The ‘Burrell Bell’ and Timekeeping
Researched by Richard Curtis, Lead Volunteer on Collections. Vistors to the Charles Burrell Museum can ring the brass bell that governed the working day at the St Nicholas Works, but few understand its history or purpose. The Burrell Bell was cast by John Warner & Sons in 1859 of Jewin Street in the Cripplegate area of London. Charles Burrell would have been aware of this firm because they were also respected hydraulic engineers. They made ‘every description of machinery for raising water by means of wheels, rams, deep well pumps, &c’, devices that they demonstrated at the same Royal Agricultural [...]
William Frederick French – a Loyal Employee
Researched by Richard Curtis, Lead Volunteer on Collections. We recently discovered a letter of reference given to blacksmith William French when the business of Charles Burrell & Sons Ltd was closed down in 1928, which had lain in an unmarked file for many years. At the time, William French had worked for the company for 41 years. Click the image to view in full size. William was born on 8 June 1871 in North Walsham in Norfolk but was living in Whitehorse Lane, Thetford by the time of the 1881 census. His father, Joseph, was an agricultural labourer. William was [...]
Burrell Traction Engines for South Africa
Researched by Richard Curtis, Lead Volunteer on Collections. The Boer War in South Africa fought between October 1899 and May 1902 was the first war in which traction engines played a significant strategic role. By the time the article below had been published in ‘The Graphic’ on 24 February 1900, just four months after the start of the war, some 35 traction engines had already sent to South Africa on requisitioned ships that sailed from Southampton on 16 & 22 November and 5 December 1899. Most of these engines were made by John Fowler & Co of Leeds and had [...]
A Gift to Pasha of Egypt
Researched by Richard Curtis, Lead Volunteer on Collections. In January 1860 the British Government delivered a very handsome present to the Pacha of Egypt (Muhammad Sa’id Pasha who ruled Egypt between 1854 and 1863) in acknowledgement of the services rendered by his Highness in facilitating the passage of British troops through that country as they withdrew from the disastrous war in the Crimea (1854-1856). The present consisted of a traction engine and tender built by Charles Burrell & Co to the Boydell design, together with a large gun carriage, all the ‘endless railway’ attached for the purpose of transporting heavy [...]