Barleylands 2008

The 22nd Essex County Show was held on September 13th and 14th at Barleylands, Billericay, Essex and fine weather over the weekend welcomed the many thousands of visitors to this popular event. Over 60 full sized engines and almost the same number of models ensured that steam enthusiasts were well catered for.

Following are some of the engines that were to be seen. Click on the picture to see a larger version.

Paul  Brown's (of Braintree, Essex) 1913 showman's Fowler, no. 12905

SPANKER HAS ITS FIRST RALLY AFTER A RECENT REFURBISHMENT

Club member Alan White of Great Leighs, near Chelmsford, took his Burrell engine ”Spanker” to the 22nd Essex Country Show, held at Barleylands, Billericay, Essex, on September 13/14th 2008.

For almost the last three years “Spanker” had been with Mervyn Mayes at Yaxham in Norfolk, having boiler repairs carried out and a new fire box fitted. This was the first rally that this engine had attended since before the refurbishing had started.

“Spanker” was built at Thetford, Norfolk, as a showman’s engine, although without the twisted brasswork, but it did have a belly tank and was painted green with cream wheels. Its build was completed in August 26th 1892 and it was delivered to Nephi Ashton, a steam circus proprietor of Hull. A few years later it was returned to Thetford and had its belly tank removed and it was sold, in October 1898, to George Bartrupt of Ford End, near Chelmsford. It was the first self propelled engine that he had owned, previously using portables for his work.

In 1921 George sold “Spanker” to his nephew, William White, a threshing contractor of Latchingdon, who was Alan White’s grandfather. In 1926 William moved from Latchingdon to Great Leighs and carried on his threshing business from there. In due course the business became White Bros. and Alan’s father, Jim White, became the main driver of “Spanker”. In 1949 it became redundant and stood derelict, although well covered, until 1956. At that stage Jim had “Spanker” valued by George Thurlow and bought it to keep in preservation and then steamed it to its first rally, at Stisted.

The 1869 Fowler /Burrell Ploughing Engine No. 1050 owned by Richard Pierce of Hadlow Kent. It was attending its first rally since going out of commission in 2001 for refurbishment, including fitting a new fire box, barrel and throat plate and renewing part of the backhead.

Duncan Marston giving a commentary as engines come into the ring. He is  talking about a 6" DENNIS Type N Fire engine owned by I and Y Barber.

The 1919 Fowler Ploughing engine "Lady Jane" no. 15334 owned by Bill Kemball of Wantisden Valley. The driver is M Armstrong.

The Fowler Road Locomotive "Endeavour" built in 1920 no. 14754. The owner drivers are W and R Pierce of Hadlow, Kent.

These two machines are operating in the Roadmaking - Demonstration and Display area. The steam roller is a Wallis and Steevens built in 1925 owned and driven by Allan Brice of Sellindge, Kent. The Bristol Crawler was built in 1950 and is a 4 ton PD52 Overloader and is owned by Frank Wood of Stanford - le -Hope.

Also operating in the same area is this 1969 International bulldozer weighing 6 tons.  Engine no. 5247, it is owned and  driven by Alan Clements of Dunmow, Essex.

The 1914 Fowler Traction engine no. 13600 "Challenger" is towing the 1912 Fowler Road Locomotive no. 12754 "Nightmare". "Challenger" is owned by Alan Bygrave - Jones of Kent and is driven by Martin Jones  and "Nightmare" belongs to  Roy Chapman of Little Burstead, Essex.