G.H. Downing

20th century British businessman

For other people with the same name, see George Downing (disambiguation).

George Henry Downing, JP (10 November 1866 – 12 October 1937) was a British businessman who established G.H. Downing and Co. Ltd., involved in the manufacture of bricks and tiles in the Stoke-on-Trent area of Staffordshire. The company claimed to be the largest producer of roof tiles in the world.[1]

Based at Brampton Hill, Newcastle-under-Lyme, G.H. Downing became one of the principal employers in Chesterton with several thousand workpeople. [2] In 1921, he acquired the Etruria works.[3] By 1939 the company had taken over the entirety of the local Staffordshire works.[4] He was a Justice of the peace for Stoke-on-Trent and was appointed High Sheriff of Staffordshire in 1936.[5]

On 10 November 1936, Downing celebrated his birthday at Trentham with over 3500 guests, many of whom were his employees.[6]

Downing died at his residence of Clayton Lodge, Newcastle-under-Lyme, in October 1937, aged 70.[7] He was to be knighted, but died before the patent could be completed.

He was the father of Ken Downing, a Formula One racing driver.[8]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Brick and Tile Works In Apedale & Chesterton". The Apedale Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
2. ^ Claycraft. Institute of Clay Technology. 1963.
3. ^ Warrillow, Ernest James Dalzell (1953). History of Etruria, Staffordshire, England, 1760-1951. Etruscan Publications. pp. 210–211.
4. ^ BBC. "The History of the Brick & Tileyards of Newcastle under Lyme". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
5. ^ "Issue 34261". The London Gazette. 3 March 1936. p. 1380.
6. ^ The British Clayworker: The Organ of the Brick, Tile and Cement Trades. Turret Press. 1937. p. 287.
7. ^ Collingwood, Neil; Shufflebotham, Gregor (2012-03-15). Newcastle-under-Lyme Through Time. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-4456-2967-4.
8. ^ "From Connaughts to Sea Diamonds – Ken Downing – F1 GPDC". www.f1grandprixdriversclub.com.

## External links[edit]

* Portraits of G.H. Downing at the National Portrait Gallery, London

Honorary titles

Preceded by

Adolph Wenger

|  High Sheriff of Staffordshire
1936–1937  | Succeeded by

Reginald Monckton

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