Barrett, Exall and Andrewes




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.
1838 provided ironwork for Brunel's new London-Bristol Railway.
1851 Exhibited at the 1851 Great Exhibition. Details of their products shown at
1851 Award at the 1851 Great Exhibition. See details at
1858 George Barrett died; his memorial is made of cast iron.
1860 Produced internal combustion (gas) engines, designed in 1860 by Lenoir. They also carried out much work for Palmer's local biscuit company, including a steam-driven biscuit machine.
1862 Exhibited at the 1862 London Exhibition. Details of their products shown at
1864 the company changed to a limited company, the Reading Iron Works Ltd, and ultimately went into liquidation during the agricultural slump of 1888.[1]
1877 Alfred Palmer, one-time High Sheriff of Berkshire, married the youngest daughter of William Exall, one of the iron foundry's partners.
Stationary steam engine installed at Devenish Brewery, Weymouth. [2]
See Also