Fowler BB1 ploughing engine No 14712 of 1917 Wilbur, complete with five furrow anti-balance plough, heads for the Cuckoo Spring Fair in East Sussex on 22 May 2009. James Hamilton

Will the rearing horse yet roar?

Leiston’s got its Long Shop and Thetford’s got its paint shop – both of which are now museums on sites of former traction engine manufacturers, Garretts and Burrells respectively.

Along with Bressingham, Thursford and Strumpshaw, East Anglia is well-served when it comes to engine interest. Yet given the number of Aveling & Porter engines and rollers in preservation would it not make sense if there was a historical focus for these ubiquitous machines?

An idea being promulgated at the moment does just that. For in the midst of Medway Council’s plans to redevelop (ie demolish) the old Civic Centre site on the River Medway waterfront at Strood, Kent, stands the original Aveling & Porter building that served as the offices of the firm, and also an historic gabled house originally occupied by Charles Dickens’ doctor!

There are many locals who think that these buildings, which after Avelings moved to Grantham in the 1930s were occupied by Messrs Winget, would make a superb industrial museum for the Medway Valley. Some local councillors have been calling for more museum space in the area and, following some representation, these buildings have a reprieve for the time being. There is due to be a public meeting in the town (see News) literally the day after this issue hits the news stands so it won’t be long before we hear that there might be hope for this scheme, which deserves every support, although we all know how capricious councillors can be.

There are plenty of worthy industries and former industry in the Medway belt that can tell a good story – from papermaking to brewing and cement to Medway-based river craft. Even the conglomerate that is Lafarge has the remaining archive of the Thames and Medway cement factories currently stored locally in a large container, which isn’t exactly the best place for research!

Full marks then so far to the likes of the National Traction Engine Trust, Victorian Society, Road Locomotive Society and Road Roller Association, which have all made their support known to the powers that be. Let us hope that the respective council members can find the will – and of course the funds, to recognise the significance of what they have on their own doorstep. Waterfront development does not mean ‘yuppie’ flats all the time.

Turning north, I note that there are plans afoot for a possible museum at Squires Gate on the Blackpool Tram system. This would be a great idea, again if the funding can be found, to give public access to the heritage tram collection.
The ‘cable car’ tram museum in San Francisco is perhaps a good yardstick and I found this to be well patronised – supporting a whole gift industry of tramcar-shaped novelties. I’m sure that Blackpool has enough souvenir-making experience to do likewise. Something for enthusiasts and something for the masses, who would no doubt want to see the tram that killed Coronation Street’s nasty Alan Bradley. Now that’s what I call interpretation!

Colin Tyson.
editor@oldglory.co.uk