The History of Riches and Watts
Other than the entry on the firm to be found in both editions of Ronald H. Clark's "The Steam Engine Builders of Norfolk" and a few surviving catalogues from the archives of both Mr Clark and the Reading Museum of Rural Life, as yet, very little information has been located on their history or products.
The pre history of the firm concerns three families, the Howards, the Riches and the Watts. Earliest information from Trade directories indicates that by 1830 a Thomas Watts had established an Iron / Brass foundry in the Rose Lane / King Street area of Norwich in 1836, a James Watts (thought to be a son) was also being mentioned at the same location as Iron and Brass founder and manufacturer of steam engines. By 1845 the firm was trading as James Watts and Co. and later, in 1854, as Watts Brothers, implying that Thomas was no longer involved, with the same product range, there were three names, James, Charles James and William Wiseman Watts mentioned. In 1845 there is single entry for Bullard and Watts, Bridge Street, St Lawrence who were described as merchants, the site being close to the Bullards Anchor Brewery which almost adjoined the Dukes Palace Ironworks, it is interesting to conjecture if there is a connection, particularly as each of the the major Norwich Breweries were at some time powered by R & W engines.
In 1830 there were two entries for Riches, a Henry Smith Riches, brazier and tinplate worker was mentioned with works at King Street Gates (not far from Rose Lane), and a Robert and William Riches, Blacksmiths & Wheelwrights at St Benedicts Gates. Robert and William are still smithing and wheeling in 1845 where they have also added 'patent cart arm and axle makers' to their credits. They are not mentioned again by name.
Howard is the most intriguing member of the trio, there are entries for a Thomas Howard, Millwright, as part (and presumably senior partner) of Howard and Gaze Millwrights (1836) then Howard, Gaze and Southgate, Millwrights (1845) of St Pauls Back Street. By 1854 Mr Southgate had gone and it was back to Howard & Gaze of St Saviours Back Street (this and St Pauls Back Street appear to have been effectively the same road running through two parishes) By 1864 it was known as W & R Gaze, Mr Howard apparently having left.
Nowhere, other than the cover of the catalogue for 1859 and a notice announcing the sale of the 1000th American Grist Mill, "introduced in 1858 by Howard, Riches and Watts (now Riches & Watts)", is the firm referred to as Howard, Riches and Watts, all other references are for Riches and Watt or Watts (the two are used interchangeably) alone. However Mr Howard had clearly severed his association with the Gaze's by then and while they continued trading after his departure, he is not mentioned again anywhere.
The firm of Howard, Riches and Watts produced a well illustrated trade catalogue at Christmas 1859, the oldest one so far discovered, where they describe themselves as Engineers, Millwrights, Iron and Brass Founders, General Machinists and manufacturers of improved high and low pressure expansive - condensing steam engines, non condensing engines, corn mills, draining mills, water wheels &c., trading from Dukes Palace Ironworks, opposite the site of the former palace of the Dukes of Norfolk (Also named Howard although if this is only a coincidence or if Thomas Howard was a descendent and owned the property has yet to be established) South of the navigable river Wensum, West of Dukes Street and North of Charing Cross it was in an area of Norwich which, fed by good river transport, was ideal for heavy industries which included foundries and engineering works, dye and bleaching, shoe and textile factories. As the site had good river frontage bulky raw materials such as pig iron, coal or coke could be brought in easily and finished machinery could be despatched for UK or overseas destinations simply by swinging them out over a wherry (the shallow draught. single gaff sailed trading vessels peculiar to Norfolk rivers) on a jib and lowering them into the hold.
At the back of this 20 page catalogue is a section featuring testamonials from satisfied customers, one, on the last page and interestingly enough from a Mr R. Riches of Hoveton, nepotism at work ? As in Whites 1864 directory a Richard Robert Riches is listed as both connected with Riches & Watts and a corn miller) refers to a 4nhp portable engine and corn mill supplied five years previously, which, as the letter was dated June 1859, would suggest that the firm were already producing engines as early as June 1853. When the Watts brothers ceased operations in Rose Lane, or if Messrs Howard or Riches' became involved at this location is as yet unknown, they are not mentioned there after 1854.
Four patents relating to milling equipment and hay / straw cutting machinery in the names of Richard Robert Riches and Charles James Watts are known to have been sealed in the 1860's - a visit to the British Library Patent section in Londaon may reveal more information.
Individuals referred to as connected with Riches & Watts in subsequent directories (1864, 1875, 1879 and 1883) are Richard Robert Riches, Charles James Watts and James Watts, the locations through which their residences change during this period indicating that they must have been very successful in their business enterprises (Whites 1883 entry gives their London office as 147 Victoria Street) which by the time they published their 1893 catalogue (the latest so far seen), ran to nearly eighty pages and included in addition to their range of stationary and portable steam engines which were very highly regarded all over the world, also included all manner of engineering, agricultural, brewery and milling related equipment, some manufactured by themselves such as the range of Eureka and other corn milling and dressing equipment and some factored product by other makers, such as mills by Hunts of Earls Colne, Deane and Pulsometer steam pumps, Avery weighing machines, Bamlett mowing machines, George Smiths patented corn dressing machinery, Barkers 'Forward' silent gas engine.
This catalogue from 1893 is the last published documentary evidence of their existence so far discovered, by 1900, where Kelly's directory mentions none of their names or the firm, the site is recorded as being occupied by the Norwich Electricity Co. Ltd. The NEC bought the site in 1893 and in a history of electricity generation in Norwich, produced by John Ward, it is noted that as initially not all the site was needed for the generating plant, Riches and Watts remained on part of the site as tenants for a few more years, a minute book exists for NEC from 1890 and it is hoped to review this one day in case there is some relevant information contained.
Two fascinating local newspaper clippings from 1969 relating to the oldest surviving employee of the Norwich Electricity Co. Ltd. mention that a Mr Sabberton (either 91 or 82 in 1969 - it depends which clipping you read) worked for Riches and Watts as a storeboy, when they were taken over by the NEC, he transferred and worked for them for a while, the takeover is thought to have happened between 1896 and 1900 when the NEC was well established on the site.
The site has recently been sold by their successors, Eastern Electricity who claim no knowledge of its former use or documents, deeds etc. relating to this, the new owners have been very helpful but no documentation prior to WW2 has survived following a wartime fire.
A friend who worked for Eastern Electricity, reports that during some building work on the site in the 1970's, what appeared to have been the foundations of a substantial steam hammer were discovered, it is thought that these were so substantial, they were left undisturbed and may yet come to light during subsequent re development.
From a 1934 press clipping and an entry, drawing and some photographs from 1933 in the late Ronald H Clark's stationary steam engine register, notes that the ancient beam engine which once powered the the Albion flour Mills of Read & Co. Ltd in King Street, Norwich was rebuilt and fitted with a new variable cut off valvegear and governor, the circular, engraved plate fitted at this time stating 'Riches & Co. Engineers Norwich Aug 1896'. Mr Watts apparently having departed between 1893 and 1896, we can consider some time between 1896 and 1900 as the most likely time for the ultimate demise of the company,
This view was taken from the tower of St Peter Mancroft church somewhere between 1887 and 1901, looking North over the Mediaeval Guildhall, the church to the left which appears to have a smoking chimney on its tower is St Gregorys, the chimney is that of Bullards Anchor Brewery directly behind it, which sadly was demolished in the 1970's leaving Norwich without a single decent Victorian chimney stack. The church right of centre is St John Maddermarket, in who's parish the Dukes Palace Ironworks was situated, the stack immediately to its left is on the Dukes Palace Ironworks site, until we can firmly establish the date of this picture and the date that Riches and Watts ceased trading it is impossible to say if this is their stack or that of the Norwich Electricity Company. The next stack to the left is thought to be that of Barnes Ironworks, just north of the river and to the left of that, the St Miles Bridge Norfolk Ironworks of Barnards (where wire netting and the first machine to make it, now on display in the Bridewell Museum were invented). The tower of St Michael at Coslany (St Miles) can just be seen on the horizon, here the first church bell peal in Norwich was rung. To the right of St Johns is another fine stack contributing to the many layers of soot recently sand and water blasted off Norwich's historic buildings, this stands where a 1901 map indicates a temporary generating station, this is thought to have been for the tram network and probably indicates that the photo was taken nearer 1900.
Morant's map of 1873 makes no mention of the Dukes Palace Ironworks site but shows the area around and some other significant Industrial sites, the black diverging lines are from where the photograph above was taken, through the noted church towers and the legends in white circles have been overlaid for indication..
This map, thought to be from 1883, shows the extent of the Dukes Palace Ironworks between the river Wensum, Duke Street and Charing Cross
Products
Their range included both ferrous and non ferrous foundry products, general engineering and machining, ironwork, drainage, brewery, milling, sawing and agricultural products including both stationary and portable steam engines. In the last few years a range of 'Forward' silent gas engines appear to have been factored. Few known examples of Riches and Watts products have survived, here are a few catalogue engravings of their products.
This superb little grasshopper beam engine is from their 1859 catalogue, they were available from between 6 and 30 hp, a 10 hp engine complete with boiler cost £250 !
This single cylinder horizontal is from the 1859 catalogue as well and were made from 2 to 80 horsepower..
This elegant inverted vertical is from the 1871 catalogue and were also available from 2 to 30 horsepower.
This side by side condensing compound appears on the cover of the 1871 catalogue, the style of flywheel looks to be from a much earlier era but the use of the Porter Governor is innovative for a manufacturer so 'off the beaten track'. They must have been good because at least two worked in local breweries well into the 1950's
In 1893 this superb inverted vertical condensing compound was shown
The engine pictired above (courtesey of the late George Watkins), was the condensing horizontal 'side by side' or double crank compound engine, works number 348 of 1879 which powered the King Street Brewery of Youngs in Norwich (not to be confused with Youngs of Wandsworth, London who still maintain their two Wentworth Beam Engines in working order) it was destroyed as recently as the early 1960's. With its unusual mixture of double web and disk cranks set at 135 degrees to each other (reducing backpressure to the low pressure piston and increasing efficiency claimed the proud makers), the cylinders of 10" and 18" bore by 18" stroke had hand adjusted Meyer expansion valve gear on the high pressure cylinder and a simple slide valve on the low pressure, speed being controlled by a Porter throttle governor and drive by belt from a pulley adjacent to the 9 foot diameter curved spoke flywheel, this engine developed 60 horse power at 80 rpm. Perhaps this one should be in 'Damp eye corner' although the displacement lubricator and makers plate still survive in a private collection nearby.
There was a similar engine working the Steward and Patteson Pockthorpe Brewery which suffered the same fate a number of years earlier.
Fortunately this single cylinder horizontal engine, works number 159 of 1872, which worked the Bishop Bridge Gas Works in Norwich has survived into preservation and can be run under steam at the Gressenhall Museum of Rural Life.
The Bridewell museum contains a small horizontal steam water pump of uncertain vintage attributed to them..
A cast iron saw bench is reputed to survive in mid Norfolk and two wheels bearing their name (and thought to be from a portable engine) in Attleborough, Norfolk.
New Zealand has recently yielded information on two rare examples of both a tandem compound vertical stationary engine and a tandem compound portable.
The only other known survivors being the1 NHP and 2½NHP single cylinder vertical engines, three cylinder horizontal water pump and No 4 oil cake breaking mill preserved here.
From the few surviving examples of Riches and Watts catalogues so far examined, it can be seen that a 6 NHP example of this type was exhibited at the 'Great Exposicion' in Santiago in 'Chili' (Chile) South America of 1875/6 and was awarded a First Prize Medal. The cover of an 1877 catalogue features a testimonial from the satisfied user of engine number 173 operating in Christchurch, New Zealand, at least 23 engines (between No's 173 and 456) are know to have been in use in or around Canterbury, NZ, high-tech engineering exports from Norwich are obviously not something new !
No firm date of manufacture can be established for the 2½ nhp engine, no works number or other identification became evident during restoration and no engine register appears to survive for the company. The only indications of the age are those to be found in the few surviving catalogues so far discovered, dating from 1859, 1871, 1875, 1877 and 1893, these catalogues are illustrated with engravings, three engravers of excellent reputation (and acknowledged accuracy and attention to detail) produced the hand cut blocks directly for Riches and Watts products, Hare was their earliest engraver, J. H. Rimbault produced work from the 1870's, and Queen engravings are to be found in the 1893 catalogue. Work from other engravers (Shepard, Lambert and A. M. Miller) can also be seen but only in relation to factored products. The fine detail of the original engravings / prints cannot easily be reproduced, in fact while attempting to 'clean up' some of the scanned engravings by computer, it was found that a resolution of 360 dots per inch was not fine enough to adequately match the original work !
Early pattern 'A' frame fixing (left) Later'pattern 'A' frame (right)
The only illustration of our particular style of the 'Improved Combined Vertical Engine and Boiler' so far seen appears on the cover of the 1875 grist mill catalogue cover, all other illustrations of the type showing a different form of fixing of the cellular 'A' frame to the bed casting. In our engine, the 'A' frame has a single cast lug at each end of the frame, these with a pair of countersunk bolts on the cross tie at the base, directly under the crank (the thinnest part of the casting) secure it to the bed. On all illustrations other than the 1875 cover, these lugs appear to have been replaced with two webs and a pair of bolts at either side of a wider base flange. It can be surmised that this may have been a modification made as a result of fractures or concerns about the strength of the two bolt fixing design. It was originally thought that this method of fixing may have been a function of the size of engine concerned, however the 1 NHP vertical engine features the later type of webbed 'A' frame. The tandem compound vertical in New Zealand, thought to be No 456 built in the late 1890's shows a further variant of A frame where the section under the crosshead guides is bridged acrioss, as yet it is not known if this is due to its larger size (probably 6nhp) or its late date of manufacture, it is a feature so far not seen in any catalogue picture.
On this detail and the early style of cast gunmetal nameplate, (the later catalogues appear to show an engraved rather than cast makers plate which from surviving examples also indicate a works number, it is thought that numbering of engines started with the discontinuation of the earlier cast makers plates) the engine appeared to have been built during the period 1870 (type described as 'new' and first exhibited at the Oxford RASE Meeting) to 1875 where despite the cover illustration, the main catalogue description shows the later type strengthened 'A' frame. This theory was somewhat spoiled when a copy of the 1871 catalogue came to light, showing the 'later' engraving ! It would now appear that the style illustrated on the cover of the 1875 catalogue may have already been obsolete in 1871 and that particular block simply used to 'fill in' a space on the 1875 cover. It may be the case that the type was not actually 'new' at the 1870 RASE Oxford Show but had been improved or updated for a 're launch'.
Inconclusive as the surviving evidence is, it seems reasonable to assume that the 2½ nhp engine pre dates 1871 and until catalogues from the 1860's and particularly 1870 can be found, the period during which it was manufactured cannot be defined more accurately.
The number of engines built in total is not known, the recently found plate for the 1 NHP engine is number 467 - the highest number so far found or referred to, meaning this is the youngest surviving R & W engine so far found,.
The origin of this preserved plate has not yet firmly established, the fine engraving is indicative of a good grade of craftsman being employed.
This plate for engine No 458 exists still and is believed to have been from the the side by side compound pumping engine designed by Edward Easton (of Easton Amos & Anderson in London) and built by Riches and Watts for Langley Dyke No. 1 or Upper drainage station in 1887, the nearest to a build date we can establish for our 1nhp as it is only 9 engines later. A report by the late Ronald H Clark and a set of indicator diagrams for both this engine and the S.S. Stott, of Haslingden tandem compound in No. 2 or Lower stations survive in the collection here.
This sketch is of the final form of nameplate used in the last few years of the company 's existence, this plate was fitted to the ancient beam engine at Albion Flour MIlls Norwich following its rebuild.
It appears that a significant number of engines were manufactured before numbering commenced, Engine number 159 (Norwich Gasworks) was manufactured in 1872 and is the earliest numbered engine so far referenced. The 1877 catalogue has the previously referred to testimonial regarding 2½ hp vertical engine number 173, which at that time had run for 15 months in New Zealand, given transit times of both the engine and subsequent correspondence it is not unreasonable to assume this engine to have been manufactured in about 1874, and engine number 348 (King Street Brewery) was built in 1879, this gives a figure of 189 engines built between 1872 and 1879, an average of 27 per year. 110 engines were built between No 348 in 1879 and No 458 of 1887, an average of just over a dozen per year.
A testimonial from P. Soman of the Argus Steam Printing Works in Norwich, for this style of engine, appears in several catalogues, as the 1871 Catalogue was printed by Soman it seems quite likely that at least on one occasion, advertising for Riches and Watts engines was printed using the power of one of them.
The three throw water pump is not illustrated in any catalogue so far seen, although such items are described, It has no makers identification, however, as the crank throws, bearing brasses and keeps have been numbered with the same stamps as those on the engine is not unreasonable to assume they were made by the same firm. It is unlikely that these stampings have been applied as the result of a subsequent re bearing of both items as the positioning of some other stampings found on the engine during restoration could only have been made before assembly.