Complex sentence: By 1857, the company owed the failed Northumberland and Durham District Bank almost a million pounds, and was put up for sale, but an attempted sale to the newly formed Derwent and Consett Iron Company fell through.
Split into simpler sentences: By 1857, the company owed the failed Northumberland and Durham District Bank almost a million pounds. It was put up for sale, but an attempted sale to the newly formed Derwent and Consett Iron Company fell through.