|
|
BOOTH AND BROOKES FOUNDRY Booth and Brookes foundry was started in 1899 by James Booth
surviving until 1981 when the foundry business was no longer viable. The site of the old foundry in Foundry Lane, Burnham on
Crouch is now a builders yard, shops and Fiveways Supermarket. The story of the foundry has been fully documented in a
splendid little book called The foundry at Burnham by John Booth, who is
a descendant of the founder. The foundry was sited at a location which could profit from
imports of pig iron and coke by barges to the nearby Quay and easy access to the
Crouch Valley Railway Line which ran alongside the foundry. After a few years the foundry found a niche market and
specialised in making Piano frames which requires specialised casting. The initial power source of a steam engine was then replaced
by a gas engine which included enough spare power to produce some lights into
the previously unlit factory. By 1912 two trains per days plus occasional specials were
required to service the foundry bring raw materials in and taking the castings
away to customers. During World War 1 the works continued to produce piano
frames but also made casings for hand grenades and practice shells. After the war the factory found a new product - Turntables
for a new invention - gramophones. 1920 saw a new power source in that a large oil engine was
fitted which powered the machines and provided electric lighting for the
factory. Work continued successfully until World War 2 when the
foundry was under the control of the board of Trade and only a few piano frames
were authorised. The main work was the production of the domes to house top
secret asdic devices to locate submarines. Other items including secondary fuel
tanks for aircraft and armaments were made in the factory. After the war production of piano frames and other
specialised casting recommenced with gradually increasing problems caused by
modern production methods until in 1981 a receiver was appointed who closed the
foundry at Burnham
I am grateful to the book by John Booth which provided the inspiration and to Paddy Booth and Bob Cole for fascinating stories of old Burnham that have contributed to this and other pages.
part of the old foundry remains converted into shops and offices
