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Actions	Collection of Material relating to Beyer, Peacock and Company Limited Remove from selection Add to selection TitleCollection of Material relating to Beyer, Peacock and Company Limited ReferenceYA2012.23 CreatorBeyer Peacock & Co Ltd In 1854, Charles Frederick Beyer and Richard Peacock founded Beyer, Peacock & Co, a mechanical engineering company. Their works were at Gorton, east of Manchester. A legal partnership was formed between Charles Frederick Beyer, Richard Peacock, and Henry Robertson, a sleeping partner which took effect from 1 January 1855. In the early days of the company it was the partners who managed the affairs of the company. Beyer acted as Chief Engineer with control over the Drawing Office and Works, Peacock as Commercial Manager handled the commercial side of the business, and Robertson acted as Financial Advisor. Under the Chief Engineer were the Chief Draughtsman and the Works Manager. An accountant was also employed. In July 1855 the first locomotive engine left Gorton. It was made for the Great Western Railway Company and was used on the Paddington to Oxford route. Between 1854 and 1868 Beyer, Peacock built 844 locomotives, of which 476 were exported. The company sold mainly to the colonies, South Africa and South America, but never broke into the North American market. In 1883 the company was incorporated as a private limited company and renamed Beyer, Peacock & Co Ltd, with registered offices at 34 Victoria Street, Westminster. In 1902 the company became a public limited company, Beyer, Peacock & Co (1902) Ltd. (The (1902) was dropped the following year). In 1908 the registered offices were moved to Gorton and the new London office was at 14 Victoria Street, Westminster. In 1919 the London offices were given up and then in 1923 new premises were acquired at Abbey House, London. During WWII the registed offices were moved to Flore Manor in Northamptonshire. In 1956 the London offices of the company were moved from Abbey House to Locomotive House, Buckingham Gate. One of Beyer, Peacock's most successful locomotives was an articulated locomotive called the Garratt. Its designer, H. W. Garratt, had a wide knowledge of locomotive design and construction from his work in various countries including Argentina and Cuba. In 1908 Garratt was granted a patent. Beyer, Peacock had sole rights of manufacture in Britain. In 1928 the patents ran out and the company began to use the name Beyer-Garratt to distinguish their locomotives. During WWI Beyer, Peacock began to manufactire artilliery and in August 1915 Gorton Works was put under Government control with production switching almost entirely to the war effort, especially heavy field artilliery. During WWII the company was again brought under government control but continued to build locomotives throughout the war. Beyer, Peacock was faced with competition from tramways and electric railways. They began to look for alternatives so that they were not dependent on one product. In 1932 they acquired Richard Garratt Engineering Works Ltd who made steam traction engines, steam road lorries, and agricultural equipment. In 1949 Metropolitan-Vickers, Beyer, Peacock Ltd was formed which was jointly owned by Metropolitan Vickers and Beyer, Peacock. The company was created to build locomotives other than steam. By 1953 Beyer, Peacock had acquired the following subsidiary companies: Denings of Chard, makers of agricultural machinery; Theramic Ltd, makers of theramic siphons for locomotives; Maiuri Refrigeration Patents, Low Temperature Developments Ltd, and some other companies concerned with sales, such as Rail Traction Supplied Ltd. In 1957 Beyer, Peacock acquired Anti-attrition Metal Co and in 1958 Air Control Installations Ltd. In this year Beyer, Peacock (Hymek) Ltd was formed. The late 1950s saw a rapid transformation in locomotive manufacture. In 1955 British Rail decided to switch from steam to diesel and overseas users followed suit. Beyer, Peacock all but closed down the Gorton plant at the end of 1958. They had chosen to make diesel-hydraulics but British Rail opted to use diesel-electrics. In 1960 Beyer, Peacock’s subsidiary companies became members of the Beyer, Peacock Group and Beyer, Peacock Co. Ltd became the holding company. In 1966 all production ceased at the Gorton foundry. Shares in Beyer, Peacock were eventually bought by National Chemical Industries Ltd and in 1980 Beyer, Peacock and Co. Ltd became a dormant company. The name was resurrected in the 1990s as a trading name, based in Devon. Date c1855 - c1985 Scope and ContentCollection of material relating to Beyer, Peacock, amassed by former employees of the company. The material comprises: photographs of the works, employees and locomotives; a bundle of letters written by Charles Beyer; site plans of Gorton; livery transfers; engineering drawings; notes and papers relating to the company history written by Harold Holden; papers, photographs and booklets relating to the centenary celebrations in 1954; books, brochures and leaflets. Extent8 boxes, 1 roll and 2 framed prints Physical descriptionThe condition of the material ranges from poor to good. LanguageEnglish Archival historyThe material was donated by David Holden, the nephew of Harold Holden (Chief Cashier and Shipping Manager at BP) and Maurice Holden (Design Draughtsman Garratt Locomotives), and the son of Stanley Holden (Mechanical Fitter). David Holden undertook an apprenticeship at Beyer, Peacock in 1961-1965, before going on to work at Fairey Engineering. Levelfonds Repository nameScience and Industry Museum Conditions governing accessOpen Access. Conditions governing ReproductionCopies may be supplied in accordance with current copyright legislation and Science Museum Group terms and conditions. Related object Company records of Beyer, Peacock & Co. Ltd Company records of Beyer, Peacock & Co. Ltd. AppraisalDuplicate material, such as photographs, event menus, and publications, have been removed from the collection. Several items not deemed relevant have also been removed, including a copy of a Second World War poster "Field Marshall Rommel, I Presume," another non-related poster "No Cheese Paring!", and a copy of the publication, World War One, by S.R. Gibbons and P. Morican. System of arrangementThe archive has been artificially arranged., The vast majority of material in the collection appears to have been compiled for the Centenary book, either in consideration of, or to be actually used as part of the project. Only those items that explicitly relate to that publication have been grouped together. Items such as chapters for the Centenary book have remained together the way the Assistant Archivist found them. Items relating to the celebrations have been grouped together. Engineering drawings, event menus, and publications have been brought together from the different boxes to be listed together in individual groupings. With regard to photographs, those not relating to their use in the Centenary book or taken at the celebrations, have largely remained in the groups found by the Assistant Archivist. Some items have been placed together for listing where some form of relationship made it pertinent to do so. Hierarchy browser YA2012.23 Collection of Material relating to Beyer, Peacock and Company Limited c1855 - c1985 fonds contains 8 parts

TitleCollection of Material relating to Beyer, Peacock and Company Limited

ReferenceYA2012.23

In 1854, Charles Frederick Beyer and Richard Peacock founded Beyer, Peacock & Co, a mechanical engineering company. Their works were at Gorton, east of Manchester. A legal partnership was formed between Charles Frederick Beyer, Richard Peacock, and Henry Robertson, a sleeping partner which took effect from 1 January 1855. In the early days of the company it was the partners who managed the affairs of the company. Beyer acted as Chief Engineer with control over the Drawing Office and Works, Peacock as Commercial Manager handled the commercial side of the business, and Robertson acted as Financial Advisor. Under the Chief Engineer were the Chief Draughtsman and the Works Manager. An accountant was also employed.

In July 1855 the first locomotive engine left Gorton. It was made for the Great Western Railway Company and was used on the Paddington to Oxford route. Between 1854 and 1868 Beyer, Peacock built 844 locomotives, of which 476 were exported. The company sold mainly to the colonies, South Africa and South America, but never broke into the North American market.

In 1883 the company was incorporated as a private limited company and renamed Beyer, Peacock & Co Ltd, with registered offices at 34 Victoria Street, Westminster. In 1902 the company became a public limited company, Beyer, Peacock & Co (1902) Ltd. (The (1902) was dropped the following year). In 1908 the registered offices were moved to Gorton and the new London office was at 14 Victoria Street, Westminster. In 1919 the London offices were given up and then in 1923 new premises were acquired at Abbey House, London. During WWII the registed offices were moved to Flore Manor in Northamptonshire. In 1956 the London offices of the company were moved from Abbey House to Locomotive House, Buckingham Gate.

One of Beyer, Peacock's most successful locomotives was an articulated locomotive called the Garratt. Its designer, H. W. Garratt, had a wide knowledge of locomotive design and construction from his work in various countries including Argentina and Cuba. In 1908 Garratt was granted a patent. Beyer, Peacock had sole rights of manufacture in Britain. In 1928 the patents ran out and the company began to use the name Beyer-Garratt to distinguish their locomotives.

During WWI Beyer, Peacock began to manufactire artilliery and in August 1915 Gorton Works was put under Government control with production switching almost entirely to the war effort, especially heavy field artilliery. During WWII the company was again brought under government control but continued to build locomotives throughout the war.

Beyer, Peacock was faced with competition from tramways and electric railways. They began to look for alternatives so that they were not dependent on one product. In 1932 they acquired Richard Garratt Engineering Works Ltd who made steam traction engines, steam road lorries, and agricultural equipment. In 1949 Metropolitan-Vickers, Beyer, Peacock Ltd was formed which was jointly owned by Metropolitan Vickers and Beyer, Peacock. The company was created to build locomotives other than steam. By 1953 Beyer, Peacock had acquired the following subsidiary companies: Denings of Chard, makers of agricultural machinery; Theramic Ltd, makers of theramic siphons for locomotives; Maiuri Refrigeration Patents, Low Temperature Developments Ltd, and some other companies concerned with sales, such as Rail Traction Supplied Ltd. In 1957 Beyer, Peacock acquired Anti-attrition Metal Co and in 1958 Air Control Installations Ltd. In this year Beyer, Peacock (Hymek) Ltd was formed.

The late 1950s saw a rapid transformation in locomotive manufacture. In 1955 British Rail decided to switch from steam to diesel and overseas users followed suit. Beyer, Peacock all but closed down the Gorton plant at the end of 1958. They had chosen to make diesel-hydraulics but British Rail opted to use diesel-electrics.

In 1960 Beyer, Peacock’s subsidiary companies became members of the Beyer, Peacock Group and Beyer, Peacock Co. Ltd became the holding company. In 1966 all production ceased at the Gorton foundry. Shares in Beyer, Peacock were eventually bought by National Chemical Industries Ltd and in 1980 Beyer, Peacock and Co. Ltd became a dormant company. The name was resurrected in the 1990s as a trading name, based in Devon.

Date

c1855 - c1985

Scope and ContentCollection of material relating to Beyer, Peacock, amassed by former employees of the company. The material comprises: photographs of the works, employees and locomotives; a bundle of letters written by Charles Beyer; site plans of Gorton; livery transfers; engineering drawings; notes and papers relating to the company history written by Harold Holden; papers, photographs and booklets relating to the centenary celebrations in 1954; books, brochures and leaflets.

Extent8 boxes, 1 roll and 2 framed prints

Physical descriptionThe condition of the material ranges from poor to good.

LanguageEnglish

Archival historyThe material was donated by David Holden, the nephew of Harold Holden (Chief Cashier and Shipping Manager at BP) and Maurice Holden (Design Draughtsman Garratt Locomotives), and the son of Stanley Holden (Mechanical Fitter). David Holden undertook an apprenticeship at Beyer, Peacock in 1961-1965, before going on to work at Fairey Engineering.

Levelfonds

Repository nameScience and Industry Museum

Conditions governing accessOpen Access.

Conditions governing ReproductionCopies may be supplied in accordance with current copyright legislation and Science Museum Group terms and conditions.

Related object

Company records of Beyer, Peacock & Co. Ltd
Company records of Beyer, Peacock & Co. Ltd.

AppraisalDuplicate material, such as photographs, event menus, and publications, have been removed from the collection. Several items not deemed relevant have also been removed, including a copy of a Second World War poster "Field Marshall Rommel, I Presume," another non-related poster "No Cheese Paring!", and a copy of the publication, World War One, by S.R. Gibbons and P. Morican.

System of arrangementThe archive has been artificially arranged., The vast majority of material in the collection appears to have been compiled for the Centenary book, either in consideration of, or to be actually used as part of the project. Only those items that explicitly relate to that publication have been grouped together.

Items such as chapters for the Centenary book have remained together the way the Assistant Archivist found them. Items relating to the celebrations have been grouped together. Engineering drawings, event menus, and publications have been brought together from the different boxes to be listed together in individual groupings.

With regard to photographs, those not relating to their use in the Centenary book or taken at the celebrations, have largely remained in the groups found by the Assistant Archivist. Some items have been placed together for listing where some form of relationship made it pertinent to do so.