RICHARD GARRETT AND SONS LTD, LEISTON

LESLS

RICHARD GARRETT AND SONS LTD, LEISTON

1857-1973

The Garrett firm traces its origins to the arrival of Ricahrd Garrett in Leiston in 1778. He married Elizabeth Newson and acquired a blacksmith's shop and forge. Their son, Richard took over the forge i n 1805 and it was his son, Richard Garrett the third who saw the rapid expansion of the business, the workforce increasing from 60 to over 600 by the 1860's. The firm remained a family partnership until 1897, when it was incorporated as 'Richard Garrett and Sons Ltd'. At its peak the workforce numbered in excess of 2,000 and the firm exported agircultural machinery all over the world. Part of the works, including the pattern shop were destroyed by fire in 1913 and somes records were lost. A new works was built adjoining the railway station. The firm were involved in muntions work during the First World War but the firm fell into financial crisis following the Russian Revolution as the revolutionary government repoudiated foriegn debts. Garretts were forced into amalgamation with eleven other firms under the title of 'Agricultural and General Engineers' in 1920. In the early 1930's A.G.E. fell into financial difficulties and the constituent companies were sold off. Garretts were purchased in 1932 by Beyer and Peacock and Co Ltd of Gorton, Manchester and re-named 'Richard Garrett Engineering Works Ltd'. In 1976 the Beyer Peacock equity was acquired by N.C.I and in 1980 Garretts was sold again to the Nichol Industries Group and the firm was sold in five divisions; the station works site was taken over by acompany making box making machinery, but this went into receivership in 1985 The nucleus of the historic buidings, including the Long Shop, a Grade II listed building built in 1853 for the erection of portable engines on an assembly line, and the associated artefacts were purchased by the Long Shop Museum Trust and the surviving archives by the Suffolk Record Office. The records in this collection are held at the Long Shop Museum.

<p>HC30</p>

English