Greetings. Although I trained as a geologist and spent 15 years in mineral exploration, my primary interest here is historical. I have a web site devoted to Victorian & Edwardian photographic studios in Derbyshire http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~brett/photos/dbyphotos.html  and a blog Photo-Sleuth http://photo-sleuth.blogspot.com/  which deals with photo-historical matters in a more general sense.

I'm researching a couple of old portrait photos (c1880s) from my collection and I have discovered that Henry Cathrow Disney, the husband of the subject of one portrait, was proprietor of the Morley Park Ironworks from c.1871 to 1874. I wonder if anyone can tell me anything else about the ironworks and Disney's tenure, please?

I found this interesting image on this web site, belonging to ICLOK(?), and wonder if there is any history behind it, please?
🔗Morley-Park-Archive-Album-Image-36093[linkphoto]Morley-Park-Archive-Album-Image-36093[/linkphoto][/link]

Regards and best wishes,

Brett Payne
Tauranga, New Zealand

I am a Derbyshire historian (not just specializing in mining). Your best source is the 19th century British Newspapers website - I am not sure if this is free to you in NZ. A very quick look at a couple of the hundreds of hits for Disney in the Derby Mercury newspaper gives the following info from The Derby Mercury (Derby, England), Wednesday, August 26, 1874; Issue 8353:
Mr. H. Cathrow Disney of the Morley Works, near Belper, has failed for £17,000. The works consist principally of two blast-furnaces, and it is not unlikely that the estate will turn out tolerably well.

There is much later information on his bankruptcy.
Let me know if you need further assistance

Thanks very much, historytrog, for reminding me about The Derby Mercury on the British Newspapers databse. I will have a look further, but it seems that you have hit on what may have been the most important event! Much appreciated.

Regards and best wishes, Brett

Oh... ok then.... I'll leave it you then Mr Trog...

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Good morning ICLOK. I wondered if you have any further background to your photograph, please?

Regards and best wishes, Brett