The Hackworth family is strongly associated with the early railway development in Britain. Timothy Hackworth (1786-1850), a railway engineer, was associated with other prominent railway families and personalities of the era such as George and Robert Stephenson, and Edward and Joseph Pease. He worked for the Stephenson’s Stockton and Darlington Railway, the first passenger railway in the world and later founded his own Soho Works in Shildon. He was involved with early locomotive development designing engines such as ‘Royal George’ featuring the ground-breaking ‘blast pipe’ design and ‘Sanspareil’, which competed in the famous Rainhill Trials in 1829 with Stephenson’s ‘Rocket’.

Timothy and Jane Hackworth’s three sons and six daughters continued the family business and campaigned for Timothy Hackworth’s recognition, along with his grandchildren, ancestors and friends. The large family contained various members named after the famous ancestor, such as son Timothy Hackworth (1825-1856), who continued managing the Soho Works after his father's death.