Sierra Leone Development Co Ltd (iron masters: 1930-1970s: Glasgow, Scotland)

In 1929 , William Baird & Co Ltd , coal and iron masters, Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, Scotland, became interested in Sierra Leone following the publication of a 1927 geological survey. Responsibility for investigated this scheme was handed to Robert Angus (1882-1949), director of William Baird & Co Ltd, and lead to the incorporation of the Sierra Leone Development Co Ltd in 1930 . William Baird & Co Ltd owned 47.5 percent of this company, as did the Northern Mercantile & Investment Co Ltd, with the remaining 5 percent belonging to the United Africa Co Ltd. Officials from Spain were transferred to Africa to open up this virgin field and construct extensive railway and harbour facilities. By 1938 , open cast mines were producing 862,000 tons of iron ore valued at £647,000 for export to Britain and Europe and plans were in hand to extend the railway to large deposits further inland. The company appears to have ceased trading in the 1970s .

Source: A Slaven and S Checkland,Dictionary of Scottish Business Biography 1860-1960, vol 1 ( Aberdeen , 1986 )

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