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Marshall Sons and Co - Gainsborough

Prominent Gainsborough aircraft manufacturer during WW1

The site of the Marshall Britannia Iron Works along Lea Road outlined in blue. Housing in the southern part of Gainsborough is clearly visible along with the railway lines

Marshall, Sons and Co was a Lincolnshire steam engine and agricultural machinery manufacture founded in 1848. The company was based at the Britannia Iron Works, Gainsborough and was a major employer in the town

In 1917 the company started to build aircraft at a new works constructed for the purpose on Lea Road in Gainsborough. The works was known as the Carr House works and the company built 150 Bristol F2B two-seat biplane fighters. When the aircraft were completed they were dismantled and towed to West Common in Lincoln to be flown and tested although some were flown from Layne's Field just outside Gainsborough west of the River Trent.

Bristol F2B

The Bristol F2 Fighter was WW1 two-seat biplane fighter and reconnaissance aircraft developed by Frank Barnwell at the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company later known as the Bristol Aeroplane Company. Although the type was intended as a replacement for the BE 2c reconnaissance aircraft the new Rolls-Royce Falcon V12 engine gave it the performance of a fighter. It was also capable of carrying a respectable bomb load for the time and could be considered the worlds first viable fighter bomber

The F2B version proved to be a manoeuvrable aircraft that was able to hold its own against single seat fighters while its robust design ensured that it remained in military service into the early 1930s, far longer than any of its contemporaries. It gave good wartime service on the Western Front, Italy and the Balkans and the Middle East

 Some war-surplus aircraft were registered for civilian use and versions with passenger cabins were converted.

Over 5000 were produced in total by various contractors of which Marshalls manufactured 150

Marshalls Gainsborough. A group of lady employees pose in front of a brand new Bristol F2.

Post WW1

The company remained active in various guises and ownerships for many years and was well known for the manufacture and sale of tractors and tracked vehicles. Of the Carr House Works nothing now remains.

Compiled by David Fell with photo from my archive. The group photo courtesy of the Lincolnshire History FB Group

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