Gwynnes Limited

Four centrifugal pumps by Gwynnes
Misterton Soss on the River Idle, Yorkshire
Wallasey Dock impounding station 1982

Gwynnes Limited was a City of London England engineering business, iron founders and pump makers founded in 1849 to capitalise on the centrifugal pump invented[note 1] by James Gwynne (1804–1850).[note 2] In 1856 his eldest son, James Eglinton Anderson Gwynne (1832–1915), of Essex Street Wharves on the south side of The Strand was awarded a patent for the manufacture of carbon or charcoal powder.[1] Their Strand site became part of the Victoria Embankment built between 1865 and 1867 and Gwynne profited from judicious investment in the reclaimed land.[2] Their Crisp Road, Hammersmith Ironworks and works at Church Wharf, Chiswick, London, were established in 1867 to specialise in the manufacture of these centrifugal pumps and pumping engines[3] This machinery was for use in practically all purposes where large or small quantities of liquid were required to be lifted and dealt with for low or high heads.[4] A limited liability company was formed in May 1897 to own the business.[5]

They made cars between 1920 and 1929. Following their 1919 agreement to purchase the Albert car business, Adam Grimaldi & Co Limited, a new holding company was formed and named Gwynnes Engineering Company Limited.[4] Their share issue did not attract the expected support from investors and the car venture failed, hampered by lack of capital.

After the company was dissolved in 1927 the pump-making business continued under the ownership of Gwynnes Pumps Limited which belonged to Fosters of Lincoln. Subsequent ownership was: W H Allen Sons & Company, Vickers then Amalgamated Power Engineering of Bedford before Gwynnes' separate identity disappeared in the 1970s.


Cite error: There are <ref group=note> tags on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=note}} template (see the help page).

  1. ^ Newton & Son, Newton's London Journal and repertory of patent inventions, Kent & Co, London 1862
  2. ^ Artemis Cooper. Writing at the Kitchen Table: The Authorized Biography of Elizabeth David, Faber & Faber, London 2011 ISBN 978-0-571-27977-7
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference TT39209 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference TT42369 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ The Affairs of Gwynnes, Limited. The Times, Saturday, 27 November 1926; pg. 4; Issue 44440