Scottish shale Scottish shale

George Darlington

Started:
1865?
Finished:
1866
Registered office:

Not known

Plaskynaston Oil Works were put up for sale in September 1866 following the bankruptcy of George Darlington. Nothing more is known of this firm, which was not listed in the 1865 Coal Commission list of oil works.

It is unclear what relationship, if any, there was between this George Darlington and George Darlington of Minera, who was granted a letters patent for the manufacture of zinc oxide in 1863, is listed as resident engineer to the Mold Consolidated Lead mining Co. Ltd in 1865 and manager of Minera Lead Works in 1868.

It seems more than coincidence however that George Darlington, mining engineer of Wrexham, sold his household effects and then disappeared from Llandudno beach in the same week that Plaskynaston oil works were put up for sale.

  • Newspaper references
    • SALES BY MR. ALBERT BURY. Sales by Auction. MR. ALBERT BURY begs to announce that he is favoured with instructions from George Darlington, Esq., mining engineer. Grove Park, Wrexham, to offer for SALE, the whole of his modern and superior HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, in one or more lots. For particulars apply at 10, Temple-place, Wrexham. 14th Sept., 1866.

      The Wrexham Advertiser, 15th September 1866

      .......

      Supposed Death of Mr. George Darlington.

      Friday, the 14th instant, a telegram received in Wrexham stating that a suit of clothes, belonging to George Darlington, of this town, and in which he had left his hotel at Llandudno on the previous Tuesday, has been found on the beach near the Little Orme's Head. The intelligence naturally alarmed his friends, and two of them left Wrexham immediately after the telegram was received, but they returned on Saturday without any additional information.

      The following paragraph from the Daily Telegraph, Tuesday, explains the finding of the clothes: As a farm servant was passing along the beach at Llandudno Friday morning last, found at comparatively unfrequented spot a gentleman's suit of clothes, the bat and cravat only being wanting. A stone had been placed on them to hold them where they were found. An examination of letters in the pockets showed that the clothes belonged to a George Darlington, consulting mining engineer, of Wrexham, and on inquiries being made in the town it was found that a gentleman of that name arrived there on Monday evening. About mid-day on Tuesday he was seen going to bathe, but had never returned to his hotel, and had not been seen since. The spot at which he seems to have bathed is rather dangerous; but Mr Darlington was a noted swimmer. Many surmises have been made as to what was the cause of his disappearance. His friends, who were communicated with, say there is no reason why should abscond or hide himself. Up to late hour on Saturday night there were no tidings of his whereabouts or trace of his body found."

      Since the above was written no further information has been received in Wrexham.

      The Wrexham Advertiser, 22nd September 1866