Regent's Foundry, Macclesfield

1902.

The iron founding, brass founding and engineering business in Catherine Street, Macclesfield, Cheshire successively known as:-

See detailed history at - Regent's Foundry by R. W. Swift (PDF file 25 pages and illustrated).

• Stringer and Green
• William Green
• Martin Watts
• Martin Henry Watts
• Watts Engineering Limited
• Regent Foundry Co Limited

c1818 William Green, an ironmonger in Macclesfield, joined in partnership with local timber merchant Thomas Stringer and established a foundry in Catherine Street, Macclesfield, trading as Stringer & Green.

1829 Thomas Stringer died and the foundry was continued by William Green trading under his own name.

1858 William Green died and the foundry was bought by his son-in-law Martin Watts, an experienced millwright and cotton mill manager, who traded under his own name.

1877 Martin Watts died and the business was continued by his son Martin Henry Watts. Said to be the inventors of the Macclesfield Step (or Macclesfield Sill), a weather bar for the threshold of inward opening doors (date not know).

1882 Martin H. Watts and his employee, Edwin Swindells, an engine fitter in 1881 filed patent for improvements in the fire bars of steam boilers and other furnaces

1922 Martin Henry Watts died and the company passed to his son Percy Martin Watts, but continued to trade as Martin Henry Watts.

1959 Percy Watts died and company passed to his son-in-law Peter John Allmand Smith, continuing to trade as Martin Henry Watts.

c1962 It is believed that the company was incorporated as Watts Engineering Limited, of Regent’s Foundry, Catherine Street, and from 1971 the name changed to Regent Foundry Company Limited.

Mid-1970s Manufacturing at Regent’s Foundry ceased and transferred to Regency Mill, Macclesfield where the business continues under the brand name Stormguard