20 Facts About Francis Ley

Sir Francis Ley, 1st Baronet was an English industrialist.

Francis Ley founded Ley's Malleable Castings Vulcan Ironworks in Derby.

Francis Ley introduced baseball into the United Kingdom town of Derby with the Ley's Recreation Club and owned Ley's Recreation Centre from 1890 to 1924, which was home to Derby County Football Club.

In 1905, Ley was created a Baronet, of Epperstone Manor and, in the same year, served as High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire.

Francis Ley was born on 3 January 1846 in Winshill which at the time was in south-west Derbyshire.

In 1878 he was sued for patent infringement by an American drive chain belt company; the case was settled and Francis Ley's company was awarded sole manufacturing rights.

Francis Ley was never sporting himself but he was an enthusiast for sport and sat on the board of Derbyshire County Cricket Club.

Francis Ley visited the United States of America in 1889, and was impressed by the game of baseball.

Francis Ley decided that, as a way of ensuring a healthier and more productive workforce, an investment should be made in promoting recreation for his workers.

Consequently, Francis Ley had what was to be called "Francis Ley's Recreation Centre" built; a 12-acre park for the use of workers with cricket and baseball facilities.

The first three used Hart to decide the line-up of their teams, but Francis Ley, who had more experience of baseball, made his own decisions.

Francis Ley first married Georgina Townsend and they had a son and two daughters.

Christopher Francis Aden Ley was the elder, born in 1893.

Francis Ley joined the South Nottinghamshire Hussars and became a captain in the Royal Flying Corps.

Francis Ley died in March 1918 having survived the 1915 Gallipoli campaign and outlived his younger brother.

Maurice Aden Francis Ley was two years younger and a Lieutenant; he died in November 1914.

Francis Ley bought Epperstone Manor in Nottinghamshire and he was created a Baronet, of Epperstone Manor, on 27 December 1905.

When Francis Ley died he owned the company and Derby County FC's sports ground.

Francis Ley owned 6,500 aces of farmland and was the Lord of the Manor at Epperstone, Lazonby, Staffield, Glassonby around Kirkoswald in Cumbria.

Francis Ley's Manor and grounds have been converted to residential dwellings, and there is an industrial estate named after him in Derby.