The Stockton & Darlington Railway opened on 27th September 1825, paving the way for the railway gold rush. Railway 200, a Network Rail initiative, aims to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the modern railway.
The railway gold rush wasn’t just about locomotives; it was about momentum. Our founder, John Redmayne, understood this; from tram networks in the UK to electric railways in Vancouver, his investments reflected a belief in infrastructure as a driver of growth.
As we celebrate our 150th anniversary, we’re sharing a selection of key milestones that shaped our journey.
1812 - Commercial Steam Locomotive
The first commercially successful steam locomotive, the Salamanca, was built in Leeds. This facilitated the railway revolution which triggered the railway gold rush in the mid-19th century. This would lay the foundation for some of John Redmayne’s initial investments.
1825 - First Modern Railway Opens
2025 is the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. Reporters travelled from all over the country to watch the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway.
1836 - Shares Available for £25
Railway shares were available for as little as £25 in 1836, the equivalent of roughly £2,500 today, and there were only two share broker firms in Leeds at this time. Investing in railway shares were far more accessible than the previous transport revolution, canals, where shares were priced at £100 in the 18th century, the equivalent of nearly £13,150 today.
1844 - Leeds Stock Exchange Established
The Leeds Stock Exchange Association was founded during the height of the railway boom in 1844, with the original Stock Exchange building on Albion Place opening in 1847.
1845 - Over 100 Share Broker Firms
As a result of increased demand, the number of share broker firms in Leeds ballooned to over 100, with 50% of local newspapers reporting solely on railways news. Just 30 years later John Redmayne joined the fray.
1848 - Railway Share Rooms
Mill Hill Chapel was one of the earliest share trading locations. Any interested person, for a small fee, could enter the railway share rooms to converse and trade in shares.
1875 - Stock Exchange Moves
As we have seen with many stock market booms, there is typically a bust that follows. The number of share broker firms had shrunk, and the Leeds Stock Exchange moved into its second building, across the street.
Further details on the Redmayne Bentley’s 150th Anniversary can be found here: https://www.redmayne.co.uk/about/150th-anniversary.