Industrial History Online

Industrial History Online

Manning, Wardle & Co

Description and History of Site:-
The former locomotive works of Manning, Wardle & Co. The site extant today (2018) consists of the Grade II listed works offices and cast iron gate posts, inscribed 'Boyne Engine Works 1858', the date that adjacent locomotive works E. B. Wilson's Railway Foundry was wound up, with drawings, goodwill and pattern's being bought by Manning Wardle to become established as a locomotive manufacturer. The main locomotive works have been cleared and the site covered by a car park for adjacent manufacturers Schneider Electric, itself built on the former site of Hunslet Engine Co Ltd (see WYK 00100) and previous to that E.B. Wilson's Railway Foundry. The site on Jack Lane was one of four engine builders within a matter of a 150 metres of each other. Alexander Campbell the works manager of Hunslet locomotive maker E. B. Wilson's Railway Foundry formed a new partnership with John Manning and Charles Wetherell Wardle after foreseeing the likely failure of the Railway Foundry due to a dispute with their shareholders. They formed a new engineering works, initially as general engineers, on land that was part of the estate of Lord Boyne, and directly adjacent to the Railway Foundry of E. B. Wilson.

When the Railway Foundry failed and was sold in 1858, Manning Wardle bought the patterns, drawings and goodwill of the company and started producing steam locomotives. Many of the former workers simply moved next door to the Boyne Engine Works of Manning Wardle and continued to manufacture near identical locomotives as their previous employer.

Initially the works used E.B Wilson's designs to produce locomotives that the customer base expected and wanted, usually four and six wheel tank engines, both standard and narrow gauge, favoured by contractors building large projects such as railways, docks, quarries and the Manchester Ship Canal.
Eventually the designs evolved into Manning Wardle locomotives but still maintaining an 'Off the shelf' approach which enabled them to respond to, and build, orders quickly. However over the years Manning Wardle fell behind their competitors who had developed a more modern production line process, whilst they were still hand-building theirs, and being unable to compete on cost this lead to their eventual demise.

The final locomotive to leave The Boyne Engine Works was works number '2047' 0-6-0 'Warwickshire' in 1926.

A further detailed history of Manning Wardle & Co can be found here: http://www.leedsengine.info/leeds/histmw.asp


Further Reading and References:-
http://www.leedsengine.info/leeds/histmw.asp
http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Manning,_Wardle_and_Co
http://www.steamindex.com/manlocos/hunslet.htm


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Key Words :- steam engine manufacturer

Viewing the Site :- Viewing from roadside

Address :- Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 1BH
Grid Ref :- SE 30461 32061
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.783988 , Long -1.539181
Local Authority :- Leeds Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Listed - Grade II
Historic England List No - 1375026,
Site Condition :- Site redeveloped to industrial / commercial use
Site Dates :- 1858 -
Contributor :- Andrew Garford - 11 March 2019

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Andrew Garford