William Ball (Shropshire Giant)
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52°39′22″N 2°28′42″W / 52.6561508°N 2.4782962°W
- Big Billy Ball
- 'The Shropshire Giant'
- 'John Bull'
William Ball | |
|---|---|
 A lithographic print at the Museum of the Gorge, Ironbridge | |
| Born | June 1795 |
| Died | June 1852 (aged 57) |
| Burial place | St Luke's Church, Doseley 52°39′22″N 2°28′42″W / 52.6561508°N 2.4782962°W |
| Other names |
|
| Occupations | Iron puddler and shingler |
| Employer | Coalbrookdale Company |
| Known for | His great size, weight and strength |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 2 |
William Ball (June 1795 – 24 June 1852), the "Shropshire Giant", was a nineteenth-century iron puddler and "giant".
As an adult he was 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) tall and weighed more than forty stone (560 pounds, 254 kg).[1]
Ironworker
From the age of eight he was employed in the Coalbrookdale Company's Horsehay Ironworks, where he worked mostly as a puddler and later as a shingler.[3]
'Big Billy Ball' was immensely strong, on one occasion reputedly lifting a piece of iron weighing nearly 9 long hundredweight (460 kg; 1,000 lb) to place under the forge hammer.[2]
In 1843 he was accidentally blinded in one eye when he was struck by a piece of molten iron. After this he always wore a pair of glass goggles. He also ceased working in the ironworks after 40 years.[2]
John Bull
After he left the ironworks he exhibited himself around county fairs as a "rara avis", appearing under the pseudonym 'John Bull'.[4]
1850 saw the birth of Alfred Darby II, a descendant of the Darby family, which was to be celebrated by a procession. He was chosen to lead this procession on horseback, along with 'Little Bennie Poole', the smallest man working at the Coalbrookdale Company, riding a pony. Because of his size, he had to be hoisted onto his horse with a block and tackle, with a cry of, "Dunno yo drop me!". Afterwards the horse was so injured that it had to be destroyed.[5]
The Great Exhibition
He was invited, as both a guest and a celebrity exhibit, to The Great Exhibition of 1851 in London. As no passenger seat on the train to London was big enough for him, he travelled in the guard's van.[1]
Some Birmingham businessmen were said to have teased him about his size: they asked him how much material would be needed and what the cost would be to make him a suit, but after he quipped that if they would take him to a tailor, have him measured and pay for a suit, he would give them the information they wanted, after they did not bother him anymore.[1]
He did not enjoy his experience of London and was also targeted by thieves. He left wishing never to return and had no desire to travel from Horsehay again.[1]