The Story...
Taken at The Bell Hotel, Thetford, celebrating the wedding of Aimee and Kenny, June 2024
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The Story...
The Burrell Works began in 1770, set up as a forge in Thetford repairing and making small agricultural tools. By the early 1800’s they were advertising chaff engines, drill rolls and machines. James’ two brothers joined the business and his nephew Charles assumed complete control in 1836 aged only 19.
This area of Norfolk was very rural, and farming was the major occupation. By the start of the 1800s the Burrell brothers were advertising their products and winning awards at agricultural shows.
Within the museum there is a small wooden machine at the top of the stairway, this is a ‘winnower’ used for separating waste from grain. It is the oldest surviving object made by Burrells circa 1800.
Burrells also made some major infrastructure in Thetford, including the river staunches in the town, and the iron bridge in Bridge Street was built by them in 1827.
James had by now set up a small foundry on the site of an old church in the town. The manufacturing site that developed in this area over later years became known from the name of the church, as the St Nicholas Works.
Burrells built their first portable engine in 1848, followed 8 years later by a pioneering self-propelled engine. Over the next decades of 100’s of traction engines of various types were constructed – portables, general purpose, road haulage, steam
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rollers, a few ploughing engines and a few steam wagons. They were perhaps best known and specialised from the 1890’s in making road locomotives and showman’s engines, and from 1908 also producing oneman operated steam tractors. Burrells had a reputation for quality and appearance, building their engines to the customers specification. They exported to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa – as well as other countries.
Burrells continued to expand and went on to make almost 4000 steam engines of different types, road rollers, tractors and steam lorries were some examples. The product they were most famous for was the ‘Showman’s Engine’. These were used to haul fairground attractions about the country from site to site. Once the fairground was set up, the engine would generate electricity (then a new wonder) to power the rides. Burrells made more Showmen’s Engines than any other maker and acquired a reputation for high quality.
The company acquired limited liability status in 1884 becoming Charles Burrell and Sons Ltd.
At its height in the decade before the First World War (producing over 104 engines in 1913) it employed up to 400 men (including indentured apprentices) which, with the businesses and services supported by them, meant about 1/4 of Thetford’s population relied on it for an income. It was central to the economic life of the town. During the war production was given over to munitions but many engines were still produced.
The Works occupied 3 acres next to the river in Minstergate and St Nicholas Street comprising 15 separate parts. The surviving buildings are of architectural interest, particularly the former paint shop, which now houses the museum. Dating from 1844/45 it is Grade 2 listed and features a Belfast truss roof, one of the oldest examples left. This pattern was subsequently commonly used in aircraft hangars and large depots.
Burrells went into decline after 1918. A surplus of secondhand engines from the war, a growing number of internal combustion vehicles and a poor economic situation caused a
downturn in orders. The factory workforce was reduced to a 4-day week. The company joined the Agricultural and General Engineers (AGE) group in 1919 attempting to shore up its position but this proved a disastrous move. The end was in sight by the 1920’s with the factory finally closing in 1928, the last orders for engines being completed by Richard Garrett & Sons of Leiston.
The buildings decayed, many were demolished for redevelopment.
In 1987 the donation of a set company engine drawings and other archives lead to the council initiating a museum dedicated to preserving and highlighting the importance of the company to the economic and industrial history of Thetford – the Charles
Burrell Museum.
The Charles Burrell Museum also owns and preserves an extensive archive collection, which when donated was the impetus to forming the museum. Many of these items are contemporary to the company’s time detailing the works, engineering drawings, business documents and works photographs, showing buildings, engines and staff. The museum has been open since 1991 and is a gateway attraction to the town, being the nearest to the bus station. It is the spiritual if not actual home to the hundreds of Burrell engines that survive in preservation and a unique asset to Thetford.
Source information principally credited to – David Osbourne, Michael R Lane, Duncan Marston & Richard Parrott.
Our Engines...
Burrell 8 ton Double Crank Compound Roller,Works Number 4061, built in 1922, named “Mac”, Registered “UO 945”.
The engine never had a name in its working life. Originally owned by Edwin Harris and Sons Contractors, her last place of work was with Tarmac Ltd.
Found by the museum team abandoned in a quarry in a dismantled state, a kit of parts. Donated to the museum by Tarmac Ltd, they also kindly replaced the brass maker’s plate and number, which had been lost. She was re-assembled in the local area by a team of museum volunteers. She has a Prices’ two tine scarifier fitted on the side, this was used to break up old road surfaces before a new one was re-laid and rolled flat.
Now named “Mac”, the engine was one of the very last built by the Burrell company.
Mac now needs a new firebox to safely steam again, which will cost about £25,000, donations for this are very much welcome.
Burrell’s famous Showman’s Engine, Works Number 3833, built in 1920, registration number is BR1498. An 8NHP (Nominal Horse Power), Double Crank Compound engine.
Finished on May 3rd 1920, sold new to Alf Payne, a fairground showman in the North of England. In 1923 she was sold on, along with another showman’s engine called ‘White Rose of York’ and a fairground ride, to Anderton and Rowland of Bristol.
A large and well known group of showmen who travelled the West Country of England. She was next sold to Mrs Flo Simmonds of Salisbury. In 1949 she was eventually sold into preservation to Mr Viv Kirk in the Oxford area.
There she remained until 2008, after arriving at The Charles Burrell Museum, bequeathed to us by Viv in his will.
A magnificent machine, much of the paintwork is original, and she roads to many events, shows, and more recently to weddings. With the electric dynamo on the front she weighs well over 20 tons, so is not easy to steer.
The solid rubber tyres on the rear wheels have been replaced. Traction engines originally just had steel wheels, some still do, but when roads became surfaced with asphalt it was necessary to put solid rubber tyres on those that travelled on roads. The old tyres lasted about 95 years.
This is one of the very few surviving sleeping/living vans made by Charles Burrell & Sons.
Living vans were towed about by steam rollers (like Mac) from the depot to the roadwork site. Rollers travelled very slowly, and the workmen might be away for several days and need somewhere to eat, sleep and keep their equipment.
This van was owned by Doran Brothers of Thetford, road rolling contractors, who had a depot in the Old Croxton Road. Thomas Doran had been an apprentice and employee of Burrells. He started the contracting business in 1896. He was joined by his older brother Frederick, who had been Burrell’s chief draughtsman
for many years. They bought several brand new engines from Burrells and continued the road rolling business long after the Works shut down. They finally ceased operating in 1960.
The living van was purchased by the Harveys of Bunwell, Norfolk, and spent 40 years in their garden as a shed. After visiting the museum they kindly donated it, on condition it was restored, which it was by the previous Friends of the Charles Burrell Museum.
The museum also contains many other objects, such as models, photographs and displays.
Burrell 8 NHP Single Crank Compound Traction Engine, Works Number 2479, built in 1902, Registered “AH5239”, Named “Aggie”.
Originally named ‘Old Dull Bob’, but now affectionately referred to as “Aggie”, Aggie is an example of an agricultural type engine that would have worked on a farm.
Working all her life in the local area and was then stored away at Burnham Market in North Norfolk for many years.
She was bought for the Charles Burrell Museum, and had the boiler overhauled. Now she needs new gears, the gear wheels are original (about 120 years old) and the gear teeth are now very worn.
Built by R. Garretts at Leiston, Suffolk in 1932, this 8NHP, Single Cylinder Traction Engine was the last Burrell engine ever made.
It was bought new by a Harlow farmer named L. J. Parris, and used continuously until 1946 to drive threshing, baling and chaff cutting machinery on farms within a 15 mile radius of Hastingwood.
In June 1955, King George V took part in its first Traction Engine rally at Appleford, Berkshire.
After restoration, it attended numerous rallies, and became well-known throughout the world. It is now preserved in its original condition.
Museum Opening
The museum is open from Easter to the end of October, every Tuesday 10.00 - 14.00, and every Saturday 10.00 to 15.00.
The engines are all operational, although they may not be currently working due to
requiring ongoing repairs and maintenance.
They often go away to shows and events during the summer, so we cannot guarantee they will be here during your visit.
Getting Married?
Winston Churchill
CHARLES BURRELL