Heavy Industry and Rolling Stock

Steelworks

By the late 1950s the Patent Shaft and Axletree Company was jointly owned by Cammell Laird, and Metropolitan Cammell.  In 1959 it became the Patent Shaft Steel Works Limited, and employed around 1,500 people. The factory closed in 1980.

George Croft Ltd. occupied the last surviving part of James Russell's tube works on the High Bullen. Sadly demolished in 1989.		  
Lloyds produced their own steel until 1952 when the last furnace was scrapped. Afterwards the factory became the largest foundry in the country.

John Bagnall & Sons Limited was founded by John and Edward Bagnall, successful mine owners who came from Broseley.

In the 19th century they had collieries at Wednesbury, Darlaston, and West Bromwich, and owned the Birmingham Coal Hill Company's Works; The Capponfield Iron Works at Bilston; Gold's Hill Iron Works at West Bromwich; and the Imperial Iron Works, and Leabrook Iron Works at Wednesbury.

The firm's products in the 1870s were much the same as in 1960, except that the product range included boiler plates and rails.

When John Bagnall died, control of the business was passed-on to successive generations of his family.
  
Rolling Stock
Old Park Works were purchased from the Patent Shaft in 1949 by Metro-Cammell and became part of the Metropolitan Cammell Railway Carriage and Wagon Company Limited, which also had factories at Elmdon, Saltley, and Washwood Heath.

Large numbers of railway wagons and coach bodies of all kinds were produced in the factory, along with a number of  electric locomotives.
 
 
Return to
the contents		   Proceed to
Lighter Industries