Sidearm Posted 3 January , 2018 Share Posted 3 January , 2018 Hi all I'm hoping a Pal in the Altrincham area might be able to help me please? My research area of interest is tank and tank component production in the Great War. The firm Russell, Newbery & Co (still extant as the RN Diesel Engine Co) made parts for tank engines. It was based at premises in Grosvenor Road, Altrincham, Manchester between 1909 and 1949 and those premises still stand, but are now (I believe) occupied by Travis Perkins. I'd like to obtain a few photos of them just for my files if possible. Is there someone nearby who could manage to get me a few photographs please? If so, please speak to the manager first as I don't want you arrested as someone sizing up the joint... To help, there is supposed to be a plaque somewhere there commemorating its use by Russell, Newbery & Co and I can send contacts who will vouch for my genuine interest and honest intent. Thanks Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBrockway Posted 4 January , 2018 Share Posted 4 January , 2018 Gwyn, Travis Perkins in Altrincham is not on GROSVENOR ROAD, but on MANOR ROAD 50m due E of Tesco's. Exploring Altrincham by StreetView, I spotted this plaque on the side of a building in GROSVENOR ROAD: https://goo.gl/maps/jAYF5CxBEAR2 I cannot quite make it out, but the 'R.N.' logo on the RHS suggests it concerns Russell Newbery The position of the plaque relative to the entrance: The Russell Newbery enthusiasts website has this image of a plaque that is clearly the plaque above ... with these notes ... Quote Altrincham Works Site The original Russell Newbery works at Altrincham still stands and is now occupied by Travis Perkins. On Saturday 5th April 2003, The Russell Newbery Register and the RN Diesel Engine Co. Ltd. actioned a long held desire to have a suitable commemoration of the historical importance of the works. The prime mover behind the idea was David Thirlby, stepson of Frederick Russell. Lady Carol Stamp, eldest granddaughter of Frederick Russell, unveiled a commemorative plaque, the inscription is as follows: THE ALTRINCHAM WORKS OF RUSSELL NEWBERY & CO. LTD OCCUPIED THIS SITE 1909 - 1949. FOUNDED BY FREDERICK RUSSELL & WILLIAM NEWBERY PIONEER DESIGNERS, MANUFACTURERS AND PATENTEES OF INNOVATIVE AND PROFICIENT GENERATOR SETS AND MARINE DIESEL ENGINES THIS PLAQUE WAS UNVEILED BY LADY CAROL STAMP GRANDDAUGHTER OF FREDERICK RUSSELL, ON THE 5TH APRIL 2003 ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBERS OF THE RUSSELL NEWBERY REGISTER Link here (though you have clearly already found this yourself!) : http://www.rnregister.org.uk/history_1.html The building is at 30 Grosvenor Road, Altrincham, WA14 1LD, OS Grid Ref SJ 7715 8841 Contemporary map side-by-side with modern aerial: http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=18&lat=53.3921&lon=-2.3453&layers=168&right=BingHyb When the StreetView image was taken, the building was the City Plumbing Supplies warehouse, but this has now re-located elsewhere in Altrincham and this site is now A4 Studios - a studio space for artists, craftspeople, musicians and exhibitions. Their website - https://a4studio.wixsite.com/studio - has some internal pictures, and also a plan (below) of the internal arrangements, but I rather suspect the original internals have been gutted. There are some even better photos of the site being refitted in a Facebook Album page here: https://en-gb.facebook.com/pg/A4StudiosAndGallery/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1913562782259381 ... and as a real bonus, they've done a walkthrough video on YouTube here: Incidentally, GROSVENOR ROAD appears to have been known as part of STAMFORD STREET until ~1909, roughly when Russell Newbery was formed. I'll now move on to seeing if there are any contemporary photos in the Manchester archives, as per our Temple Street Ironworks topic, but being further out from the city centre, I am not optimistic that I'll find much on-line. Regrettably I cannot get over to Altrincham to take photos myself, but at least now any other Pal who can, has the exact location to go to! All the best! Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBrockway Posted 4 January , 2018 Share Posted 4 January , 2018 Not much found in the archives so far, but here's an aerial photo from 1927, which I've marked up with landmarks ... © Britain from Above Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidearm Posted 4 January , 2018 Author Share Posted 4 January , 2018 Mark, I am once again indebted. Thank you very much! Regards Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardenerbill Posted 4 January , 2018 Share Posted 4 January , 2018 Hi Gwyn, If you want some high resolution photographs of the site and the plaque I live nearby, but I can't get there this weekend but perhaps next. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidearm Posted 6 January , 2018 Author Share Posted 6 January , 2018 That would be very kind of you Mark, thank you. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBow Posted 13 September , 2021 Share Posted 13 September , 2021 Hello Gwyn, I am new to this forum site but a former resident of Timperley, just outside Altrincham. If this is any help to you, the property was owned by Duncan Knowlson, Plumbers Merchant possibly bought from Russell Newbery. Knowlsons was probably taken over by Travis Perkins or City Plumbing, whichever came first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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