Lancashire Lantern

James Sumner - Biography

 

 

 

James Sumner was one of the founders of what was to become one of Britain's largest companies, Leyland Motors Limited.

He was born in 1860 in Leyland, where his father, Richard, owned the black-smith's workshop in Water Street. 

This was probably much more of an engineering workshop than a simple smithy.

Cottages on Water Street (now Towngate) where Sumner was born.

Long since demolished, they were across the road from the workshop

 

 

James Sumner, from his boyhood in the workshop, became fascinated by steam power and was able to indulge his passion for motorised transport. He produced a 5-ton steam wagon early in the 1880s for Stannings bleachworks.

Sumners original smith's workshop on Towngate in Leyland.

The building is still there but is now retail units.

 

 

When James inherited the works he devoted his efforts to power machinery and mechanisation, and experimented with a steam-powered tricycle.

The image shows his first attempt at mechanisation was the steam-powered cycle.

 

 

From this he developed a successful steam lawn mower, which secured a first prize and silver medal at the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Show. It became the company's main product for several years.

His successful steam-powered lawn-mower, which was his company's main product for several years

 

In 1895 James installed one of his lawn mower engines in a 3-wheeled 'car' for the biscuit manufacturer Theodore Carr.

The steam tri-car built in 1895 for Theodore Carr

 

 

Increasing business meant that more help and capital was needed, and the company J.Sumner Ltd became associated with George Spurrier, of the Stott Company of Manchester. 

In 1896 George and his brother Henry persuaded their retired father, another Henry, to finance a new company, the 'Lancashire Steam Motor Company', and the firm moved to new premises off Hough Lane.  

The steam wagon illustrated was the company's first, here seen being driven by Sumner's partner, Henry Spurrier junior.

Note the use of a tiller for steering.

 

 

Before the end of the year they produced a 30 cwt steam van, powered by a an oil-fired boiler. In 1897 they obtained the highest award - a silver medal - at the trials held in Manchester for self-propelled vehicles, organised by the Royal Agricultural Society for England.

The company successfully produced a variety of steam wagons for a number of years, and in 1904 introduced its first experimental petrol-engined vehicle, commonly known as 'The Pig'. As may be gathered, this was not a popular model, but further development led to a production model, and in 1905 the company received its first order for petrol-engined double-decker buses.

This was the start of a period of massive growth for the company. 

Even during the First World War expansion continued as vehicles were built for the armed forces - almost 6,000 petrol-engined vehicles were built during this time.

 

 

After the First World War Leyland Motors expanded its sales both at home and abroad, and the town of Leyland grew rapidly as well.  The performance of the company in more recent decades perhaps reflects the changes that have occurred in industry and commerce at a national and inter-national level.

James Sumner himself died at his home in Southport on Sunday  27 July 1924.   Having had to retire as a director of the company because of failing eyesight, he had been totally blind for the last 5 years of his life. 

The O.S. map of 1938 clearly shows what an impact Leyland Motors had on the town.