Machinery in Hauxwells Iron Foundry and Engineering Works. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Machinery in Hauxwells Iron Foundry and Engineering Works.
Tim, funny thing I never spoke to Nick Downing when he would have a walk around the foundry, he spoke mainly to Tommy Metcalf and a few others of the old timers like Bill. I could very well imagine Billy making the moulds for the train wheels, he was very very good core maker, always always pleasant to me when I would walk onto the core bay looking for the core’s I would use in my moulds. Would love to see any photos of the lads who worked at Downings foundry, please ask picturestockton for my e-mail address. PS I was sent a photo of Davis Downing in S.Afica, he went there and took up moulding.
Nice to hear from Derek that my Grandad was a nice man, I think so too but I’m biased! It’s interesting to hear about John Downing, I was wondering does Derek or anyone know any more about the trains that Nick Downing built as I’ve heard that there are some of his models in various museums? Grandad used to say he made the patterns for the wheels that were cast for the models so it would be nice to see some others. I’ve got some photos that used to belong to my Grandad, of Downings functions like Christmas do’s that probably show all the people mentioned above on. Please let me know if anyone is interested and I’ll try to get them scanned and added to the site. Thanks for your comments Derek and all the very best.
I met Nick as a child through my father who was a loco driver. Nick made my father a replica of my father’s engine back in the 70’s I have the model now and brings back nice memories of a very kind man. I did go to his workshop in Hartburn.
I remember Billy Wheelehouse very well, Cirli Nesbit, Albert Wright, Billy usually made all the big cores, very very nice man as they all were, last spring I actually spoke to John Downing the owner, he lives in Cheshire now and he is not in the best of health. I can see every man I worked with, not a bad un amongst them, a great place to learn your trade, with the greatest bunch of lads, great times I had working there, all the best Derek
My Grandad was Bill Wheelhouse who was a coremaker at Downings. I remember him letting me come into the foundry as a little boy a few times and it being dark and hot and him showing me what he did and the people he worked with. I wish I had clearer memories but I’ve still got the model train that Nick Downing made for me in 1971 and even now when I come back to Stockton (I moved away from the area when I was 19) I look for the drain covers and remember him showing me them on Stockton High Street every time we crossed the road to catch the bus back to his house. He unfortunately died in 1987 while visiting Canada. It would be great to see any more photos anyone might have or hear anymore stories and all my best wishes go to all who knew him.
This building later became Dinsdale constructions joiners shop and yard. The yard is long gone but Dinsdales are still going strong.
Served my time as moulder at J Downings all through the 6os, remember Franky Wynn very well, he usually worked down near A Bailey who made the gullys, old Fat Criston (spelling?) he usually laboured for both Franky and A Baily. George Brett & Billy Wood worked close to them, Knocker Thomson & Gordon Wood worked the furnace, Tommy Metcalf, Dennis Brown, Joe Hanley, Bob Airs, Jimmy Irish, Donald Heald all moulders at the time I worked there, core makers Billy Wheelehouse, Ciril Nesbbit, Albert Whrite, Gunner Thomson mixed the sand for both core makers and Co2 for moulders, but usually holes in the ground for the moulds, Billy Gollidge & Billy Peacock were the drivers and they were both great lads and always very funny, both used to have me laughing so much I’d end up on the floor. 2 of the labourers I remember very fondly were Joe Burnell & Ken Higgins – really good lads. It was a foundry that was great to work at, you worked hard but got loads of laughs along the way, anyone still out there who remembers me please get in touch, the Picture Stockton Team will give you my e-mail address.
To David McCabe, just to put you right about the cannon David – I’d watched a program on TV about cannons and thought I could try to make one. As you might remember me and Allan Haymen were good mates and so one lunch break we decided to make one. We made cast it the same day and sent it up to a lad called Dick who worked with the fettlers, he worked on it and when it came back we fixed it to a block of wood. The mixture to fire it was sugar and weedkiller (not rat poison) and a fuse from a banger fitted into hole. First time we fired it we put in a lump of metal that somehow fit, lit the fuse, ran a few yards away and off it went – it was lethal. On other occasions all the blokes would stand and watch us fire it, it never failed. Never knew what became of it. Can you remember when me and Allan would hang from the rafters by our toes? Or the blow pipes we made that fored bits of cores? It was a pleasure going to work then, would love to be in touch with some of the lads all a bit younger than me but not a bad one amongst them. Allan came to my wedding, so did Jim Irish and Billy Wood, I’ve got a photo somewhere. Please ask for my email address from the Picture Stockton Team as I would love to hear from you. I’ve lived on Cowpen Lane for some years now. All the best.
Hello David, if I remember right you lived in Billingham, we called you Hank (Hank Marvin shadows). Downings was a great foundry to work at, the cannon you mentioned was made by me and Allan Haymen, don’t know what happened to it but it was bloody dangerous. I have over the years tried to get in touch with Allan Hayman but no luck so far. Remember the little lad David Mclean (Roseworth), a blonde lad, he was a smashing lad, think he wanted to be a vet or something and he loved the beach boys. I now live in Billingham myself, on Cowpen Lane. Shocked you remembered our Leonard, sadly we lost Len in april this year, nothing in life prepared me for his loss, wont get over it. I was courting Rita when working at Downings, married her and 39 years later 3 kids & 6 grandchildren, oldest lad a W/officer in the RAF youngest las Staff Sargeant Army, daughter just the most beautiful girl you could set your eyes on, and yes me and Rita are still together. If you ever get in touch with any of the lads let me know, you can get my e-mail address from the Picture Stockton Team. If your still in Billingham you might see me on mornings doing my power walks, get in touch ant time David be nice to hear from you, all the best.
My Grandfather, same name as me, worked for his brothers in their foundry (as pictured) from the end of WW1 until he retired. I”m not sure of the actual dates. He then emigrated to Australia. If anyone is interested I can get some dates from my father Tom (88). I know he loved working on the shop floor there, and refused all attempts to get him in “management”. I am very pleased to have found these pictures. Thank you for publishing them.
Me dad billy wynn worked for n downings for as long as i can remember a 3rd generation foundry man he said there was a wynn at the foundry virtually from opening to closing. i remember as kids him walking us down to stockton baths and us calling at the shop for a pint of milk and tins of catfood after working 6 days a week he called in on the 7th to feed the cats and check on the place.Many a time if a rush job came in he d get stopped by the police on his way to work wanting to know what he was doing out on his bike at 2 or 3 am. He said he was the last to walk out the gates when the recievers walked in and locked em .Although the pay wasnt great he still misses the place today and the many friends he made while there.
My father Frank Wynn worked at Downings for 50 years retiring in the mid 60″s and sadly died soon afterwards. I would love to hear from anyone who remembers him.
It was the Clarence Foundry but we all knew it as Downings. Behind the foundry was the council yard where they kept the horses and South of the foundry and council yard were the Gas Holders on Kirby Street and Oxford Street. There was a coal yard in Railway Street where the coalmen filled their bags for delivery so with the main railway running along one side of the street over the Bridge on Norton Road and all the activity in the Street there was a lot of dirt about. The women would hollystone the window ledges and steps, then wash the pavement in front of the houses and pity help any coal coal man scattering dust.
When I was an appprentice at Pickerings Lifts I was sent to different foundries in the area to alter patterns to save the cost and time of returning them to Pickerings.The three main foundries I visited were Downings,Croswaites in Thornaby and a brass foundry in West Row which was run by a gentleman who was called by the title of colonel.I can”t remember the name of the West Row foundry but both foundries were small and with all such foundries,dirty to work in but as all foundrymen will tell you a great place to work.I”ve said before on this site that a moulder/coremaker was one of the most skillful of craftsmen in the engineering trades(nearly as clever as a patternmaker) Derek I remember Ray the patternmaker who was called a master patternmaker because he made patterns for many firms other than Dickie Downings .Again I say happy days
My grandparents, Charlie and Lizzie Doughty lived at 5 Railway Street, and when I visited them in the summer holidays one of the “attractions” was to see how far we could venture into the foundry before we were chased. It was a fascinating place, everywhere thick with dust and casting sand. Was casting only undertaken on certain days (Thursdays seems to come to mind) or is that a failing memory? I believe it was originally called the Clarence Foundry; was that because it was established by the railway company of that name?
N Downing & Sons – I first worked there as the contracting electrician with GM Burton & Co. I had to make repairs to the cranes on a regular basis. When they did move to night shifts after the new electric furnace was fitted about 1976 I was a regular visitor in the early hours of the morning to fix the crane – strange how it always broke down about 1-30am. I remember one incident when one of the lads – Dave, was found laying unconscious and not breathing in the yard on a snowy winters day. I managed to resuscitate him in the tea room until the ambulance arrived. Never did find out what happened to him. Lots of memories of the old DC crane outside and the shaky foundations that held it up. The good old days for sure!
Hi I would be interested to hear from anyone who worked for N.DOWNING & Sons IRON FOUNDERS in Railwaty Street Stockton. I worked there as a coremaker from 1965 until the foundry closed down in November 1979 and we were all made redundent. I worked as a coremaker with Cyril Nesbit, Albert Wright & Billy wheelhouse (with his slicked back hair). I particularly remember Derek Casey & his brother Len, Alan Hayman, David Aylesbury, Brian Fahey, Jimmy Speight, Donald Heald & Joe Hanley all were moulders at the time I was employed there, and there was Syd Gaskill who was on of the labourers. Tommy Scott was the foreman & Ivor Davies was assistant foreman. I remember a cannon that was made and actually fired using scrap metal packed down the barrel and the explosive was a mixture of sugar and rat poison, on one occasion when it was fired it was aimed at the clock on the foundry wall, it shattered the clocks glass and blew the clock into oblivion, “GREAT TIMES WERE HAD BY ALL”. There has got to be some photos of the foundry in excistance somwhere, I would be interested to here from anyone who knows where they are now.
Re Rogers – They and Sudrons, the right hand side of Bowsefield lane were taken over by Ashmore Benson & Pease about 1927. Rogers used to do all the steel tubeing and Sudrons the heavy Boilers and Ladles for the Blastfurnaces, at the right hand side oppossite was Ashmores were all the plate fabrication and Assembly work was done. I started my apprenticeship as a Plater in 1936 and worked in Rogers during one period of the war making the booms for the Bailey bridges that were to be erected by the army engineers for crossing rivers, railways etc. Ashmores also made parts of the Mullbury Harbour a floating dock were the navy could get re stocked with supplies. I left Ashmores in 1947. Some time later I heard they had closed the old works down and had a big new factory built at the end of Bowsefield Lane Tees bridge were it was more economical than having three seperate factories. In 1953 I went to the new factory and worked on the Klonnie Gasholders wich were a big improvment on the old Gasholders , but sadly now all those big factories in the Stockton and Thornaby area are closed down like the local shipyards. I emigrated to perth W. Australia 1986 had some great times in those years in Stockton.
To Jude Downing, served my time as a moulder all through the 60s, got up to all sorts of escapades with my mate Allen Haymen, ask your dad if he remebers the cannon me and Allen made, every one in the foundry used to gather to see it fire, best place i ever worked, ask your dad if he remebers me Decca Casey, wonder if your grandad would still remeber me,i still remeber every man who worked at the old place, labourers, core makers, fettlers, furnace man, started at the foundry 1963 worked there until about 1971, all the best to the family Derek Casey
To Jude Downing,worked at the old foundry all through the 60s, does your dad remember me, went by the name of Decca Casey, best place i ever worked, your grandad was a really nice man, would love to hear from anyone who worked there, all the best Derek Casey. does your dad remember the cannon i and my mate Allen Hymen made, wow did it work
To Annette Bailey, Yes my grandmother was a teacher at St Mary”s School. I belive she taught domestic science. Later she taught at St Patrick”s when I was there in the late seventies. I have not heard of her working in a wool shop. I am sorry to say that she passed away in 1997. A wonderful woman!!!
To Jude Downing was a relative of yours a schoolteacher at St. Mary”s School,I remember being taught by a Mrs Downing who was related to Downings Foundry, later on after retiring from the school she owned or worked in the Golliwog wool shop on Durham Road
Mr Stuart Inkster, Thanks for the reply if you do find it possible to e-mail the picture of Rogers I would be most grateful.
Norman, I am glad to hear that Dr Inkster was able to help you, but he is no relation to me. However we do have one thing in common; in that our ancestors originated from the Orkney Islands. My interest in Stockton is through my maternal side of the family, my Great Grandfather served his time with Robert Rogers as a draughtsman from 1896 – 1902. I have in my collection a photograph dated from this period, which I can email to you. But you will have to be patient, as the picture is on a large glass plate, before the days of celluloid and unfortunatley, I haven”t as yet found a film scanner that will scan this image successfully.
Thanks for the info, but is there somebody who knows more on the firm “R. Roger Maker”?? – and does “Maker” in this case mean that R.Roger was the maker of the windlass?
Dear Stuart, I do not know of any connection with ABP except it was another good Teeside company. It is possible if the firm of Rogers had various sites ASB could have taken some business. All of the original Kidd family of Fred Kidd & Son have passed away. None of the children were interested in Engineering. That is why I am trying to find out other peoples” recollections of Fred Kidd & Son. of Stockton. They set up the company in very difficult times and made a success of it, and built the new factory in Church Road. I worked for them for a short period in the Time Office, not the greatest place to win friends so I decided to leave for new pastures. Could you tell me was Dr Inkster any relation of yours? he confirmed my doctors diagnosis of a leaking heart valve. Dr Inkster was the leading Heart Specialist on Teesside in the 1940″s. I have not had any notification or recollection of Uncle”s firm yet, but I live in hopes! Charlie Lampton was the works manager or foreman and the Aire brothers were Union shop stewards. Alf Dixon was the joiner.
J. Norman Kidd – the West Row Foundry of Robert Rogers went out of business in 1927, along with the boilerworks of Thomas Sudron. Both these firms, I thought, were taken over by Ashmore Benson & Pease in the same year. Did your uncle have any connections with ABP or did he sell a part of the business on to this firm?
Good to hear the name of Robert Rogers mentioned in the history of Stockton. This fine firm went out of business in the 1920″s. It was taken over by my Uncle Frederick Kidd who was the Engineering shop Foreman. He carried on in West Row until about 1937 then built a complete new factory in Church Road under the name of Fred Kidd & Son, Engineers and Brass Founders.It was a three shift company and hive of industry during the war. I would like to hear from other readers and ex workers from the firm please.
I was born and raised in Stockton and still live in the area, until accessing this website I had not realized there was a Hauxwell foundry and engineering works in the town. Could someone out there let me know where it was located please?
to anyone who use to work with eddie reeves at pickerings- I think he started there in the late 60s , early 70s.. i want to tell you that he died 2nd december last year.. if anyone has any stories or pics to do with eddie i”ll be eternally grateful.. i”m his sister. petaldust21@hotmail.co.uk thanking you in anticipation.. chris foster
Robert Roger & Co Engineers and General Iron Founders are listed in an Industries of Stockton booklet which was published by The Historical Publishing Co in 1890.They had foundries in West Row and Bowesfield Lane and an engineering works in West Row. They were listed as ” employing upwards of 400 hands in the manufacture of a great variety of specialties, the long list of which includes steam winches, steam steering gears horizontal and vertical steam engines winding and hoisting engines, yacht engines, patent locomotive steam cranes portable steam and hand cranes, overhead and “Goliath” cranes, steam donkey feed pumps, ship and crab winches, capstans, bridge and screw steering apparatus ships pumps of all kinds, windlasses and patent purchases, portable chain lifters, sawing machinery, water wheels, improved brick presses, ships castings of every description, and all kinds of general and special machinery to customers order”
I want to find some info on the “R. Roger Maker” manufactory at Stockton on Tees, from about 1850. I’ve found an old machine of this factory and I want to know some more about it. Is there somebody who can help me?
J.Downing made more than just storm grates and gullies for the council, we also did lots of work for Pickerings lifts, Smith Docks,Pearts, pipes all sizes, i my self made many a cog wheele and i do mean big ones,i think we did fantastic jobs considering we did all moulds in the ground as apposed to boxes, one of my greatest pleasures was making moulds from broken parts that thier was no time for Ray the pattern makes to make pattern for, improvising was the order of the day but we always got mould out and on its way, i my self made many a cog wheele and hand wheele for ships docked and needing new parts asap.Well thats about all i can think to say about great foundry, would love to speak to any who worked there in my time 1962-71, all the best Decca Casey
I remember many a time when a ship docked at Middlesbrough and other ports in the north would need parts making that had broken, Billy Wood and some times myself would get the job of making the new part. There would be no time to have a pattern made, so many a time we would have to improvise, but always got the new part out. I believe our antiquated methods made us amongst the best moulders, just about every mould started by digging a hole in the sand, and a great deal of back bending, as a young apprentice my mate Allen Haymen would hang by our toes to wooden beams holding roof up, Jim Irish worked no more than an arms length for years from me, he made most of the storm grates, fire bars, we worked closely together at the end of each day during the casting i would give jim a spell off and do the casting my self, bit tricky changing the ladle over from one hand operated crane to another, but we ever had any mishaps, Gunner Thompson nearly always operated our crane, great days in a great foundry wonder if any one remebers the cannon me and Allen made,when you lit the fuse you didn”t want to be in the front of it, come to think about it when we lit the fire work fuse no one stood behind it, cant remember what happened to it, all the best Decca Casey
I started my apprenticeship at J.Downings at 15 years old and remember it all like yesterday, the moulders at the time were, Tommy Metcalf, Frank Wynn, George Brett, Billy Wood, Big Jim Irish,Arthur Baily, Joe Hanly,{self Derek Casey } on furnace Knocker Thompson @ Gordon Wood }Gunner Thompson mixing sand, core makers Billy Wheelhouse @ Albert Whrite,driver Billy Gollidge every minute spent at the foundry was great, have a bank full of great memories, J.Downing was a very good boss, i well remember David walking around the foundry, i left around 1970 { a big mistake }as i never worked any where with the same friendly atmosphere, if any one out there remembers me please get in touch many thanks Decca Casey derek.casey3@ntlworld.com ps. also Tommy Scott foreman {great bloke }
I served my time as a moulder all through the 60s lets see if i can bring back some memories, Jim Irish was shop steward, giant of a men but gentle as they come, George Brett, Billy Wood,Frank Woods,Old fat, Arthur Baily, Tommy Metcalf, Billy Wheelhouse core maker, Albert Wright core maker Dennis Jones,could go on i started work there at 15 left at 22 { big mistake }David used to come around foundry some times, wonder if you remember me – Derek Casey {Decca }remember old foreman Tommy Scott, pattern maker Ray,i have searched the net for years trying to contact some one from the old place, great place, great people, great memories, all the best Derek. derek.casey3@ntlworld.com
Alan Davis – My Father Dave Downing was the last member of the family to run N. Downing & Sons. We moved to South Africa in the Early 80″s after the foundry closed. He and my mother are still there and are very happy. My Grandfather John Downing who ran the foundry before my Dad has recently moved to Chester and is in his 80″s and still going strong. I hope that this info, is what you are looking for. I will let my Dad know that I found your enquiry.
More an enquiry than a comments – does anybody have any details of the fate or photos of N Downing & Sons Foundry – Railway Street in Stockton, just of Norton Road. If you walk down many of the streets of Stockton you will see their name in the “gutter”. they used to make the stormwater covers for Stockton Corporation. I worked there as an electrician on contract over the years between 1974 and 1983 – work practices were ancient.