Person    | Male  Born 1560  Died 10/12/1631

Sir Hugh Myddelton

Categories: Engineering, Food & Drink

Countries: Wales

Goldsmith and entrepreneur. Born Denbigh, Wales sometime 1555-60, younger brother of Sir Thomas Myddelton (c1550-1631) who became Lord Mayor of London. 1576 came to London to be an apprentice goldsmith. Entered the livery in 1592 and practised extremely successfully in Cheapside. Stayed in close contact with Wales and was repeatedly MP for Denbigh established the New River Company which constructed the New River bringing much needed fresh water from Hertfordshire to London. This remained the most important source of piped water in London for 300 years. Robert Stephenson considered him 'the first English Engineer'.

The spelling of his name is inconsistent: Middelton, Middleton, Myddleton, etc. We have chosen that used by the ODNB.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Sir Hugh Myddelton

Commemorated ati

Clarendon Arch - 1682

We are indebted to John Salmon at Geograph for his photo of this arch. The P...

Read More

Holborn Viaduct - Myddelton

The sculptor has a page about this statue and its creation with some interest...

Read More

Hugh Myddelton - N21

Formerly Bush Hill House Sir Hugh Myddelton, engineer of the New River, lived...

Read More

Hugh Myddelton's house

This integral plaque is on the corner between the ground and first floor wind...

Read More

Myddelton bust

{Either side of the bust:} 1555 1631  {Below the bust:} Sir Hugh Myddleton

Read More

Show all 7

Other Subjects

Lieutenant Colonel John By

Lieutenant Colonel John By

Founder of Ottawa, the capital of Canada. Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Engineers. Born Lambeth and baptised in the church of St. Mary-at-Lambeth, August 10, 1779. After a distinguished career ...

Person, Armed Forces, Engineering, Canada

1 memorial
Jonathan Shepherd

Jonathan Shepherd

Junior Assistant 2nd Engineer on the RMS Titanic. A full résumé of his life can be found on the Encyclopedia Titanica website. He is also commemorated on the Engineers Memorial, Andrews East Park,...

Person, Engineering, Tragedy

1 memorial
Sir John Rennie

Sir John Rennie

Civil engineer. Born 27 Stamford Street.  In London, worked on Waterloo, Southwark and London Bridges. President of the Institute of Civil Engineers, 1845-8. Died at Bengeo, near Hertford. Easy to...

Person, Engineering

5 memorials
George Wimpey Ltd

George Wimpey Ltd

Based in Hammersmith initially so an early job was very local - the Hammersmith Town Hall.  Also: the first electric tramway in London and the White City exhibition buildings including the 1908 Oly...

Group, Engineering, Property

1 memorial
First traffic lights in world

First traffic lights in world

Less than a month after the lights were installed the lamp blew up, seriously injuring the policeman who was operating it. See the IET and the Victorianist for two different takes on the story. 20...

Concept, Engineering, Science

1 memorial