Chelmsford, New London Road 1919

Photo ref: 69033X

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Chelmsford had always been primarily a market-town. As late as the 1830s, the topographical writer Thomas Wright was saying that 'there being no manufactures here, the labouring population is engaged in the business of agriculture, and in conveying supplies of various kinds to the London market.' Industry, however, was about to take a hold of Chelmsford. A millwright called John Bewley had established an iron-foundry in New Street in 1808, on the site of some hop kilns. His son set up a new foundry in Anchor Street, using some plots he had acquired from the land sales of 1839. After the Bewleys faded out of the picture, the Anchor Street Ironworks were taken over by T H P Dennis, and production began to focus on steam- and water-valves. A new partner, Colonel R E B Crompton, joined the firm in 1875, and soon transformed it into Crompton's Arc Electric Works. Now specialising in the forward-looking field of electric lighting, Crompton's was set to be a major employer in the town for some time to come.