Leopold Joseph Green
(1823 – 1902)
Whitesmith, ironmonger, gasfitter, and inventor
Leopold Joseph Green was a son of Joseph Green and Sarah, neé Chillman, born in Leatherhead on 6 January 1823. His father worked as a schoolmaster initially teaching children for the John Lucas free school charity and from 1838, a National School, supported by the National Society for the Education of the Poor, in Leatherhead. The latter started with 80 boys in one class-room but added another for girls during 1839. In 1851 Green, senior, is found described as ‘beer-seller and schoolmaster’ but 10 years later he had become a ‘proprietor of houses’.
Leopold grew up to follow the trade of ‘whitesmith’ – a person who finishes and polishes metals , particularly tin plate and galvanized iron. His marriage to Louisa Marks came to be registered in Clerkenwell, 3/1847.
On 26 July1863, Leopold Joseph Green, ironmonger and whitesmith was granted Letters Patent for his ‘Improvements in Axle–tree Boxes‘. [The word ‘axle-tree’ was associated chiefly with vehicles such as carts and carriages: it was the bar which had a revolving wheel at each end, otherwise an axle.]
Axle-trees taken from A Treatise of Carriages by William Felton 1796.
Image source: Archive.org
Green’s invention ‘consisted of a ring or hollow screw, which screws into the inner end of an axle-box and by a fixed collar or projection on the axle-tree the screw ring retains the axle-tree in its box. The screw ring is fixed or locked by means of a bolt or catch on a bent spring , which partly embraces the axle-tree box… ‘
A drawing from the 1863 Axle-tree Box Patent
George Henry Green , son of Leopold Joseph and Louisa Green, born 8 November 1855. was brought for baptism in St Martin’s Parish Church, Epsom, on 27 January 1856. Leopold had moved from Leatherhead to establish himself in business as a smith and gas-fitter on Clay Hill, Epsom.
On 22 May 1874, Letters Patent were granted to Robert Burn, junior, and Leopold Joseph Green, both of Epsom , in the County of Surrey , for improvements to railway points etc., including ‘the provision of audible signals in connection with the visible standard or semaphore signals’
A drawing from the 1874 Railway Points Patent
Robert Burn, ‘Manufacturing and furnishing Ironmonger, Engineer , Brazier , Locksmith , Bellhanger and Gas fitter . Manufacturer of all kinds of Stove Grates , Ranges , Ovens , Iron Fencing … is considred elsewhere on this website.
No example of the use of equipment involving Burn & Green’s patent has been traced. Papers relating to new heating system for St Mary & St Nicholas Church, Leatherhead , however, are held by Surrey History Centre under reference 5215/2/8 . They include proposed plans for hot water apparatus to warm the church with specifications of works and an account from Leopold J Green of Epsom, engineer smith, 1873/5.
Helen, daughter of Leopold Joseph Green, was interred at Epsom Cemetery in Plot C5A on 28 September 1875, aged 23. Louisa, her mother (79), followed to that grave, 7 January 1899. from West Street, Epsom.
The 1900 Rate Book shows L J Green to be in ownership of 1 -6 Castle Cottages and Laundry on Woodcote Side as well as five cottages, and an advertising station, along West Hill.
Leopold Joseph Green, Gentleman aged 79, himself died on 11 November 1902 to join his late wife and daughter in Epsom Cemetery, 15 November 1902. [Effects £2643]
Brian Bouchard 2022