page_title: Fellows Morton and Clayton
section_title: Formation of the company
hierarchical_section_title: Fellows Morton and Clayton / Origins / Formation of the company
caption_attribution_description: This is the former Fellows Morton and Clayton building in Digbeth, Birmingham. It is a Grade C locally listed building within the Warwick Bar conservation area. The adjacent Warwick Bar is the meeting of the Digbeth Branch Canal (Birmingham Canal Navigations) and the Grand Union Canal.
context_page_description: Fellows Morton & Clayton Ltd was, for much of the early 20th century, the largest and best-known canal transportation company in England. The company was in existence from 1889 to 1947.
context_section_description: In 1888-1889 William Clayton of Saltley, who operated a special fleet of liquid cargo boats as well as traditional loads, became the third partner. William died before the companies merged formally but his son, Thomas, took his place. Fellows, Morton & Clayton Ltd. was formed on 3 July 1889.
  The three managing directors appointed at the first meeting of the new company were Joshua Fellows, Frederick Morton and Thomas Clayton, on salaries of £600 (equivalent to £70,000 in 2019), each. The new chairman of Fellows, Morton & Clayton Ltd was Alderman Reuben Farley the majority of shareholders being family members of the directors of the company.
  At the time of formation the general cargo fleet amounted to some 11 steamers and around 112 butty boats. The tank boats were transferred to another new company which was called Thomas Clayton Limited of Oldbury.
  The company's first results for the 18 months ending 30 June 1890 showed a net profit of £7,497 (equivalent to £830,000 in 2019),. Trading had not been easy to start with - a dock strike in London had caused a serious financial loss and an epidemic of Russian influenza amongst the horses had caused many deaths. However, as there was new traffic, a new basin and headquarters were completed at Fazeley Street in Birmingham. The headquarters were by the builder, Edwin Shipway. Also the company had acquired the interests of a rival carrier, Fanshaw and Pinson. The capital then stood at £84,620 (equivalent to £9,380,000 in 2019),; barges, boats and steamers were valued at £20,852 (equivalent to £2,310,000 in 2019), and horses at £4,000 (equivalent to £440,000 in 2019).
caption: The headquarters and basin at Fazeley Street, Birmingham
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