Lanes Foundry Visit
Founded in 1862 by 3 Lanes that all lived on Smith Street Stockton; William Lane described as a ‘Brass finisher’, John Lane a ‘Brass Moulder’ and James Lane a ‘Blacksmith’. The original Foundry was located on Middle Street, Stockton.
In 1907 the business relocated to the current site on Forty Foot Road, Middlesbrough. The original buildings were timber framed with 3 coke furnaces built into the floor, in those days there were no cranes, everything was lifted by hand. The new site was in the heartland of the Iron & Steel making district of north Middlesbrough, and many of these nearby businesses were everyday customers for what was described as a ‘breakdown & jobbing foundry’.
A new foundry building was constructed on site in 1939, the original foundry is now used as a store for patterns. This is a brick building with 7 coke furnaces in the floor, these were still used.
The company remained in the Lane family until 1976, when it was sold to neighbouring Steel Business, Parson & Crosland, and descendant Roy Lane remained with the company until 1984.
The fundamental process remains largely as it was many years ago.
At the end of 2007, parent company Parson & Crosland was sold to the Murray Group, however the Shareholders retained William Lane and it became a stand as a lone Company once more.
At one time there were 140 furnaces in the Middlesbrough district, William Lane is the only one still operating today.
The work involves complex castings with intricate cores such as Impellers (single and double suction) and Diffusers, also items like bushes, flanged bushes, bearings and half bearings. Orders are normally quality and lead-time critical, to provide honest delivery dates and meet them without fail.
Castings are normally ready in 2/3 days when we have the patterns, Castings are fettled, and where required shot-blasted, in a breakdown situation we often provide a next day service.
William Lane has worked on many railway and traction engine projects over the years, and still works with many Heritage Railway Line Operators on an ongoing basis. There are 25 trains with the names of football teams all class B17.
The Foundry produced the replica Middlesbrough Loco Plaque that hangs proudly in the player’s tunnel on the way to the pitch at the Riverside Stadium.
Components for the rebuild of Puffing Billy and the Steam Elephant at Beamish were produced in the foundry, as well as repair-work on the Flying Scotsman at the National Railway Museum.
We make Seats, signs, lamps and wrought ironwork for stations and platforms are made to match historic fixtures and fittings. William Lane has a long tradition of working with Blacksmiths and other Metalworkers.
We work on listed buildings and try to preserve original wrought iron features.
We are working at present with the Middlesbrough Transporter Trail. Making hearitage plaques We are working with a number of community based organisations such as councils, schools, colleges and churches. we have produced a full set of War Memorial Plaques cast in bronze for Hartlepool Council.
Also we have just made a replacement war memorial plaque for All Saints Church in Middlesbrough to replace the original which vandals had ripped apart.
We work with various Preservation Trusts, there are many examples of our work on HMS Warrior, at Beamish Museum and The National Railway Museum.
The landmark Transporter Bridge, is driven on our bearings, we refurbished the bell and made the name plaque also.
We work with local Schools sometimes on an educational basis but also on projects with Pupils.
We recently ‘opened our doors’ to the Discover Middlesbrough Programme.
Stuart Duffy started as an apprentice 30th May 1977 and Dave Stuart 29th January 1979 both as 15 year old apprentices, both remain as an integral part of the business. They hope to continue working with the name of William Lane for many more years to come. So please come and see our works in practice.
Founded in 1862 by 3 Lanes that all lived on Smith Street Stockton; William Lane described as a ‘Brass finisher’, John Lane a ‘Brass Moulder’ and James Lane a ‘Blacksmith’. The original Foundry was located on Middle Street, Stockton.
In 1907 the business relocated to the current site on Forty Foot Road, Middlesbrough. The original buildings were timber framed with 3 coke furnaces built into the floor, in those days there were no cranes, everything was lifted by hand. The new site was in the heartland of the Iron & Steel making district of north Middlesbrough, and many of these nearby businesses were everyday customers for what was described as a ‘breakdown & jobbing foundry’.A new foundry building was constructed on site in 1939, the original foundry is now used as a store for patterns. This is a brick building with 7 coke furnaces in the floor, these were still used.
The company remained in the Lane family until 1976, when it was sold to neighbouring Steel Business, Parson & Crosland, and descendant Roy Lane remained with the company until 1984.
The fundamental process remains largely as it was many years ago.At the end of 2007, parent company Parson & Crosland was sold to the Murray Group, however the Shareholders retained William Lane and it became a stand as a lone Company once more.
At one time there were 140 furnaces in the Middlesbrough district, William Lane is the only one still operating today.
The work involves complex castings with intricate cores such as Impellers (single and double suction) and Diffusers, also items like bushes, flanged bushes, bearings and half bearings. Orders are normally quality and lead-time critical, to provide honest delivery dates and meet them without fail.
Castings are normally ready in 2/3 days when we have the patterns, Castings are fettled, and where required shot-blasted, in a breakdown situation we often provide a next day service.
William Lane has worked on many railway and traction engine projects over the years, and still works with many Heritage Railway Line Operators on an ongoing basis. There are 25 trains with the names of football teams all class B17.
The Foundry produced the replica Middlesbrough Loco Plaque that hangs proudly in the player’s tunnel on the way to the pitch at the Riverside Stadium.
Components for the rebuild of Puffing Billy and the Steam Elephant at Beamish were produced in the foundry, as well as repair-work on the Flying Scotsman at the National Railway Museum.
We make Seats, signs, lamps and wrought ironwork for stations and platforms are made to match historic fixtures and fittings. William Lane has a long tradition of working with Blacksmiths and other Metalworkers.
We work on listed buildings and try to preserve original wrought iron features.
We are working at present with the Middlesbrough Transporter Trail. Making hearitage plaques We are working with a number of community based organisations such as councils, schools, colleges and churches. we have produced a full set of War Memorial Plaques cast in bronze for Hartlepool Council.
Also we have just made a replacement war memorial plaque for All Saints Church in Middlesbrough to replace the original which vandals had ripped apart.
We work with various Preservation Trusts, there are many examples of our work on HMS Warrior, at Beamish Museum and The National Railway Museum.
The landmark Transporter Bridge, is driven on our bearings, we refurbished the bell and made the name plaque also.
We work with local Schools sometimes on an educational basis but also on projects with Pupils.
We recently ‘opened our doors’ to the Discover Middlesbrough Programme.
Stuart Duffy started as an apprentice 30th May 1977 and Dave Stuart 29th January 1979 both as 15 year old apprentices, both remain as an integral part of the business. They hope to continue working with the name of William Lane for many more years to come. So please come and see our works in practice.