The site, built on chalk strata, gave access to coal and iron ore via the Andover Canal, and offered waterwheel power from the Pillhill Brook.

Started in Kent by a Captain Swing, a group of 300 agricultural workers entered the works 20 November 1830, causing considerable damage.

In 1857, two of William's sons took over the business, coming to a licence agreement with Clayton & Shuttleworth of Lincoln to sell and service their stationary boilers.

In 1938 the Air Ministry, which was forming plans for setting up the Civilian Repair Organisation, sent out a tender for a recovery trailer able to carry an entire fighter aircraft.

[1] Adopting the post-war name of Tasker Trailers to supply the developing road transport industry, the company had branches in Wigan and Scotland.

The collection included 23 steam road engines and a Queen Mary trailer complete with Spitfire, along with many items of agricultural machinery and tools from the Anna Valley works.