability of steam haulage.
In his later life, Edward began to give more of his attention to the Society of Friends, fully supporting the Anti-slavery
Bill. He has been described as the last of the "plain" Quakers of Darlington and grew concerned that worldly concerns and wealth was diverting his family from the simple life of their religion.
He died at his Darlington home at the age of 91.
Collection notes
Photographs of prominent local Quakers selected from photograph albums compiled by members of the Pease family.
The Quaker movement, or Society of Friends was founded by George Fox in 1647 and for many years members were persecuted and subjected to heavy fines for their refusal to attend the Established Church and to pay church rates and tithes.
The first preachers arrived in the North East shortly after 1650 and the first reported Darlington meeting was held at the house of Cuthbert Thompson in 1666. By 1678, land was acquired in Skinnergate to build a Meeting house and this was extended in 1768.
The Quaker influence has pervaded three centuries od Darlington's history. More...
Photographs of prominent local Quakers selected from photograph albums compiled by members of the Pease family.
The Quaker movement, or Society of Friends was founded by George Fox in 1647 and for many years members were persecuted and subjected to heavy fines for their refusal to attend the Established Church and to pay church rates and tithes.
The first preachers arrived in the North East shortly after 1650 and the first reported Darlington meeting was held at the house of Cuthbert Thompson in 1666. By 1678, land was acquired in Skinnergate to build a Meeting house and this was extended in 1768.
The Quaker influence has pervaded three centuries od Darlington's history. By the time of Queen Victoria's accession, many of the town's leading resideents were Quakers, amongst them the prominent Pease family. They were pioneers for public education, the establishment of the Town Mission and the provision of hospitals, and the town has good reason to be thankful for the Quaker contribution to railways, banking and the woollen and coal mining industries.
The first Darlington Quakers could never have anticipated the part that their successors were to play in the life of the town, even to the extent that a professional football team bears their name.
Almost everywhere in Darlington there is some reminder of the Quakers,and, in the words of Sir Christopher Wren "If you seek a memorial, look around you".
For more information contact
For a copy of this item please contact: Darlington Library, Crown Street, Darlington, Co Durham DL1 1ND, Telephone: 01325 349630, E-mail - crown.street.library@darlington.gov.uk |
Item name: Edward Pease,1767-1858