Isle of Man Mining Company

Grew out of mining interests acquired from Michael Knott in the late 1820s by Chester and Liverpool investors, initially run as a private venture of 16 (later 14) equal shares. Formally registered as a limited company in 1853 with 2,800 shares of £25 each (£70,000 capital), restructured again in 1881 into 14,000 shares of £5 each; its offices were at St Werburgh Chambers, Chester, and 6 Queen Street Place, London. Directors included John Beckwith, Charles Townsend, Arthur Polts, Henry Churton and Frederic North, with Captain William Kitto as manager and his son William Henry Kitto as under-manager. The company worked the entire spread-out Foxdale mining district as a single concern, reaching peak profitability around 1885 (£14,267 profit, roughly 20% on capital) and still producing 3,610 tons of ore for £10,800 profit and a 7.5% dividend as late as 1900. Falling yields and rising costs made the mine unprofitable by 1910; an extraordinary meeting on 6 April 1911 appointed a liquidator, and the company ceased operations on 28 July 1911.

Mines operated