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- Weekly Mail, April 16, 1887
Death of Mr. Alexander Bassett, Llandaff
Much surprise was caused on Saturday at the office of Messrs. Bassett, Bassett, and Lee, civil and mining engineers, Church-street, Cardiff, on receipt of a telegram announcing the death of Mr. Alexander Bassett, of Baynton House, Llandaff, the senior partner of the firm, which even took place at Mauradean Park, Bournemouth, on Friday night. Deceased had for a long been suffering from bronchial affections, and had resided at Bournemouth for over twelve months, but still continued to direct the professional engagements of the firm, and on Saturday morning a post-card was received from him at the Cardiff office giving some instructions to be carried out. Mrs. Bassett and other members of the family were with him, but no one seemed to anticipate that his end was no near. Mr. Bassett began his professional career at Cardiff by entering into partnership with Mr. E.S. Barker, civil and mining engineer, and who at that time was also county surveyor. On Mr. Barker?s death Mr. Bassett succeeded him and soon afterwards he held one of the most extensive professional pursuits as civil and mining engineer in the county, in which capacity he was connected with the largest mineral proprietors in Glamorganshire, Monmouthshire, and the Bristol district, and which positions he continued to hold up to the time of his death. He first suggested the advantages of a dock just outside Newport, and, with Mr. Abernethy, planned and carried out the Alexandra Doc, Mr. J.A.B. Williams, the present water engineer for the Cardiff Corporation, being the resident engineer and superintending the work as it proceeded. He was the engineer for the Cowbridge Railway Company, and planned and laid down that line of railway from Llantrisant to Cowbridge. He held the office of county surveyor for Glamorganshire for over 30 years, and when he resigned that appointment in 1885 his son, Mr. A. B. Bassett, was appointed his successor. Owing to failing health, he, in the same year, took into partnership his son, who had assisted him for fifteen years, and also Mr. Mark lee, who had been in his office for over 30 years, but he continued to direct the affairs of the firm to the last. Mr. Bassett was appointed a borough magistrate for Cardiff in 1868, but only occasionally occupied a seat on the bench at the police-court. In private life Mr. Bassett was almost beloved by all the residents of Llandaff, among whom he had lived for many years. He was an intimate friend of the late Bishop Ollivant, and the bishop often sought his advice. He was the first promoter of the coffee tavern movement at Cardiff on a large scale, as he projected the Cardiff Coffee Tavern Company in 1879, and acted as hon. treasurer to the company for a long time. He was also the treasurer and one of the most active promoters of the fund for the erection of St. Catherine?s Church, Canton. He was also widely known for his acts of private charity to the poor, and every year he invited the scholars of the Llandaff National School and the children of the Ely Industrial Schools to spend a day during the summer on his grounds, where every preparation was made for their comfort and amusement, and the announcement at Llandaff on Saturday of his death caused a general feeling of deep regret. Mr. Bassett leaves a wife, two sons, and a daughter. His eldest daughter, who some time since married the Rev. Mr. Ross, one of the minor canons of Llandaff Cathedral, died a few months ago.
Alexander Bassett (source unknown)
Obituary
Alexander Bassett, eldest son of the Reverend Alexander Bassett, was born at Great Cheverell in the County of Wilts, on the 28th of April, 1824. He was educated at Marlborough College, and on leaving school was articled to Mr. Thomas Tilbrook, of Horningsham near Warminster, a surveyor and land agent, at that time largely employed in making parish surveys uder the Tithe Commutation Act. He remained in Mr. Tillbrook?s office for two years, and was afterwards engaged on parliamentary surveys for several projected railways under Mr. Joseph Locke, M.P., Past President Inst. C.E. He subsequently spent two years in the office of a firm of land agents and railway valuers.
In the spring of 1846, young Bassett was introduced to Mr. W.M. Peniston, M. Inst. C.E., the Resident Engineer, under Mr. Brunel of the Wilts and Somerset Railway. He entered Mr. Peniston?s office, and in a few months was appointed assistant engineer on a division of that railway 8 miles in length, including two tunnels, and he retained that appointment until the works were partially stopped. In 1849 he undertook the management of works in connection with the opening of a new colliery near Pontypridd, in Glamorganshire, including the sinking of the pits, and the erection of the machinery; this work occupied him until the autumn of 1850, when he removed to Cardiff, and commenced business as a civil and mining engineer.
In August 1852 he entered into partnership with the late Mr. E.S. Barber, M. Inst. C.E., who, at that time, had a considerable practice as a civil and mining engineer in the counties of Monmouthshire, Glamorganshire and Breconshire. A year later his partner, Mr. Barber, left England, having been appointed by the Eastern Archipelago Company to report on, and direct the operations on, their mineral property in the Island of Borneo, the entire management of the business devolved upon Mr. Bassett. In 1854 the news reached England of Mr. Barber?s death at Borneo, thus leaving Mr. Bassett the sole surviving partner. So well and ably had he conducted the many and intricate duties connected with the several large mineral and other properties under his charge, that in every case the posts held by his partner were conferred on him. He was also appointed County Surveyor for Glamorganshire. His practice now rapidly increased, and extended into the counties of Somersetshire and Gloucestershire, where he acted for several larger owners of property. In 1858 and 1859 he acted as Engineer to the Sirhowy Railway Company, and prepared the parliamentary plans for that line (15 miles in length). During the next ten years he was busily engaged in each session of parliament in various schemes for railways, waterworks, &c, either by the promoters or on behalf of the opposition. He was the Engineer of the Cowbridge Railway and of the Pontypridd Waterworks, also joint engineer for the Swansea Vale Railway. He was also frequently engaged in railway and other arbitration cases.
In the spring of 1864 Mr. Bassett?s active mind was directed to the great want of better dock accommodation at Newport (Monmouthshire), and of facilities for the development of the enormous mineral wealth of the district; and, as engineer to Lord Tredegar, a large owner of mineral property, he proposed a scheme for new docks on the west side of the River Usk, nearer the mouth of the river than the old docks, and on his lordship?s property. His ideas were very favourably entertained; and, at his recommendation, Mr. james Abernethy, Past-President Inst. C.E., was called on to report on the project, with the results that parliamentary plans were deposited that year; the Act was obtained after considerable opposition, and the Alexandra (Newport) dock and railways were constructed and opened in 1875, Mr. Bassett being the Acting Engineer and Mr. Abernethy, the Engineer-in-Chief. These works have proved very successful, and their opening marked a new era in the commercial prosperity and history of Newport.
Mr. Bassett was elected a Member of this Institution on the 6th of March, 1860. He was a member also of the North of England Institute of Mining Engineers, and of the South Wales Institute of Engineers, of the establishment of which he was an active promoter. He was elected a member of its first council, and later on occupied the presidential chair.
The utilization of small coal, long considered of little or no value, and for which scarcely any sale could be found, was a question that Mr. Bassett considered of material importance and one that deserved much more attention than it received. He spent much time and money in carrying out exhaustive experiments in the manufacture of ?Patent Fuel? made from small coal by several processes, and in its trials in the furnaces of locomotive and stationary engines. He was appointed a borough magistrate for Cardiff in 1868. He took an active interest in several charitable organizations to which he devoted much of his time and means. His kindly disposition and love of children were perhaps at no time more apparent than on the occasions of the annual treat he gave to the children of the Industrial Schools, when they were entertained in the grounds of his residence at Llandaff; on those occasions he entered thoroughly into their amusements and games. In character he was frank and truthful, highly honourable, and just in all his dealings, a man in whom his many clients and friends had ? and rightly had ? the honoured course, resolved to do his duty to God and man.
Failing health induced Mr. Bassett to remove to Torquay for the winter of 1878, the subsequent winters of 1880 and 1881 were spent at Mentone. The benefit he received from wintering abroad was not of a permanent nature, and on the advice of his physician he afterwards resided at Bournemouth for three years, where he succumbed from severe attacks of bronchial asthma and weakness of the heart on the 8th of April, 1887, at the age of sixty-three.
1841 British Census of Foremarch, Marlborough, Wiltshire
Alexander Bassett 13 M School Boy Born in County
Robert 12 M School Boy Born in County
1861 British Census of No. 1 Llandaff Place, Llandaff, Glamorgan
Alexander Bassett 36 Head Great Cheverell, Wilts. Civil Engine
Emma Mary 32 Wife Colston, Wilts.
Alex Barker 4 Son Cardiff, Glamorgan
Kate M. 2 Daughter Cardiff, Glamorgan
Florence E. 4/12 Daughter Cardiff, Glamorgan
Elizabeth Beynon 46 Servant Port Tynon, Glamorgan Cook
Eliza Ann Pugh 32 Servant Cardiff, Glamorgan Nurse
Harriet Westcote 22 Servant Wivelscombe, Somerset Housemaid
Mary Ann Frederick 16 Servant Llandaff, Glamorgan Under Housemaid
1871 British Census of Boyston House, Llandaff, Glamorgan
Alexander Bassett 44 M Head Great Cheverell, Wiltshire Civil Engineer
Ellen M. 40 F Wife Colston, Wiltshire
Ellen M. 13 D Daughter Cardiff, Glamorgan Scholar
Fanny E. 10 D Daughter Llandaff, Glamorgan Scholar
Herbert T. 9 M Son Llandaff, Glamorgan Scholar
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Bassett Family Association Database
1824 - 1887 (62 years)