Francis Ley
Encyclopedia
Sir Francis Ley, 1st Baronet (3 January 1846 – 27 January 1916) created Ley's Malleable Castings Vulcan Ironworks in Derby
. He owned Ley's Baseball Ground
from 1890 to 1924 which was the home to Derby County F.C.
He (re-)introduced baseball
into the United Kingdom
with the Derby County Baseball Club
. In 1905, Ley was created a Baronet
, of Epperstone Manor
. In the same year he served as High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire
.
which at the time was in south-west Derbyshire (its now in Staffordshire). He was the only son of George Phillips Ley and Sarah (born Potts). He started work at Andrew Handyside & Co. as a draughtsman and learnt about engineering. At the age of 28 he founded his own company besides the railway line in Derby
.
In 1878 he had the dubious pleasure of being sued for patent infringement by an American drive chain belt company. The case was settled to the benefit of all and Ley's company was awarded sole manufacturing rights. By the 1880's Ley was demolishing his old works and rebuilding on a grander scale. Ley was never sporting but was an enthusiast for sport. He sat of the board of Derbyshire County Cricket Club. The new factory was to include expensive sporting facilities.
's world tour with his baseball team in 1889 when it played in England.
A national professional body was started in 1890 and a letter was sent to Albert Spalding in America requesting help in establishing a league. The British requested eight to ten players to coach and convert the existing players who whose primary game was usually soccer. Spalding, who also sold sporting goods, was enthusiastic and sent a skilled manager, Jim Hart
and players: William J. Barr, Charles Bartlett, J.E.Prior and Leech Maskrey
.
The intention had been to have eight teams but initially there were just four Aston Villa, Preston North End, Stoke and Derby
. The first three used Jim Hart to decide the line-up of their teams, but Ley, who had more experience of baseball, made his own decisions. The ground had its own professional team that won the British .... times in the 1890's. The team was criticised for having too many American professionals (three) who assisted in the victories. Derby County therefore withdrew their team for the first year when they would have been the first league champions. The other accusation was that baseball was being hyped in a way that the British found offensive.
Another problem was the start of Derby County Football Club in 1895. This team was based at the "Baseball Ground" and that association continued for many years.
Francis Ley's grounds were not dedicated to football but were used for a variety of sports. A picture below shows Ley's 1912 Cricket team. Remarkably it contains three players who were capped for England at Soccer. These were S. Bloomer on the right of the back row; H. Barnes on the left but one of the middle row and J. Bagshaw who is first on the front row.
. He died in March 1918 having survived the 1915 Gallipoli campaign and outlived his younger brother. Maurice Aden Ley was two years younger than his brother and he was a 2nd Lieutenant. He died in November 1914.
His first son, H.Gordon Ley is pictured left with his father. On their left is Steve Bloomer
who became a legend at Derby County Football club although Ley also knew him as a talented baseball and cricket player.
, of Epperstone Manor
in 1905. In the same year he was honoured with the title as High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire
for twelve months. When Ley died he owned the company and Derby County F.C.s sports ground. He also owned 6,500 aces of farmland and was the Lord of the Manor at Epperstone, Lazonby
, Staffield, Glassonby
around Kirkoswald
in Cumbria. There is an industrial estate named after him in Derby and his Manor and grounds have been converted to residential dwellings.
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
. He owned Ley's Baseball Ground
Baseball Ground
The Baseball Ground was a stadium in Derby, England. It was first used for baseball as the home of Derby County Baseball Club from 1890 until 1898 and then for football as the home of Derby County from 1895 until 1997. It was commonly referred to as the "BBG".As the name suggests, the stadium was...
from 1890 to 1924 which was the home to Derby County F.C.
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
He (re-)introduced baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
into the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
with the Derby County Baseball Club
Derby County Baseball Club
The Derby County Baseball Club was a baseball club in Great Britain that played baseball until 1898 when football become the dominant sport in that region...
. In 1905, Ley was created a Baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
, of Epperstone Manor
Epperstone
Epperstone is a village in Nottinghamshire located near both Lowdham and Calverton. The village has a population of around 500.- History :Epperstone is located in the valley of the Dover Beck, south-west of Southwell. It has an area of , of which are wooded...
. In the same year he served as High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire
High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire
’The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
.
Biography
Francis Ley was born on 3 January 1846 in WinshillWinshill
Winshill is a suburb to the east of the town of Burton upon Trent, in the borough of East Staffordshire, England.Flanked to the north and east by the South Derbyshire border, historically the parish of Winshill had always been part of Derbyshire until it was transferred to Staffordshire in the late...
which at the time was in south-west Derbyshire (its now in Staffordshire). He was the only son of George Phillips Ley and Sarah (born Potts). He started work at Andrew Handyside & Co. as a draughtsman and learnt about engineering. At the age of 28 he founded his own company besides the railway line in Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
.
In 1878 he had the dubious pleasure of being sued for patent infringement by an American drive chain belt company. The case was settled to the benefit of all and Ley's company was awarded sole manufacturing rights. By the 1880's Ley was demolishing his old works and rebuilding on a grander scale. Ley was never sporting but was an enthusiast for sport. He sat of the board of Derbyshire County Cricket Club. The new factory was to include expensive sporting facilities.
Sport
Ley visited America and he was impressed by the game of baseball. Ley wanted to improve the fitness of his workers so he decided to build what was to be called "Ley's Baseball Ground". Some were intrigued by Albert SpaldingAlbert Spalding
Albert Goodwill Spalding was a professional baseball player, manager and co-founder of A.G. Spalding sporting goods company.-Biography:...
's world tour with his baseball team in 1889 when it played in England.
A national professional body was started in 1890 and a letter was sent to Albert Spalding in America requesting help in establishing a league. The British requested eight to ten players to coach and convert the existing players who whose primary game was usually soccer. Spalding, who also sold sporting goods, was enthusiastic and sent a skilled manager, Jim Hart
Jim Hart (baseball)
James Aristotle Hart was a manager for the Louisville Colonels and the Boston Beaneaters for parts of three seasons....
and players: William J. Barr, Charles Bartlett, J.E.Prior and Leech Maskrey
Leech Maskrey
Samuel Leech Maskrey was an American Major League Baseball left fielder. He played five seasons in the majors, from until , for the Louisville Eclipse and Colonels and the Cincinnati Red Stockings...
.
The intention had been to have eight teams but initially there were just four Aston Villa, Preston North End, Stoke and Derby
Derby County Baseball Club
The Derby County Baseball Club was a baseball club in Great Britain that played baseball until 1898 when football become the dominant sport in that region...
. The first three used Jim Hart to decide the line-up of their teams, but Ley, who had more experience of baseball, made his own decisions. The ground had its own professional team that won the British .... times in the 1890's. The team was criticised for having too many American professionals (three) who assisted in the victories. Derby County therefore withdrew their team for the first year when they would have been the first league champions. The other accusation was that baseball was being hyped in a way that the British found offensive.
Another problem was the start of Derby County Football Club in 1895. This team was based at the "Baseball Ground" and that association continued for many years.
Francis Ley's grounds were not dedicated to football but were used for a variety of sports. A picture below shows Ley's 1912 Cricket team. Remarkably it contains three players who were capped for England at Soccer. These were S. Bloomer on the right of the back row; H. Barnes on the left but one of the middle row and J. Bagshaw who is first on the front row.
Family
Ley first married Georgina Townsend and they had a son and two daughters. Following his wife's death he married Alison Catherine Jobson in 1888. They had two sons who both joined the Armed forces. Captain Christopher Francis Aden Ley was the eldest and he was born in 1893. He joined the South Nottinghamshire Hussars and became a Captain whist working with the that part of the British army known as the Royal Flying CorpsRoyal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
. He died in March 1918 having survived the 1915 Gallipoli campaign and outlived his younger brother. Maurice Aden Ley was two years younger than his brother and he was a 2nd Lieutenant. He died in November 1914.
His first son, H.Gordon Ley is pictured left with his father. On their left is Steve Bloomer
Steve Bloomer
Steve Bloomer was an English footballer and manager who played for Derby County, Middlesbrough and England during the 1890s and 1900s. Bloomer remains a legend at Derby County and the club anthem, Steve Bloomer's Watchin', is played before every home game...
who became a legend at Derby County Football club although Ley also knew him as a talented baseball and cricket player.
Honours and legacy
Ley bought Epperstone Manor in Nottinghamshire and he was created a BaronetBaronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
, of Epperstone Manor
Epperstone
Epperstone is a village in Nottinghamshire located near both Lowdham and Calverton. The village has a population of around 500.- History :Epperstone is located in the valley of the Dover Beck, south-west of Southwell. It has an area of , of which are wooded...
in 1905. In the same year he was honoured with the title as High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire
High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire
’The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
for twelve months. When Ley died he owned the company and Derby County F.C.s sports ground. He also owned 6,500 aces of farmland and was the Lord of the Manor at Epperstone, Lazonby
Lazonby
Lazonby is a village and civil parish in the Lower Eden Valley of Cumbria about north north east of Penrith.The total population of the ward of Lazonby, which also includes the nearby villages of North Dykes, Great Salkeld and Salkeld Dykes, was 1,425 at the time of the 2001 UK Census...
, Staffield, Glassonby
Glassonby
Glassonby is a small village and civil parish in the Eden Valley of Cumbria, England, about south south east of Kirkoswald.There is a methodist church and a microlight flying centre in the village....
around Kirkoswald
Kirkoswald, Cumbria
The village, civil parish and former market town of Kirkoswald lies in the Lower Eden Valley of Cumbria, formerly Cumberland, about from Penrith. The village is usually referred to locally as KO....
in Cumbria. There is an industrial estate named after him in Derby and his Manor and grounds have been converted to residential dwellings.