Bentall, Edward Hammond 1814 - 1898

Bentall, Edward Hammond (1814-1898), engineer, Liberal MP for Maldon

Edward Hammond Bentall was an English manufacturer of ploughs and agricultural equipment. He was the son of William Bentall who was a plough maker who developed a business making agricultural equipment. At the age of 22 Edward went into his father's business as an engineer. He grew the business at the works at Heybridge, Maldon, Essex and in 1839 established the company as E H Bentall & Co. In 1841 a patent was taken out for an improved Goldhanger plough to protect against imitations. The Broad Share cultivator was patented in 1843.

Edward also became one of the earliest yacht designers to design yachts with reduced stern areas; he designed and built the yacht 'Julianar'

In 1868 Edward was elected Member of Parliament for Maldon; he sat in the House of Commons as a Liberal politician until 1874.

In 1873 he built a large Italianate house called The Towers at the corner of Goldhanger Road and Colchester Road at Heybridge. This house pioneered concrete block construction and was built with ducted air heating and no fireplaces. The house was demolished in the 1950's.

Edward Bentall died in 1898 at the age of 84, his son Edmund Ernest Bentall took over the business.