Ironmasters
Denis Hayford (c.1635–1733)
Denis Hayford of Millington, East Yorkshire, was the nephew of William Hayford who became steward of Francis Rockley of Rockley whose family owned the Rockley furnace, built in 1652 by the ironmaster Lionel Copley (d. 1675).
In 1676, Denis Hayford was in partnership with William Simpson, who had taken the lease of Wortley forges. Following the death of Lionel Copley, in partnership with Francis Barlow they took over the Copley interests in the iron industry, which, in addition to Rockley furnace, included the Duke of Norfolk's works (Chapel furnace, Attercliffe and Wadsley forges, and Rotherham slitting mill). Hayford and Simpson also partnered William Cotton of Haigh Hall in running Bank furnace in conjunction with Knottingley forge.
In 1684, again in partnership with Cotton, Hayford acquired Lord Paget's works (Abbots Bromley and Cannock forges and Rugeley slitting mill) and, around the same time, the Cheshire ironworks (Lawton furnace, Warmingham forge, and Cranage forge and slitting mill). They could now supply rod and bar iron to Lancashire, north Wales, and the Birmingham markets in addition to the Sheffield area.
In 1698 together with Barlow, Simpson, and John Fell, clerk of the Duke of Norfolk's works, he acquired the former Sitwell works (Staveley and Foxbrook furnaces, Staveley and Carburton forges, and Renishaw slitting mill) together with Roche Abbey forge. About this time Hayford transferred his residence from Millington to Staveley and later to Romeley, Derbyshire.
John Eyre, of Sheffield Manor, leased Sheffield Forge, from the Duke of Norfolk; on becoming bankrupt in 1692, Eyre assigned the forge, in trust for his creditors, to George Bamforth, of High House, and the Rev. Cuthbert Browne, Assistant Minister of Sheffield and Curate of Attercliffe who sold the forge for £70 to Dennis Hayford of Millington, East Yorkshire, Thomas Barlow, a town trustee, of Sheffield and John Simpson of Babworth. From these Sheffield Forge came in course of time into the hands of John Fell, and afterwards to Richard Swallow, who had managed it for John Fell's widow.
Hayford married in 1689, the heiress Gwyn Millington (d. 1730) of Millington. They had three sons and a daughter.
In 1727 Hayford's ironworking interests in the Sheffield area were taken over by his son Millington Hayford; another son, Denis, became a Newcastle merchant, but predeceased his father in 1732; a third son, Francis, became a London ironmonger. His daughter Ann was alive in 1732. Hayford himself died in 1733 and was buried at Rostherne, Cheshire, on 26 February of that year.
Will of William Wood of Masbrough in Rotherham: To Dennis Hayford of Wortley Forge and William Fell of Rotherham, two messuages in Silkstone for payment of debts etc. All the rest of personal estate and lands etc. to son John who is to pay daughter Ann at her majority £100 for her portion. Mr. Hayford to have the refusal of employing the Slitting Mill near Wortley. Wife to have custody of his children. 18 Jan, 1690. Proved 11 Jun, 1692.
Millington Hayford and estates in Derbyshire
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