Pattern for a metal sluice cover made and used in Malmesbury
Pattern for a metal sluice cover made and used in Malmesbury One of many wooden patterns and technical drawings that the museum holds for Ratcliffe’s, a long established local engineering firm
A Family Firm
Westport Iron Works was started in 1870 by Edwin Ratcliffe. His brother Norman ran a chemists in Malmesbury High Street. Edwin’s son, Herbert, took over the ironworks in 1910. After his death in 1917 another son, Edwin Norman then ran it. It is currently owned by the founder’s great-great-grandson.
The Iron Works
Ratcliffe and Sons made metal work and machinery parts for local farmers, millers, brewers and others.
The firm diversified over the years including into the repair of traction engines and plumbing. The current owner specialises in sales and servicing of garden machinery.
The foundry machinery ran first on steam, then gas, then electricity from 1940.
The firm still occupies the same premises in Foundry Road, where some elements of the building and equipment used appear very little changed since 1870. The original forge is leased by an independent blacksmith.
The pattern
This object illustrates how works in iron were developed at that time. Wooden patterns were made based on initial drawings. The pattern was a replica of the object to be cast, and was used to prepare the cavity into which molten metal would be poured during the casting process.
