(Michael D. B.4.9.1952, 2/96)

Sarah was born at the Highbridge house in Lincoln. (Ruth D. conversation 9.3.96)

Article by Mark Duckering 2021 - Duckering’s Iron Foundry, 1845-1962. Continued.
In 1870, Richard died, aged 56 years, and 29-year-old Charles inherited, giving the business his name soon after. Within a decade he had erected a new warehouse (in 1874) and foundry on Rosemary Lane (in 1879), possibly fulfilling his late father’s building application plan of 1869. Later applications were lodged for new offices on Waterside North (built in 1896), an extension to the packing shop on Croft Street (constructed in 1906) and a brand-new showroom on the corner of Rosemary Lane and Monks Road (erected in 1907).

Charles discovered the power of marketing and used it extensively in local papers, annuals, guides and directories, the majority with attractive illustrations of their manufactured implements. He gained further exposure by attending many of the county’s agricultural shows and fairs, and the business had a twice-weekly presence at Lincoln’s Cornhill and cattle market, these being a staple in the company’s marketing agenda. As the Lincolnshire Chronicle noted on 21 July 1893: ‘Duckering’s was an extensive exhibitor whose machinery always drew a crowd.’

The same newspaper article drew attention to the types of items produced by Duckering’s, ranging from saw benches, ‘powered by hand, steam, horse or other motive power’ to hay trussers, portable boilers and its award-winning ‘Lincoln improved’ grinding mills, ‘some of which could be easily truned by a child’. The adaptability of these products made them increasingly in demand, both at home and abroad, and they were especially valuable where motive power was lacking.

In December 1883, during a nationwide ‘great storm’, the top 8 to 10 feet of the company’s distinctive 70-foot high chimney blew down and fell on to two cottages on neighbouring Commodore Close, injuring a family of four. The chimney had stood since the foundry was built in 1857. According to a report in the Lincolnshire Chronicle of 7 August 1885, the business was employing ‘over 80 hands’ at its iron and brass foundry at Waterside Works and was operating ‘in the able hands of Charles Duckering’.

From the late 1880s into the early decades of the twentieth century, new and, for the time, fully-equipped homes sprang up to the east and west of Lincoln city centre,w ith Duckering’s providing many items for the developers. Every kind of ironwork used by builders from the damp course to the roof was supplied by the company, including: pipework, guttering, ornate gates and fencing sets (in three designs), as well as fire grates, laundry stoves and its very popular cooking ranges. By 1920, a total of 30,000 cooking ranges had been sold by the company. Many of these Duckering-produced items still exist in properties in the Monks Road and Carholme Road, despite the removal of metal to aid the war effort in the 1940’s.

In 1912, Charles retired after 50 years in the business, dying in 1916, and his son, Richard, took over the company and its debts. During the First World War, the company supplied parts for the newly-invented tank, which helped stave off bankruptcy. (Article continues under Richard).



Charles acted as the executor of his Uncle's estate - Thomas DUCKERING (836) - see copies of two letters on file.

Charles is mentioned in a book on the history of Lincoln, as the founder of the Iron & Brass Founder in 1872 and living at 26 Monks Road. p59.

Charles inherited the factory from his father, which manufactured a variety of items, such as being an iron and brass foundry, it also made grinding mills, bricks, cast iron fireplaces etc.. (Advert dated 1878 ? on Ruth's wall, 9.3.96) (Advert found by David Daniels in a Kelly's directory)

See copy of indenture, “Dated 14th June 1880 Thurston G Dale Esqr. and others to Mr Chas. Duckering, Conveyance for a plot piece or parcel of Land or Ground situate at the corner of Monks Road and Cheviot Street in the Parish of Saint Swithin in the City of Lincoln and Covenant to produce a Deed.” Paid £1218 for 1283 square yards - 77’ on Monks Road and 149’ 6” on Cheviot Street - see drawing from Indenture & Charles Duckering’s signature.

During 1874 and 1908 Charles Duckering and or the business made 13 planning applications in Lincoln - see copy on file.

The Implement and Machinery Review January 1886.
Corn Grinding Mills. Readers of the Implement Review are referred to page 7792 of the Decmber, 1885 issue-Mr Duckering, of Lincoln, is there credited with being the designer of certain corn grinding mills there noticed. E.R. & F. Turner, Ispwich, hereby give notice that the illustrations of the so-called Duckering’s mill are facsimilie copies of mills manufactured by them for many years past and the illustrations are also fac-simile copies of E.R. & F. Turner’s photos. E.R.&F. Turner append verbation copy of letter from Messrs. Hare & Co., of London, engravers, proving the illustrations in this advertisement, drawn to a smaller scale, have existed since 1876. “We find that the blocks 195 and 197 were ordered by you on May, 8th, 1882, and block 137 ordered on January 27th, 1876.” London, 18th December, 1885. (Signed) Hare & Co. In self-defence E.R.&F. Turner are bound to correct the misleading statements concerning Duckering’s mill, and they request buyers to apply to them for these or any mills, which for nearly forty years have formed one of their leading specialities. Address: E.R.& F. Turner, Ispwich. Telegrams: “Gippeswyk,” Ispwich. I.M.R. advertisment, January, 1886. Please cut out and enclose with correspondence.

The similarity of Duckering’s mill engravings and Turner’s photographs. To the editor of “The Implement and Machinery Review.” Dear Sir.-At the invitation given me in your January number, to explain why the engravings which I supplied you with for the illustration of your report fro December upon the mills referred to on p.7792 so closely resemble Messrs. Turner’s photographs. I have pleasure in assuring you that they were made by mu instructions from smaller unnamed mill impressions, and that when ordered, I was not aware that they were of Messrs. Turner’s design. Supposing them to be machines on which no one held any claim, and having this opinion furthermore strengthened by the evidence I could gather from others, long connected with the mill trade, I had them engraved to the size of my “Lincoln” Grist Mill; but the photos, which Messrs. Turner evidently thought I had deliberately copied, I had never seen. From what you know of me, you need hardly be told that I am sorry I have thus unwittingly done Messrs. Turner the injury they believe thy may sustain, but “it’s an ill wind that blows no one any good,” and they will be redressed to the extent of receiving all the orders I may obtain for the mills to which your December number so favourably refers; and so soon as my catalogues are distributed, the aforesaid engravings will be no longer used. This is the course I hope others will pursue who are similarly dealing with those mill engravings, which, divested of my name as the actual maker, appear in the catalogues of other manufacturers. I am, Dear Sir, Yours faithfully, (signed) Charles Duckering. Waterside Works, Lincoln, January 29th, 1886.

1898. London Gazette, August 9, 1898. Notice is hereby given that the partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned Alfred Dodman, of King’s Lynn, in the county of Norfolk, Engineer, and Charles Duckering, of the city of Lincoln, Engineer, carryinh on business as Machinery Merchants and Importers, at Cairo in Egypt, under the style or firm of Dodman and Duckering has been dissolved by mutual consent as and from the thirthieth day of January, 1898. All debts due to and owing by the said late firm will be received and paid by the said Charles Duckering. - Dated fourth day of August, 1898. Alfred Dodman. Charles Duckering.

The 1905 Kelly's Directory records Charles's address as 101 Monks Road. (Mark 8.97)

'Mr Charles Duckering's Works.
The Waterside Works of Mr Charles Duckering, if not the oldest, were certainly among the first to be established in the City of Lincoln, the business being commenced by the present proprietor's father, Mr Richard Duckering, in 1845, or sixty two years ago. Owing to constant attention, and the untiring labours of its owners, the small beginning of the early days has developed into an establishment which today occupies about two acres of ground, and where over a hundred men and boys are regularly employed.
The output of these Works falls, broadly speaking, into four sections. Firstly, there is the foundry, the castings of which, right from the beginning, have earned and maintained a very high and enviable reputation. Secondly, there is the engineering department, whence the famous corn mills and other agricultural machines emanate. Thirdly, the builders' department, a line which has ever been specially catered for at Waterside Works. Here practically every kind of ironwork used by builders from damp course to the roof is supplied. Under this heading particular notice must be made of the firm's cooking ranges, stoves, mantel pieces, etc., which have long been a special feature of the business, and, we believe, with regard to the immediate neighbourhood, at any rate, we are correct in saying that those houses are in a decided minority in which there is not a 'Duckering' kitchener. For the better exhibition of its ranges, stoves, mantel pieces, etc., the firm has just opened new and extensive show rooms on Monks Road, within a stone's throw of the Works. And fourthly, reference remains to be made to the sanitary ironwork turned out at these Works, this department being well laid out to deal with the requirements of Corporations, Rural District Councils, Sewerage Contractors, etc. In fact, the largest and most varied selection in this department can be found of any in the county, and compare favourably with any other of its class in this country.' (Article sent to me by Jill Dyson, 22.4.96)

Article sent by Mark Duckering from a newspaper cutting dated 27th April 1886. ‘ALARMING EXPLOSION. - On Wednesday the residents on Marks’ Road, Lincoln were startled by a violent noise as of an explosion, and it transpired that such had occurred in a house recently built near Baggeholme Road, by Mr Duckering, ironfounder. The building it appeared, was about completed, and Mr Duckering had partially moved into it, and was intending to sleep there that night. Mr and Mrs D., with two or three others of their family, went up to the first floor with a lighted candle about ten o’clock, when a tremendous explosion took place, the force of which knocked them down. Mr Duckering, as soon as he recovered from the shock, had the presence of mind to turn off the gas by which the explosion, had evidently been caused. Singular to relate, none of the parties were hurt to any extent, but the the house was materially damaged, the greater part of the flooring in all rooms on the first floor being torn up and splintered into fragments, the beams split and separated, and the ceilings and lathe blown down in all rooms. Some plate glass windows were also forced out, and great damage was otherwise done to the house, which presented a very ruinous appearance in the interrior. The cause of the explosion is attributed to a nail having been driven into the gas pipe in putting down the flooring upstairs.’

Echo 29th April 1904, from Mark Duckering. ‘THE IMPLEMENT SHOW, as usual, attracted considerable attention, makers of agricultural implements in Lincoln and the county being well represented. One of the most interesting displays was that of Mr Charles Duckering, of the Waterside Works, who had a number of his now famous mills on view, a 4ft. one, with kibbler attachment, being at work, and giving proof of its capacity and the excellence of the work it accomplishes. These mills were shown in sizes from four feet to six inches, the last named an effective machine for hand power. This year a wood framed mill is included in the exhibits, an inexpensive but equally effective arrangement especially suitable on a farm. Specimens of mill stones were also shown, land and cricket rolls, portable boilers, pig troughs, sanitary specialties, and laundry stoves and ranges. We noticed an improvement in the haypresses which are now mounted and fitted with light tubular shafts, so that a horse can be attached and the press readily removed to any places desirable.’

Text from the 'Lincoln Royal Show Guide 1907 pages 25 & 26.
'The Waterside Works bearing the name of Mr CHARLES DUCKERING were established in the year 1845 by the late Mr Richard Duckering - father of the present head of the firm - assisted by the late Mr William Henry Blow, not on the present site, but onthe other side of the river. The movement to the present premises took place some time in the late fifties, and was oneof the first outward and visible signs of the reward met with by the enterprise of the founders of the firm. The business out grew its enviroment, and spread its reputation in a manner very prompt for so young a firm; and the highest credit must be accorded the keen business ability and the untiring energy of "Duckering's" in consequence. Since Mr Charles Duckering took over the reins the firm has vastly expanded its area of influence, increased its number of employes, and kept thoroughly up-to-date in the style of its output. Mr. Duckering to-day employs over a hundred hands, and his works cover nearly two acres of ground. The secret of the expansion can be very easily explained; Mr Duckering, with fifty years' personal experience behind him, has conducted his business not so much on a general system as in the endeavour to indivdiualise his customers and to make a special and continuous study of the requirements of each. The manner in which his business has grown is sufficient proof of his success in the direction we have indicated. In Mr.Duckering the firm has a head who is a practical engineer, and we believe we are right in the statement that there is still in use on the premises at least one engine for which he helped to mould the cylinder, while he has also taken a hand in several other branches of the work which to-day he so carefully and successfully controls and superintends. A feature of the works is the pattern department; a great room on the north side of the works is filled to the doors, but this is not nearly sufficient space, and the patterns overflow into the other shops near the main gate and on the ground floor. There have been absorbed into the extended premises a number of former cottages to the south-east, and these again are stored to the roof with patterns, while others abound in buildings running the length ofthe foundry's eastern boundary. It should not be supposed, however, that these patterns are simply shelved as they are finished, and forgotten, to increase, itme by item, a cumbersome and useless store; the real fact is that these patterns are valuable and are annually overhauled, those not called into use or likely to be needed being promptly destroyed. Thus the long range of patterns to be seen on the premises speaks more clearly and emphatically than could any other testimony of the position held by the firm, and the system by which its business is carried forward.'

'Mr Charles Duckering is a native of Lincoln, and is one of the oldest living scholars of the Lincoln Grammar School, we believe. Born in 1841, his whole life interest has been bound upin the city, and there are really two sides of him to be viewed. The one is the head of the business just described - keen, alert, up-to-date, and with a thorough interest in the welfare of his employes. The other side of him is kindly, generous figure, a power in local Non-conformity, and one of the stalwarts of the Free Methodist Chapel, Silver Street. He was a teacher and one of the superintendents of that school for aperiod of no less than forty-five years, working in conjunction with the late Mr Charles Akrill and others. He was elected President of the Lincoln Sunday School Union in 1892, and filled the office for three successive years, taking the chair for the fourth time in 1897. Since 1899 Mr Duckering has held the office of Hon. Treasurer to the Union. In 1877 he was chosen for the high honour of Sheriff of Lincoln, his close friend, Ald. Wm. Cottingham, being Mayor that year. Such a conjunction has not since been known in local Free Methodism. For twelve years Mr Duckering was one of the Overseers of the parish of St Swithin. ''The firm of Charles Duckering produces all sorts of ironwork for building purposes, and sanitary ironwork of all descriptions, corn and other grinding mills, cooking ranges, stoves, etc. It is an interesting fact that Mr Duckering has developed his business with in 300 yards of the place where he was born; and that while his men have never worked overtime to any important extent, Mr Duckering says he believes that they never worked short time in the history of the firm.' (Mark14.5.97)

The 1891 Census (St Swithins, Lincs RG12 2593 F16 R17) records Charles aged 42, born at Lincoln and working as an Engineer ironfounder. (Mark 8.97)

See on file, a copy of the November 1910 'Illustrated Catalogue of Improved Corn Grinding Mills with horizontal millstones. Manufactured by Charles Duckering, Waterside Works, Lincoln, England.' 'Introduction. Charles Duckering, having had more than 30 years' experience in Millstone Mills, ventures to solicit, with confidence, a continued share of orders in his direction. As hitherto, purchasers placing their instructions with him may rely on being supplied Mills of excellent design, and highly satisfactory in every detail of construction, workmanship, and quality of material.' (Mark 14.5.97)

Lincoln Gazette 1912
'Mr Charles Duckering, of Lincoln. Lincoln's Oldest Ironfounder.
There is one man living in Lincoln today who is more qualifiedthan almost any other to tell the story - always fascinating, and more especially when heard at first hand - of the industrial growth of the city. And though the ancient renown of Lincoln,from the days when the early Britons had their habitations inthe northern part of what is now our city, is preserved for usin many books , this is, of course, really a story apart, andcomplete in and peculiar to itself, has lacked a historian. That part of the narrative is not known a great deal about. We see the mighty foundries, hear the throbbing of their great pulses, see the volumes of smoke drifting from the chimney shafts, notethe human tides which surge through the gates at regular hoursof the day, are familiar with the clockwork procedure of it all,but beyond the broad realisation that, like Topsy, it "growed,"we have read little of the detail of it, for the most part, andcertainly few of the younger genration can have had little opportunity of learning how it all came about, and how Lincolncame to be known in every part of the globe for its products ofengines and engine-driven machinery.'
'From whom should they learn it ? The history books will tellthem much concerning the Roman occupation and its evidences, of the Saxon and the Norman and the numerous buildings that remain of their eras, of the successive reigns of the Henrys, the James, and the Richards, some of whom came to our city, of thefighting times when Charles the First was dethroned and theParliamentary Army stormed Lincoln by way of Canwick Hill and the Bar Gates, of the "spacious days of Great Elizabeth," of the stormy times of Stephen and Matilda, of the more sedate events of the Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Centuries - wonderfultimes all of them, picturesque, full of colour and to anyLincolner who loves his Lincoln.'
'But surely it is almost equally wonderful how from the enrgiesand the pertinacity, the groping belief in a new era, the enterprise and the confidence bravely based on small beginning,of a group of men whom onecould count on the fingers of one handwas established a new Lincoln amongst these historic stories,was built up a trading city - alive, new, vigorous, growing - in the place that otherwise would have become a city of interest tothe antiquarian and the historian and to comparatively few beyond. Surely that in itself is a long chapter in the story ofLincoln that is worth telling, if only for the sake of the school children who learn so much about three hundred years orfive hundred or even a thousand years ago, and who findcomparatively little information given them regarding the rise of the industrial side of Lincoln, which is of importance for them to learn, if they would really know Lincoln.'
'The man who tells the story.'
'What has to be remembered in connection with the telling of the story is this, and it brings us back to the remark we made at the outset, that there are very few who can relate the facts atfirst hand, though we have been able to interview for this article the one man who more than any other can recount from intimate knowledge what has happened. We have all heard of thefirm in which Mr Burton, Mr Proctor and Mr Joseph Ruston wereinterested and which began naturally, in quite a small way. Allthree gentlemen, leaders of Lincoln's gigantic industry, have passed away. So have Mr Nathaniel Clayton and Mr JosephShuttleworth. So has Mr Robey, and so have other pioneers of ourgreat works.'
'There remains Mr Charles Duckering, of the Waterside works, anundertaking that yet retains his individaul name, despite very many opportunities to merge the venture into a company, and soconvert it into one of those limited liability concerns that are so general in this era. Indeed, for so old a business of thischaracter to stand as it has stood for three quarters of acentury is distinctly an exception. today Mr Charles Duckeringresides, in a well earned retirement, on Monks Road, but he isstill keenly interested in the business which under his guidancehas developed and which has been for so many years, by hisdirection, a flourishing adjunct to the great works on the otherside of the Witham.'
'Mr Duckering's works are not of the same size as the others, certainly, but in point of age there is not so much to choosebetween them. Mr Duckering's own recollections of the early daysof each will clearly be worth the telling.'
'Of the man himself there is need to say but little. Quiet,unassuming, courteous to a degree, with a manner one does notalways encounter nowadays, Mr Duckering might have heldimportant public positions had he been so minded, but he was notambitious in that way, and the one honour his fellow citizens succeeded in insisting him to accept was that of Sheriff, which he filled with singular distinction and ability. To this office he was elected on November 9th, 1877, when his friend Ald. William Cottingham, was chosen as Major. That was a great dayfor the Free Methodists of Lincoln, and it is doubtful whetherthere have been a Free Methodist Mayor and a Free Methodist Sheriff in one year either before or since. The late Mr W.I.Page was Mr Duckering's Under Sheriff.'
'Not for many years has the present writer had a moreinteresting chapter of Lincoln's story unfolded to him than theother day when Mr Duckering, after reviewing his life story inhis own home, Langton Lodge, came out and escorted him alongboth sides of the Witham to recount where places stood in thedays of his boyhood, and to note the changes that have takenplave since. It was a wonerful afternoon, indeed, and one thatwill long remain in the writer's memory.'
'Mr Charles Duckering's life story centralises in the Waterside.He was born on Waterside South, on May 25th, 1841. His father'sworks were on that side of the river, and in later years, ofcourse, it has been on Waterside North that we have knoan thegreater iron foundry which still bears his name. From that dayto this spans the most interesting period of what we may term the development of our modern Lincoln.'
'Infant Ironwroks.'
'The year of Mr Duckering's birth, as it happened, was a year inwhich the population of Lincoln was ennumerated and the totalwas 13503. So that Lincoln is now a good deal more than fourtimes as big as it was when he first saw it. That was a year,too, when wheat reached a price of 64s 4d per quarter, after having been 70s 8d two years before. We may perhaps glimpsesomething of the hard struggle for existence that people wereexperiencing in those times.'
'Mr Duckering's father was an ironfounder, a partner in a firmknown by the name of Burton and Duckering, his father's partnerbeing a caousin of Mr Burton who was associated with theneighbouring foundry in which Mr Joseph Buston afterwards becamethe dominating spirit. Still the businesses were then of smallbut decidedly promising character.'
'In those days the iron founders were themselves workersalongside their employees, and when Mr Duckering, senior, and Mr Burton began in 1845, in premises of which the site is now covered by Messrs. Ruston, Proctor, and Co.s offices, Mr Duckering's father was toiling hard as a moulder. Very different, of course, was the appereance of the whole area down there to what it is as we know it today. There were the foundries of Ruston and Proctor, of Burton and Duckering, and of Clayton and Shuttleworth, reached in turn, but there was a great extent of land now covered by foundry buildings which then existed as allotment gardens - between the Hope and Anchor Inn and a shop, while Mr Jackson, the dyer, also had premises down there.'
'The day of the steam packet.'
'But there was a time when the waterside wharves were busy with another kind of trading, one that in our own era has vanished completely. That was the day of the steam packet, and Mr Duckering speaks of an old wharfinger named Mr John Sharp Wilkinson, and of his nephew, who had to do with the steam packets which came fussing and puffing along the waters to draw up and receive or discharge their freights at the wharves. Cargoes came by water from London to Boston and thence to Lincoln. They used to land, says Mr Duckering, at a wharf opposite where Mr Curtis Bell - a brother, he thinks of the late Mr Thomas Bell - who was in business as a malster, had his premises.'
'There were animated and we may suppose not unpicturesque scenes, worthy the canvas of a De Wint, along that Waterside in those days, and one is tempted to endeavour to reconstruct in print the arrival of one of those old paddle steamers, churning up the waters of the Witham, the smoke pouring thickly and black from the funnel, the passengers crowding across the gangway, andt he workers and the loafers affording strong contrasts in types of people on the wharf.'
'As we have said, the original Mr Duckering foundry was where Messrs. Ruston, Proctor and Co's offices now are, nearer the Hope and Anchor Inn than the present main entrance. Messrs. Rudgardhad a bone mill on the Waterside hereabouts and after thatMessrs. James Clarke and Co. agricultural implement makers, had a yard - the name of the firm used to be Green and Clarke. This firm seem to have been the forerunners of the malleable ironworker producers, and later, says Mr Duckering, Messrs. Harrison, Birch, Teagus, and others went in for malleable work in its entirety.'
'Mr Duckering has in his drawing room a clock which his father bought from a Mr Walker, who was in the machine making business, in St Mary's street, manufacturing chaff cutters, Cambridge rolls and agricultural implements generally, and who sold his goods on the Cornhill on a Friday. Green and Clarke followed Mr Walker in business. Mr Walker had followed Mr Proctor, brother of the partner in Burton and Proctor.'
'This, however, is the merest sketch of the conditions of Lincoln,s industry at the time Mr Duckering was born, and earlier. In our next article we hope to tell the story of Mr Duckering's early days, of the disastrous fire at his father'sworks, which rose Phoenix like, from their own ashes, and oftheir transfer to the north side of the Witham with their development to the present day.'

'Lincoln Ironfounder's Career'
'Mr Charles Duckering's life story.'
'A fortnight ago we went into some detail in retailing Mr Charles Duckering's recollections of the early days of Lincoln's industrial importance, especially dealing with the Waterside a site was in Mr Duckering's boyhood, with the small but growing works on the south bank, and the busy steamers coming and going on the river.'
'We come now to the actual career of Mr Charles Duckering, who was born on the Waterside South on May 25th, 1841, and was the son of an ironfounder whose place of business was in that neighbourhood. The boy's first school was a modest one, kept by Mr F. T. Brown, known as "Lawyer Brown," who resided on Burton Road, but had his school in a club-room in the Flying Houseyard, which, as many will remember was swept away when improvement was made which opened out Corporation-street, and gave a thoroughfare from High-street to West Parade. "Lawyer Brown" was a tax collector, as well as a schoolmaster, and the boys more than occasionally found that their writing duties involved making out his papers. Later Mr Brown moved down to Mint-lane, and kept his school going in one of the rooms on the chapel premises there. It was a fair sized school, there being forty to fifty boys there at the time Mr Duckering was one of the scholars, and they seem to have received the groundwork of a good education.'
'Then Mr Duckering went to the Grammar School, which was held atthat time in the Grey Friars' buildings, and the Rev. G. F.Simpson was the Headmaster, residing in the house in Broadgate where Mr M. Otter lived later. Mr Duckering sat next to the late Mr F.J. Clarke, who was afterwards to be thrice robed and ringed as Mayor of Lincoln, and another scholar at the same time was Mr J. W. Usher, the present day jeweller and connoisseur.'
'Those were busy times for Mr Duckering, as, indeed, all his life has been, for his father was no great scholar, and at meal times the lad had to help in addressing labels while the spare minutes at dinner time could generally be filled in by taking out orders and so on. At that time most of the conveying of orders was done by the carriers, with a certain amount by the steam packets, the trade being mostly local till the railways thrust their long arms out to Lincoln and linked the city up with the great cities of commerce and so gave an immense impetus to loacl businesses. After dinner young Charles went back to school till five o'clock, and then his evenings were occupied at the foundry, in the way of book-keeping and so on.'
'There is one terrible memory that stands forth from his youngdays. In carrying out certain work in the foundry one day the liquid hot metal squirted up to the roof, and dropping back again with the accumulations it brought from there, fell into the blacking and oily matter, creating an instant blaze. Almost as quickly as it can be told, the flames leaped up and soon the dry timbers were ablaze.'
'In those days, as need hardly be said, the fire appliances of the city were of comparatively small power, and result of it Maps was that when the blaze was put out there was "very little left," to use Mr Duckering's own words.'
'However, Mr Duckering's father was a man who did not sit downamid the ruins and mourn over his losses. As soon as they could rig up tarpaulins and get something like a roof across the temporary timbers, work began again.'
'Into the firm'
'When he left school Mr Charles Duckering went into his father's firm, and began work in the practical all round fashion that was done in those days. An uncle named Bescohy used to come in atnight to enter up the books, but Master Duckering did clerking, moulding, and a variety of other work. A great helper in those days was the late Mr W. H. Blow, who will be remembered as a pillar of Nonconformity and of the temperance cause in the city. Mr Blow was with the firm for fifty years, and, in the works of Mr Duckering, "never knew when he had done enough."'
'The works grew. They out grew their site, in fact, and eventually a move was made across the water to a site that embraced the old steam packet offices. The original premises on Waterside North fronted the Waterside.'
'There would be employed by the firm at the time some 20 or 25 hands. At the present day there are just over a hundred, and Mr Duckering is content now adays to leave the business in other hands while he takes his well-earned repose.'
'Stalwart Nonconformists.'
'Mr Duckering could write a full chapter of the history of Lincoln Nonconformity. Mr Duckering's father and mother were staunch Primitive Methodists, and attended Portland Place Chapel- an old one, says Mr Duckering, not the one pulled down a few years ago to make room for the Great Northern Railway Company's extended platforms. Mr Duckering went to Sunday School in that old chapel, and how he came to leave is an interesting story.'
'"In the year 1852," he says, "I journeyed with my parents to Cleethorpes, and I shall never forget the day. As we were returning the second engine broke loose, and there was a collision. I was knocked under the seat, and broke my thigh in three places. That happened as we were coming from Usselby to Market Rasen, and the carriage was completely smashed. When I recovered sufficiently to get out again, the Free Methodist School was just starting in the Old Corn Exchange. I though the boys at Portland Place were perhaps a bit rough, and there was a danger of my thigh being broken again. I remember the friends at the new school saying, 'Come to our school, they won't hurt you there.'"'
'The result was that he did go, and there is a romantic sequel to it, because amongts the scholars at the same school was a young lady named Miss Parker, who is and has been for many years past Mr Duckering's devoted wife. Mr Duckering speaks of local celebrities of those days in Nonconformist leadership, amongst them old "Bishop" Furley, a big local Primitive Methodist, who earned his episcopal title because, as Mr Duckering puts it, he was "quite a cleric in appearance," Mr Joseph Broadberry, J.P.,and a Mr Pocle, father of the postman of that name - who, by the way, was the Sunday School teacher both of his own son and of Mr Duckering. One of the Free Methodist Superintendents was Mr Proctor, of Rushton, Proctor, and Co.'
'Mr Duckering remembers that the old Zion Chapel in Silver-street, which was used for some years by the Free Methodists, who eventually demolished it and built their present capacious premises. The Reverends Mathers and ubbard were the first ministers in the new chapel, and great has been the work done there, in which Mr Duckering has borne a full share, notably as Sunday School Superintendent - lietenant, as he puts it, to the late Mr Charles Akril, of whom Mr Duckering speaks in terms not of esteem only but of real affection. he is still a trustee - the oldest.'
'Mention of Mr Duckering's Sunday School work would be incomplete without a reference to the fact that the whole district did him honour when they chose him as President of the Lincoln Sunday School Union, a post which he fulfilled with great honour and usefulness for several years.'
'Mr Duckering believes he is the oldest ratepayer in the Parish of St Swithin, in which, at any rate, he has resided all his life. For 12 years he was one of the overseers, with the late Mr William Cooke and others.'
'Amongst his recollections is the holding of the Royal Agricultural Show in Lincoln in the year 1855 and the appereance in the streets and along Canwick-road of the men who in those days used to turn up on all sorts of special occasions, from a church opening to an execution, singing some sort of doggered bearing on the topic in hand, and selling copies of the stuff they were uttering. Though all those years have passed Mr Duckering recollects that one couplet ran:
"There's a patent for all things, both little and big,
From Prince Albert's coat button to a counsellor's wig."'
'Mr Duckering remembers the Lincolnhire Show in another year, when it was held up on Monks-road, near where he resides today. The area was cut up into streets after that, John-street and Winn-street principally.'
'Mr Duckering's old age is cheered by a son and three daughters; the son, Mr Richard Duckering, sustains the old name in the firm for a third generation, and at present conducts the business. One daughter is the wife of the Rev. J A. Hargreaves, Pastor of Lincoln Saxon-street church; another married Mr Armitt, so long with the firm, but now in Manitoba; and the other daughter - the second - is Miss Duckering, who is still at home.'
'So that his retirement comes about in quite peaceful and pleasing circumstances, for apart from his family, Mr Duckering has had the faculty of bringing around him those friends whostill grip him, in the words of the poem with "hooks of steel," and whose warm and true comradship is of greater value than great possessions.'

Letter 4th Feb 1912 from Charles Duckering. Copy on file. “Thomas Duckering deceased. Dear Sir, Thanks for your letter. In reply - the papers are to hand as above. I know of no others. Re signing: had we better not meet & discuss the matterfully? To my mind we must be “careful” to say the least & await fully your further instructions. There are no obligations. Very truly Charles Duckering. To “Mesrs Peake - Snow & Son. Sleaford.”

Letter 6th Sept 1912 from Charles Duckering. Copy on file. ‘Messrs Peake, Snow & Son, Sleaford. dear Sirs, ’Thos. Duckering, decd - Thank you for your letter, and in reply have sent on your communciation to the Executors at Martin, and asked them to make an appointment and let you know when convenient to meet us there. Yours truly, Charles Duckering.”

Lincoln Gazette 23rd December 1916.
'Death of Charles Duckering A pioneer of engineering.
With the greatest regret we have to record the death on one ofthe veterans of Lincoln's pioneer industry, Charles Duckering, which took place at South Scarle late on Sunday evening. Hisillness had been brief.
Mr Duckering was the head of the well-known engineering firmbearing his name, but had retired from active participation four years ago, leaving the management to his son, Richard Duckering.
Mrs Duckering died nearly two years ago.
Deceased had chosen, about nine months ago, to make his home at South Scarle.
About a week since he had to take to his bed with a cold, and on Saturday acute brochitis began to develop. This continued to take an extremely unfavourable turn, and death occurred about 8.30 pm on Sunday.
Mr Duckering was born on May 25th, 1841, and was thus in his 76th year.
Mr Duckering's father was an ironfounder, a partner in the firm of Burton and Duckering, his father's partner being a cousin of the Mr Burton who was associated with the neighbouring foundry, in which the late Joseph Ruston afterwards became the guiding spirit.
Mr Duckering's foundry was then on the Waterside South, but the site has long been absorbed by the firm of Messrs Ruston, Proctor and Co.
The Waterside at the time when the foudries of Ruston and Proctor, of Burton and Duckering and of Clayton and Shuttleworth were reached in turn, was a busy area indeed, with its fussy steam packets coming and going and its crowds of workers pouring in and out of the gates of the firms - for though they were young, these firms were enterprising and trade was rapidly developing.
Mr Duckering received his education first at Mr T.F.Brown's school, which the premises were swept away when Corporation Street was opened out, and thence, after a period in Mr Brown's later premises in Mint Street, went to the Grammar School, atthe time held in the Greyfriars building.
Even in those days Mr Duckering had to give his spare moments at dinner times and in the evenings to his father's business inbook-keeping and so on.
It was those days that an accident occurred in the foundry, the hot liquid metal from one of the pans squirting up to the roof and setting the premises ablaze. When the fire had been extinguished, there was, in Mr Duckering's own words, "very little left".
However, the Lincoln pioneers of iron founding were made of sterner stuff than to allow such a matter to get the best of them, and so soon as tarpaulin could be rigged up and somethinglike a roof stretched across, work began again.
When he left school, Mr Duckering went into his father;'s firm.
The works grew - indeed, outgrew the premises, and so a move made across the water to a site that embraced the old steampacket offices. There the works developed to their present importance.
Mr Duckering's only fulfilment of public office was when he accepted the Shrievalty of Lincoln, to which he was elected on November 9, 1877.
Free methodism in Lincoln, of course looses a powerful pillar by the death of Mr Duckering - Silver Street Chapel will miss him especially.
For 12 years, Mr Duckering was one of the overseers of the parish of St Swithin, in which parish, by the way, he has resided all his long and useful life.'

(Death details from Ruth D. conversation 2.96) This information was that he died in Cambridge in 1905. St Catherines House records Charles's death as 1916 (Oct - Dec) aged 75 and registered at Newark. (Michael D. 29.6.96)

Charles's Will.
'This is the last Will and Testament of me Charles Duckering ofthe City of Lincoln, Engineer. I appoint my dear Wife Sarah Ann Duckering and my son Richard Duckering to be the Executors and Trustees of this my Will. I give and bequeath my house hold furniture, plate, linen, china and other articles of domestic use and enjoyment unto my said Wife absolutely. I bequeath to her the legacy or sum of Fifty pounds and I Give and Devise to her the use and enjoyment or the rent and profits of my dwelling house in which reside being number 101 Monks Road in the said City of Lincoln. I give and bequeath to Sarah Thorpe in recognition of her past services to me and my family the legacy or sum of Ten shillings per week for and during the term of her natural life if in the discretion of my Trustees the profits of my business shall be sufficient to pay such a sum I Give Devise and Bequeath all the rest, residue and remainder of my real and personal estate unto the said Sarah Ann Duckering and Richard Duckering (here in after called my Trustees) their heirs executors, administrators and assigns. Upon Trust that they the said Sarah Ann Duckering and Richard Duckering their heirs executors, administrators or assigns shall continue to carry on all or any of the businesses carried on by me at the time of my death or long as they shall determine with power to employ all or any of my real and personal estate therein and I Direct that my said Trustees shall pay out of the annual profits arising therefrom the sum of Two hundred pounds per annum to my said Wife for and during the term of her natural life and that the rest of the annual profits year by year shall accumulate and form part of the capital of the said businesses and Upon Further Trust to sell the said residue and remainder of my real and personal estate at such time or times as my said Trustees shall think fit in their sole discretion and I Direct that the proceeds of such sale shall fall into and for my part of the capital used or employed in the said businesses so to be carried on by my said Trustees as aforesaid. And from and after the decease of my said Wife Upon Trust to allow the said Richard Duckering to have the option upon giving notice to that effects within three calendar months of her decease of purchasing the said businesses and such part of the capital employed therein and of my real and personal estate as he may desire at a valuation to be made by one Valuer to be mutually agreed upon or by two Valuers one to be named by the said Richard Duckering and the other by my three daughters or an Umpire in case of disagreement or dispute and I Direct that the amount of such valuation shall be divided into four equal parts one of which I give and bequeath to the said Richard Duckering and the other three parts to each of my three daughters, Annie Mary Hargreaves, Lizzie Jane Duckering and Sarah Kate Armit, but such three parts are to be paid to my said daughters in manner here in after provided. And subject to the option given tothe said Richard Duckering and in case he fails or neglects to exercise such option within three calendar months after the decease of my said Wife then I Give Devise and Bequeath the residue of my real and personal estate unto my said Trustees Upon Trust to sell and convert and convert the same into money and to divide the net profits arising there from unto and equally between my said son and three daughters as tenants in common. And I Declare that if the said Richard Duckering shall exercise the option to purchase my said businesses as here in before givento him within the time aforesaid then he shall not pay the threefourths of the purchase money payable to my said three daughters but shall enter into a bond with each daughter for the payment of her share with interest after the rate of Four pounds percentum per annum and shall pay in each year on account of the principal amount a sum of not more than the Ten pounds percent of the annual profits produced by carrying on my said businesses, but I hereby express my wish that if the profitsare sufficient and available the said Richard Duckering shall pay as much more in excess of the said sum of Ten pounds percent as he conveniently can. And I hereby Direct and Appoint my said son Richard Duckering to be the Manager of the said businesses so long as they shall be carried on during the life time of my said Wife at a salary of Five Hundred pounds per annum with a bonus or commission of Ten pounds per cent on the net annual profits. I Revoke all former Wills. In witness whereof I the said Charles Duckering the Testator have here unto set my hand this twenty seventh day of May One Thousand nine hundred and fourteen.'
'Signed by the said Charles Duckering as and
for his last Will and Testamnet in the presence
of us who in his presence and in the presence CharlesDuckeringof each other have here unto subscribed our names
as witnesses.'
A.B.Porter, Solr. , Lincoln J.G.Thacker, Clerk to Messr.
Page & Porter, Solicitors, Lincoln

'This is a Codicil to the before written Will of me Charles Duckering of the City of Lincoln, Engineer, which Will bears date the twenty seventh day of May One thousand nine hundred and fourteen. Whereas since the date of my said Will my house hold furniture, plate, linen, china and other articles of domestic use and enjoyment absolutely has departed this life. Now I hereby Give and Bequeath my said house hold furniture, plate, linen, china and other articles of domestic use and enjoyment unto and equally between my two daughters Annie Mary Hargreaves and Lizzie Jane Duckering. I appoint my son Richard Duckering the surviving Executor under my said Will sole Executot of this Codicil also and in all other respects save and except the benfits given to my said late wife I confirm my said Will. In Witness whereof I the said Charles Duckering the Testator have here unto set my hand this fourteenth day of April One thousand nine hundred and fifteen.' 'Signed by the said Charles Duckering as and
for a Codicil to his last Will and Testament
in the presence of us who in his presence and Charles Duckering in the presence of each other have here unto
subsrcibed our names as witnesses.'
A.B.Porter, Solr., Lincoln
J.G.Thacker, Clerk to Messrs., Page & Porter, Solicitors,Lincoln.

'On the 22nd day of October 1917 Probate of this Will (with aCodicil) was granted at Lincoln to Richard Duckering the sole Executor.'
'I do hereby certify this to be a correct copy, Lincoln 1st November 1917.'

Summary of Wills. The brief records that Charles of Monks Road, Lincoln died 17th December 1916 at North Scarle Nottinghamshire and probate was granted to Richard Duckering, iron founder, effects £29,329 11s. (Michael D. 29.6.96)

Lincolnshire Chrinicle, 7 April 1865. Marriages. At the Free Methodist Chapel, Silver-street, Lincoln, on the 5th instn., Mr Charles Duckering, ironfounder, of Waterside North, to Miss Sarah Ann Parker, of the High Bridge.