Thornewill & Warham Ltd (1849 - 1929)
Dates
- Existence: 1849 - 1929
Biography
Thornewill & Warham Ltd was an engineering company, based in Burton upon Trent, famous for its steam engines and railway locomotives.
In 1849, Robert Thornewill, who came from a metalwork manufacturing family, formed a partnership with John Robson Warham, an engineer from South Shields to form Thornewill & Warham. Until 1845, the business was mainly a hardware firm making goods for the local brewing industry. It was from this year that they moved into engineering work, manufacturing engines for the surrounding mining and brewery industries. Robert died in 1858, leaving his share of the company to his wife and son.
By 1870 Thornewill & Warham was supplying steam engines to Scotland, London and South Wales, and after 1890 were exporting winding, pumping and hauling engines all over the world.
Apart from the manufacture of steam engines, the company was also notable for its construction engineering and famously built two footbridges across the River Trent in Burton.
By 1893 the sole proprietor of the company was Robert Thornewill jnr. Upon his death in 1914, the company passed to his son, who was not interested in the business and in 1919 it went into liquidation. A new company with the same name was formed which was taken over by S. Briggs & Co. Ltd. in 1929, who still continue operating today.
Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:
Blueprints for Fairground Rides and Transport, c1875 - 1949
Plans for fairground rides and transport including loco boiler for fixing on truck, arrangement of KS Tangye gas engine, section of Water Dodgem propeller unit, Houdley truck, Mrs Murphy’s truck, Little Samson steam engine, No.64 Ark truck and Pullman living wagons.
Orton and Spooner Collection
This collection contains a large selection of archives from the Orton and Spooner Company. The collection comprises photographs and cabinet card images showing carved work, structural work and classic painted work, 4 boxes of notes, invoices and clippings, 8 drawers of plans and blueprints, 2 folders of ride specifications and order forms, accounts books and a library of source books showing turn of the century art used by the artists in the company.
Plans, c1916 - 1939
Blueprints of electric parts for fairground rides supplied by Mather & Platt Ltd and Hackett & Co., Electrical Engineers to Orton and Spooner.
Water Dodgem Motor Design, 6 October 1931
Side elevation of water dodgem motor and propeller by Thornewill & Warham Successors Engineers, Burton-on-Trent.
Water Dodgem Motor Design, 6 October 1931
Side elevation of water dodgem motor and propeller by Thornewill & Warham Successors Engineers, Burton-on-Trent for Orton and Spooner.