The use of steam will be a central theme of a regional museum to
be opened in an 1852 building of the Garrett Company at Leiston,
Suffolk, England.
The building, known as The Long Shop, was used by Richard
Garrett for manufacture of portable steam engines. The Earl of
Cranbrook is chairman of the group working on the restoration,
repairs. The Garrett Company, on its 200th anniversary, gave the
land and buildings in 1978.
Among the first exhibits obtained for the museum is a Garrett
10-ton road roller brought back from Spain by the British Transport
Trust. An Aveling and Porter 12-ton roller is also to be on view.
The ‘most exciting’ gift thus far is a Garrett SCI
stationary steam engine which was used until recent years to power
a timber and joinery works in Essex. It has been steamed up
annually to make certain it stays in working condition.
Garrett SCI stationary engine, given to Long Shop project; was
used until very recently to power a complete timber and joinery
works in Essex; is now steamed up annually to make sure it is in
working condition. (Photo courtesy Keith Pittman, project
officer.)
A Long Shop steam rally is planned for 1980 in conjunction with
the Oily Rag Club, a Leiston steam enthusiasts’ society. Anyone
in the United States or Canada or other nations who wishes to help
financially should write to Keith Pittman, Project Officer, The
Long Shop, Regional Industrial Museum Project, Main Street,
Leiston, Suffolk, England.
