Aveling and Porter

Aveling & Porter no. 721 of 1871 - The earliest surviving A&P engine in the UK in The Science Museum

Aveling and Porter was a British agricultural engine and steam roller manufacturer. Thomas Aveling and Richard Thomas Porter entered into partnership in 1862, developed a steam engine three years later in 1865 and produced more steam rollers than all the other British manufacturers combined.^{[citation needed]}

The partners

Thomas Aveling was born 11 September 1824 at Elm, Cambridgeshire^[1] and was apprenticed to a farmer where he had the opportunity to familiarise himself with the new steam-powered farm machinery of the time. In 1851, Aveling's interest in engineering led him to set up a business in Edward's Yard, Rochester, with his father-in-law producing and repairing agricultural machinery. In 1856 they produced the first steam plough. In 1860, the business moved to Strood, on a site adjacent to Rochester Bridge.^[2]

Aveling died 7 March 1882, at his home, Boley Hill House, Rochester.^[1]

The sole remaining building was demolished by Medway Council in 2010.

The business

In partnership with Porter, the steam roller they produced in 1865 was tested in Military Road, Chatham, Star Hill in Rochester and in Hyde Park, London. The machine proved a huge success. Aveling and Porter steam rollers were exported to Europe and as far afield as India and North America.

In 1919 Aveling and Porter joined the Agricultural & General Engineers (AGE) combine. Production of Aveling and Porter steam wagons was transferred to Richard Garrett & Sons. In 1932 AGE went into receivership, bringing down Aveling and Porter with it.^[3]

In 1933, Aveling and Porter combined with Barford & Perkins to form Aveling-Barford which continued to make steam and motor rollers. The rescue, part-funded by Ruston & Hornsby of Lincoln, involved the firm moving to Grantham, Lincolnshire, from the Rochester site. After World War II the company continued to make motor and steam rollers as well as expanding into other construction equipment.

Aveling-Barford is now part of the Wordsworth Holdings Group, a family-owned company. The company is based in Grantham, and still trades under the name 'Barford' which uses a modern version of the Aveling-Barford 'prancing horse' logo. Barford manufacturers and sells a wide range of site dumpers.^[4]

Products

Aveling & Porter built more steam rollers than all the other manufacturers combined. They also built traction engines and steam wagons.

The company also built a few pairs of ploughing engines. A pair of which (unique in the UK) survive in the collection at the Thursford Steam Museum at Thursford, Norfolk.^[5] The Thursford Collection includes 27 Aveling & Porter steam tractors and rollers and 16 more by other manufacturers.^[6][7]

Another example of Aveling and Porters engineering skills can be seen in the massive covered slips at Chatham Dockyard. These Leviathans of steel pre-date the great London train sheds of St. Pancras, King's Cross and Paddington—traditionally understood to be the oldest and largest steel framed structures of the time.^{[citation needed]}

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  Traction engine-based railway locomotive, as used on the Brill Tramway

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  Early Aveling & Porter Loco in Chatham Dockyard

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  Aveling & Porter roller "Britannia" (s/n 8548) at Bromyard, Herefordshire show 2008

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  Inside the covered slips at Chatham Historic Dockyard

Locomotives

In fiction

Two Aveling and Porter products are found in The Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry and the TV series based on the books: George the Steamroller and Fergus the Railway Traction Engine.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Aveling & Porter

• Industrial Railway Society article on Aveling & Porter industrial locomotives