LEATHER

John Towlerton (1 son of James Leather, colliery proprietor, d. 1849). b. Yorkshire 30 Aug. 1804; engineer of Sheffield waterworks 1833; contractor with Mr. Waring 1839, made Chester and Crewe section of London and North Western line; sole contractor for Erewash valley line of the Midland 1847–50; constructed the dam and the siphons for the repairs of the Middle Level 1862; constructor of the Portland breakwater 1849–56 and of the Sea forts at Spithead 1861–72; made the extension of the Portsmouth dock yard costing £2,000,000, 1867–77; M.I.C.E. 23 Feb. 1836; F.S.A. 11 Feb. 1869; sheriff of North umber land 1875. d. Leventhorpe hall near Leeds 6 June 1885. Min. of proc. of Instit. of C.E. lxxxiii 433–6 (1886).