Richard Costain (1839–1902) was the founder of Costain Group, one of the United Kingdom's largest, oldest and best-known construction businesses.

Richard Costain
Born
Richard Costain

1839
Died1 July 1902
West Derby, Liverpool, United Kingdom
OccupationConstruction business owner

Early life

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He was born and raised in the Isle of Man. His father was a shoe maker.[1]

He married on 8 March 1866 at Rushen parish church, to the sixth daughter of Richard Kneen, of Cross-e-Caley in Rushen. Costain lived at Birkdale Park, in Southport.[2]

Career

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Richard Costain moved to Crosby, Merseyside where, in 1865, he founded a small but well-equipped construction business.[3] In the early days of the business, he worked in partnership with his brother-in-law William Kneen and together they expanded the business until it was operating both in Lancashire and on the Isle of Man.[4] He worked with Richard Kneen of Southport in the 1860s, with the business at 3, Albert Road, in Waterloo, known as Costain and Kneen.[5]

Kneen and Costain purchased tracts of land, then built many houses on them.[6] Masons and joiners were recruited from Arbory on the Isle of Man.[6]

Personal life

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Richard Costain later lived at Blundellsands, located near Crosby.[7]

He died in West Derby in 1902,[7] leaving the business, by then known as Richard Costain Limited, to his son William Percy Costain.[3] He died aged 63 on 1 July 1902, at 'Port-y-Shee'.[8] His funeral was at St Luke's Church, Great Crosby.[9]

Family

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In 1866, Costain married Margaret Kneen.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Isle of Man Times Saturday 29 March 1884, page 3
  2. ^ Manchester Courier Monday 19 March 1866, page 4
  3. ^ a b "Sir Richard Rylandes Costain". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  4. ^ "William Kneen". Manx Notebook. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  5. ^ Liverpool Daily Post Thursday 30 May 1867, page 4
  6. ^ a b c Isle of Man Genealogy (1)
  7. ^ a b Isle of Man Genealogy (2)
  8. ^ Liverpool Weekly Courier Saturday 5 July 1902, page 6
  9. ^ Liverpool Mercury Saturday 5 July 1902, page 8