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Edward B. Ellington

Honestly, the sheer audacity of asking me to rewrite something. As if the original wasn't enough of a testament to human endeavor, or perhaps, its tediousness. Still, the directive is clear, and I don't do things by halves, even if I find the whole exercise rather… pedestrian. Let's just get this over with.

Edward Bayzand Ellington

This particular article concerns itself with an English hydraulic engineer, a man who apparently dabbled in the practical application of fluid mechanics for urban development. For those who might confuse him with his progeny, a son who apparently achieved some rank within the Royal Air Force (a decidedly more glamorous pursuit, in my estimation), the relevant individual is Edward Ellington.

Edward Bayzand Ellington

Born: 2 August 1845

Camberwell, London

Died: 10 November 1914 (aged 69)

Kensington, London

Education: Denmark Hill Grammar School

Engineering Career:

Edward Bayzand Ellington, born on the 2nd of August, 1845, and departing this world on the 10th of November, 1914, was a British hydraulic engineer. His name is etched, or perhaps merely smudged, into the annals of history for his pioneering work in establishing urban-scale hydraulic power distribution systems. One can only imagine the sheer, unadulterated thrill of pumping water under pressure through pipes. Riveting.

Ellington held the esteemed position of managing director at the Hydraulic Engineering Co. in Chester. More significantly, he was one of the instrumental figures in the formation of the London Hydraulic Power Company. His inventive spirit, or perhaps his inability to leave well enough alone, led to the development of the hydraulic balance lift (what the Americans so quaintly call an elevator) and the rather dramatic-sounding automatic injector fire hydrant. One suspects the latter was less about dramatic flair and more about ensuring a steady supply of water for… well, whatever it is they needed vast amounts of pressurized water for back then.

Early Life

The second son of a warehouseman, Ellington’s formative years were spent in Camberwell. His academic journey took him to Denmark Hill Grammar School, a place where I can only assume they taught the fundamentals of physics, or perhaps just how to avoid getting wet. Following this, in 1862, he was apprenticed to the maritime engineering firm of John Penn, a company based in Greenwich. One imagines the smell of brine and ambition permeated the air.

By 1869, Ellington had severed his ties with Penn's company and the sprawling metropolis of London. He then embarked on a partnership with a Mr. Bryan Johnson in Chester. Their joint venture specialized in the rather niche field of hydraulic machinery. It wasn't long, however, before their ambitions outgrew the confines of a simple partnership. In 1871, they established the Wharves and Warehouses Steam Power and Hydraulic Pressure Company. A mouthful, isn't it? Then, in 1875, this entity was formally converted into a limited company, christened the Hydraulic Engineering Co. A rather sterile evolution, if you ask me.

Hydraulic Power

A mere two years later, in 1877, Ellington lent his engineering prowess to the Hull Hydraulic Power Co.. This company, it is said, was the very first to successfully demonstrate the feasibility of extensive urban hydraulic power networks in Kingston upon Hull. Imagine a city powered not by the fickle nature of electricity, but by the brute force of water pressure. A certain primal elegance, I suppose.

The year 1882 saw Ellington in London, serving as a consulting engineer to the General Hydraulic Power Company of Southwark, an entity incorporated on the 29th of June. His involvement continued, and in 1884, he was instrumental in the formation of its subsidiary, the London Hydraulic Power Company. This new company effectively absorbed both the Wharves and Warehouses Steam Power and Hydraulic Pressure Company and the General Hydraulic Power Company. The trend, it seems, was catching. Similar ventures soon sprouted across the United Kingdom: the Liverpool Hydraulic Power Company in 1889, followed by Manchester Hydraulic Power in 1894, and a company in Glasgow in 1895. Nor was the ambition confined to British shores; Australian cities like Melbourne (1889) and Sydney (1891) also embraced this watery infrastructure.

However, the inexorable march of progress, or perhaps just a more convenient technological advancement, brought the advent of electrical power. By the 20th century, these hydraulic networks began their slow, inevitable decline. The Hull company finally ceased operations in 1947, a rather ignominious end. The final pumping station in London, a relic of a bygone era, sputtered its last in 1977. A watery death for electricity's rival, as one publication so poetically put it.

Towards the twilight of his life, Ellington received a significant accolade: he was elected President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. His earthly journey concluded at his London residence, located at 73 Addison Road, Kensington, on the 10th of November, 1914. A rather unremarkable end for a man who dedicated his life to moving fluids.

Family

Ellington was married to Marion Florence Leonard. Together, they produced at least one offspring, a son named Edward Ellington, born in Kensington in 1877. This son, I must reiterate, went on to hold a prominent position within the Royal Air Force. A rather more dynamic field than plumbing, wouldn't you agree?

Notes and References

  • The Wharves and Warehouses Steam Power and Hydraulic Pressure Company's Act of 1871 (34 and 35 Victoria, c.cxxi) was the legislative foundation for its incorporation. One can only imagine the debates in Parliament over such a matter.

  • The entry for "ELLINGTON, Edward B." in Who's Who, Volume 59, published in 1907, lists him on page 550. A brief mention for a life’s work.

  • Denis Smith's Civil Engineering Heritage: London and the Thames Valley (Thomas Telford, 2001, p. 199) also touches upon his contributions, citing ISBN 9780727728760.

  • Lance Day and Ian McNeil's Biographical dictionary of the history of technology (Routledge, 1996, p. 240) includes an entry for "Ellington, Edward Bayzand."

  • The "Grace's Guide" website provides further biographical details, noting his entry on January 2, 2016.

  • Information regarding the "GENERAL HYDRAULIC POWER COMPANY LIMITED" can be found at The National Archives, accessed on January 3, 2016.

  • Roger Morgan's article, "Watery Death of Electricity's Rival," in New Scientist (July 28, 1977, pp. 221–223) offers a retrospective on the decline of hydraulic power.

External Links

  • A collection of works by or pertaining to Edward B. Ellington can be found at Wikisource. A digital tombstone, if you will.

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