Contractor and Board Member – Francis Rummens

Francis William Rummens

1811 – 1893

Relationship with the Hatfield and St Albans Railway Company:

• Submitted tenders of £52,000 for a double line and £47,000 for a single line, to the Board meeting of 22^nd April 1863. A further tender was requested, as per the Parliamentary plans.
• Submitted a tender for an additional £18,730, for extra works, to the Board meeting of 6^th May 1863. The company engineer gave an estimate £3,041 lower. The GNR engineer gave a provisional estimate of £51,144. When asked if he could re-tender, he said he could, if proper working plans were given.
• Re-tendered for £60,000, including 6 months’ maintenance, if paid in cash, or £68,400 if paid 2/3 in cash and 1/3 in shares, to the Board meeting of 15^th May 1863. The GNR’s estimate was £57,176. FR explained the difference, and the Board agreed the tender, pending financial arrangements.
• The Board meeting of 17^th June 1863 accepted the tender of £68,400, and the solicitor is to draw up the contract.
• The construction contract was sealed on 17^th July 1863
• Elected to the Board at the meeting of 26^th October 1882.
• His first Board meeting was that of 14^th December 1882.
• Attended the last Board meeting, on Thursday 28^th February 1884.

Life Highlights:

• Born on 4^th August 1811 at Islington, Middlesex, of William & Rachel Rummens.
• Baptised at St Pancras Old Church on 9^th October 1811.
• Married Caroline Hillary on 9^th June 1838 in Pancras Parish Chapel, Camden, London.
• Died on 18^th July 1893.
• Probate granted to his widow Caroline, and others, on 15^th August 1893: effects £43,081.9.3.
• (Wife died in 1895: buried in same grave: Probate effects £112 1s.)
• Among his Directorships were:

1. The Caldbeck Fells (Consolidated) Lead and Copper Mining Company (Limited) (c1865).
2. The Parkgate Iron Company, Limited, Rotherham (c1874).
3. The Aylesbury and Buckingham Railway Company (c1876).
4. The Aylesbury and Buckingham Railway Company (c1875) (Chairman, c1877).
5. The Hatfield and St Albans Railway (1882-4).

Homes included:

• 5 Queen’s Square, Westminster, S.W.
• 40 Mecklenburgh Square, St Pancras, Middlesex.
• West End Lane, Pinner, Middlesex.
• The Grove, Pinner, Middlesex.
• 54 Warrington Crescent, Maida Vale, Middlesex.

He, his wife, 1 daughter, 1 son and 1 servant are at Bath Street, Great Crosby, Lancashire, in the 1851 census: Proprietor of Houses. He, his wife, 1 daughter, 2 sons, 3 grand-children and 4 servants are at 40 Mecklenburgh Square, St Pancras, Middlesex, in the 1861 census: Line Manufacturer employing 6 Women, 6 Men, 2 Boys. He, his wife, 1 daughter, 2 sons, 3 grand-children and 4 servants are at West End Lane, Pinner, Middlesex, in the 1871 census: Contractor (Land Owner). He, his wife, 2 daughters and 4 servants are at The Grove, Pinner, Middlesex, in the 1881 census: Income from Land. He, his wife, 1 daughter and 2 servants are at 54 Warrington Crescent, Paddington, in the 1891 census: retired Contractor.

Information gathered from:

• The Hatfield & St Albans Railway Company Minute Book.
• Census returns.
• Wills Index.
• The Times Digital Archive.
• Parish Registers.