Monument record 1842/6 - Smith & Grave Iron Foundry (Nene Side Iron Works)

{1} Smith and Grave, Iron Foundry. Foundry in the town with a steam engine. Kelly's 1854 The firm was the single largest employers of labour in Thrapston at the turn of the century. In early 20th century had two Tanye Producer Gas engines which made bearings of all kinds and ring oilers, plummer blocks, cast iron hangars, keyed couplings, couplings bord to grip and tapered bush couplings. The Nene Side Iron Works building still in existence, but now out of use and the land is due to be auctioned in May 1999. The structures are described in detail in a dissertation by D.W. Belmont, but include a number of buildings of differing size, design and build including 2 storey red brick structure, single storey workshops and an office frontage with 'Smith and Grace Screw Boss Pulley Co Ltd' inscribed in stone. This latter buildings appears to have had a fire on its upper storey.Film 2, photo 9, 11-15.
The Smith and Grace Works includes a two storey late Victorian warehouse, dispatch department, office block on two levels (built 1898) and garage. To rear of these buildings are machine, fettling and foundry shops. All buildings still standing erected between 1850 and 1950.
Nathaniel Smith founder of the company , originally worked in family business in Kettering. 1853 moved to Thrapson and became local manger at the Nene Side site for Fisher an agricultural implement maker - had expertise on steam agricultural engines. In 1860 he set up business with his brother. In 1899 a new foundry was built on the site. N Smith was responsible for a number of inventions including the screw boss pulley and the V-drive belt which revolutionised industry. By 1919 the foundry had doubled in size. Boom years for the company - supplied vast numbers of famous companies with cast iron pulleys and other equipment, very little competition from any other companies. During war the foundry taken over by ministry of War and made tank turrets, dummy shells etc. There was a fire at the foundry in 1994 and the business closed soon after.

<1> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Industrial Period, (checked) (Digital archive). SNN4.

Record last edited

Mar 11 2015 6:24PM