Barrett, Exall and Andrewes

Horse mill at Waimate Museum, New Zealand

Horse mill at Waimate Museum, New Zealand

Horse mill at Waimate Museum, New Zealand

Engine at Devenish's Brewery, Weymouth

Barrett, Exall & Andrewes of Katesgrove Iron Works, Reading

Founded in 1817/18, employing up to 360 people and occupying a 12 acre plot. They produced agricultural machinery and portable/fixed engines.

In 1838 they provided ironwork for Brunel's new London-Bristol Railway. They produced internal combustion (gas) engines, designed in 1860 by Lenoir. They also carried out much work for Palmer's local biscuit industry, including a steam-driven biscuit machine. George Barrett died in 1858, and his memorial is made of cast iron.

In 1877 Alfred Palmer, one-time High Sheriff of Berkshire, married the youngest daughter of William Exall, one of the iron foundry's partners.

In 1864 the company changed its name to the Reading Iron Works and ultimately went into liquidation during the agricultural slump of 1888.

• 1851 Exhibited at the 1851 Great Exhibition. Details of their products shown at
  • Class VI
  • Class VIII
  • Class IX
• 1851 Award at the 1851 Great Exhibition. See details at
  • Class IX
• 1862 Exhibited at the 1862 London Exhibition. Details of their products shown at
  • Class VII
  • Class VIII
  • Class IX
• See A. Y. Barrett and Co

• Stationary steam engine installed at Devenish Brewery, Weymouth.

See Also

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