Meadow Foundry, Mansfield

Photo:Double pillar box

Double pillar box

These were made by the Meadow Foundry between 1964 and 1980

The history of one of Mansfield's oldest foundries

By Tony Clement

MEADOW FOUNDRY, MANSFIELD

I am researching one of Mansfield’s oldest firms, Meadow Foundry, based on Littleworth, Mansfield, for over 110 years, next to Mansfield Brewery.

It would be of interest to find out what this foundry produced from the 1940s to the 1960s, some ex employees could possibly help with the details.

Meadow Foundry,  Mansfield, was one of the oldest in the town and was founded in 1852, the factory being sited on Littleworth, Mansfield.  It stayed at these premises until 1963 when it was relocated to Sheepbridge Lane, Mansfield, it finally closed at this site in the mid 1980s (1).

Meadow Foundry at Littleworth was based on a three acre site and in the latter part of the 1800s produced a wide variety of cast iron products including lamp columns, cast iron windows, manhole covers, rain water gutters and downpipes and later on is perhaps well-known for its red cast iron post boxes, which some people are surprised to see the name and address of Meadow Foundry, Mansfield, Notts., cast on to the back of them.

Meadow Foundry suffered a serious fire on the 1st of June 1899, which was assessed at the time at costing £5 to £6,000 damage, not an inconsiderable sum at the time. The Mansfield Advertiser shows pictures of the damage, and states that the pattern shop, the smiths shop and joinery shop, were destroyed.

The premises were insured and luckily the fire service were able to pump water from the river Maun to use on the fire.

In 1899 the Mansfield Advertiser reported on the Notts. Agricultural Show, as Meadow Foundry exhibited at this and produced an advertisement in the paper showing their range of garden equipment, these included cast iron garden rollers, iron garden seats, and cast metal garden vases, all available to order or purchase at the show.

In 1912 the works were on strike for an extra two shillings a week, the current wage was 38 shillings a week, the workers wanting £2 per week.

Some of its former employees served most of their working life working for Meadow Foundry, reported in the Mansfield Advertiser was Mr Frank Wilson, who retired as machine shop foreman in 1946 after serving 50 years with firm, receiving a gold watch for his service.

The Mansfield Advertiser reported a golden wedding in 1946, of Mr and Mrs Evans of Recreation Street, Mansfield. Mr Evans, then aged 70 was supposedly still working for the firm, and was the oldest employee of the company, it was also stated he started working for the firm at the age of 10, and had never had a day off with illness in all his working life, and had only been late three times.

 

NOTES

(1) www.ourmansfieldandarea.org.uk accessed December 2016.  The date of 1982 is given for when the Meadow Foundry went into liquidation.

 

Any more information about this firm would be of great interest.  Please leave a 'Comment' via the link below.  Thank you.

 

This page was added by Tony Clement on 13/02/2017.
Comments about this page

Hello Tony Clement, I have just read your item from February 2017 concerning The Meadow Foundry Company Limited and feel that I can help with your request for further information about the company. I was an employee there from 1960 until it's closure in 1980 and have recently documented my time there. Although a very personal account I have attempted to provide information about the history and beginnings of the company and it's wholly owned subsidiaries Sanderson and Robinson and Korting Brothers, the people who worked there, the products made and the processes used.

I would be happy to let you have a copy of my document if you would be good enough to let me know where and how I could get it to you, and feel it could be beneficial to us both if we could meet to discuss our mutual interest. Although the document was printed a few weeks ago I am continuing to add to it as and when further information emerges.

Please excuse me using this site in this way but I would really like to help if possible. 

By Allan Barham
On 28/11/2017

my great grandfather sansom was the original joint proprietor of meadow foundry, albeit short lived. He later set up sansoms castings, later to become stokes castings on union street in mansfield.I have a photograph of him, circa early 1900s stolling down skegness pier. I was led to believe that much of the iron casting in the manufacture of the said pier originated from various mansfield foundries. Does anyone have any knowledge of this? Also was maun industies linked with meadow foundry? possibly allan barham may know.

By philip tatley
On 28/07/2019

Hello , is it possible to buy a copy of the information you have on the Meadow Foundry ?

By anthony holmes
On 08/08/2019

Is the William Bradshaw who founded the foundry in 1852 the son of Abbot Bradshaw who was the son of Benjamin Bradshaw.  Benjamin founded the Sherwood Brass and iron Foundry in 1804 which was formerly owned by Luke Abbot.  Benjamin married Mary who was the daughter of Luke Abbot.  These people were my ancestors and I would be delighted to know more about them

Arla Weiss ,Middletown, California

 

By Arla Weiss
On 08/08/2019

Interesting to see the name Sansom mentioned by Phillip in his article as I am researching my family tree and the majority of my family seem to have lived in Mansfield and employed as Iron moulders

By Keith Sansom
On 17/12/2019

to Keith Sansom. regarding your comments about researching your family history.my grandmother was Gertrude Sansom of mansfield and if you contact me via an email to the site I would be only too pleased to furnish you with any family details I have that may help with your family tree. Regards Philip Tatley.

By Philip Tatley
On 23/03/2020

I have an apprenticeship contract dated 13 July 1898 for my gt grandfather. It was signed by the managing director W Richardson. It is a very interesting document stating that he must work 54 hours a week for 6 shillings. The apprenticeshipmwas for 4 years, a fitter and turner.

Other names on the document are Alfred E Mallatrat, John Edwin Banks and John Austin. William Maltby secretary.

By Joanne Slaney
On 12/08/2020

My Uncle, Sidney Randall, was head pattern-maker at Union Street, later Stokes Castings, but not sure of the dates - certainly from the 1930's to the 1950s - and his was a reserved occupation during the war. I believe he moved to Sheepbridge Lane at some point.

By Tom Randall
On 13/01/2021

In response to Philip Tatley’s post of 28/07/2019. I was the Works Director at the Meadow Foundry at the time of it’s closure in 1979/80. I am aware that your great grandfather along with William Bradshaw established the Meadow Foundry. They had both been apprentices at James Maude Sherwood Foundry prior to this. Unfortunately they ran into financial difficulties and in 1872 the company was bought out by William Richardson and registered as a limited company. We subsequently in 1957  took ownership of another Mansfield foundry Sanderson and Robinson Ltd. and their wholly owned subsidiary Korting Brothers (1917) LTd. At no time did we have any connection with either Maun Industries or James Maude Ltd. 

Out of curiosity are you the same Phil Tatley that played rugby at Mansfield for a while, if so you would remember me as I was the match Secretary at the time and familiarly known by my nickname of Alfie !

By Allan Barham
On 07/05/2021

Hello. My husband worked there for a while making the Dolphins John Lawerence Taylor, He was also in the army and then TA in Mansfield just wondered if anyone remembers him or any photos .Thank you Mrs Freda Taylor

 

By Freda Taylor
On 06/09/2022

Hello Philip Tatley, not sure if you get this as it was such a long time ago we commented on this. My email adress is [Please add Comment below to get in touch - Moderator] I would love to have any information regarding the Sansoms in Mansfield although my ancester was Walter Sansom. I have no record of  Gertrude in my tree, but could be further back than I have gone. Thank You Best Regards Keith

By KeithSansom
On 26/09/2023
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