Archaeological interest at Rugby Works

On Friday 11th June, twenty-five members of the Warwickshire Industrial Archaeology Society (WIAS) visited the Alstom works at Rugby.  The visit followed a talk given by Rugby employee Alain Foote, and Peter Coulls and John Willock (of WIAS), to the Society in May this year, which covered the history of Willans and Robinson from its formation in 1880 until it became part of the English Electric Company in 1919.  

The visitors from WIAS were given a guided tour of the present day works and were shown buildings and features from 1897, which still survive today.  Examples of this include the building which houses the present day conference centre, this was originally a mess room for workers and in the Main Office block, the IT department now inhabit the original Drawing Office.  In this area, visitors were shown the Scagliola Ionic columns which are a dramatic feature of this office, although they have been painted over so that the imitation stone is no longer visible.  Visitors were also shown around the museum, which includes an example of a Willans Central Valve Engine manufactured in the works in 1900 for Maples in London.  The engine continued in service until 1957 when it was returned to the works and put on display.  

This visit reinforces Alstoms long, strong industrial heritage in Rugby as well as the companys pedigree and raises the profile of Alstom in Rugby as one of the leading employers in the community.