Report - Chamberlin & Hill Castings, Chuckery Foundry, Walsall - January 2025

[MotionlessMike]

Chamberlin & Hill Castings, Chuckery Foundry, Walsall - January 2025

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In 1890 Mr Chamberlin and Mr Hill set up in business on the foundry site in the Chuckery area of Walsall, and 12 years later they started a second foundry where an old brewery stood in Lichfield. Mr Hill retired from the business in 1903 (and died the next year). His daughter was appointed Company Secretary, a post which she held for forty years. Mr Chamberlin stayed as Chairman until 1912, when he retired.

From this time, the Bather family took an increasing stake in the business, taking control in the 1920's and continuing as owners until 1946 when the company was first listed on the London Stock Exchange. During this period, the main market for Chamberlin & Hill castings changed from such items as toys and decorative money boxes to food mincers and cast iron idlers for the coal and quarrying industries, and again adapting to support the war effort in 1939-45.

Following flotation in 1946, the company continued to grow, making its first acquisition in 1960, and through the '60's changing its foundry operations from mainly manual to mechanised production. Through subsequent cycles the foundry side of the business has continued to expand with acquisitions adding to the number of operations and restructurings rationalising the number of sites back to the most efficient level. Over the period, demand for castings shifted away from equipment for mining, quarrying and textile manufacture towards the automotive, steel and power generation industries, keeping pace with the changing nature of UK and European manufacturing. Currently, one area of the market generating substantial and increasing demand for Chamberlin & Hill castings is that of housings for turbochargers used in diesel engines, driven by the trend in the automotive industry towards greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions. Most recently, the acquisition of Russell Castings in 2004 has contributed to further growth in turnover and profitability.

During May 2024 the company entered into an insolvency process with 160 workers being made redundant.​

Saw speeds report from here at the end of last year and thought it’d be worth a look next time I was over that way doing other stuff. Very relaxed solo wander even though it was a busy site on the day I visited, several interesting characters and entrepreneuring locals busying themselves!

Starting in the sheds

Bit of a lab area

Employee welfare areas, locker room, showers, canteen and first aid room

Offices

Downstairs in reception there was a casting the size of an arm chair

I used to work for a company which purchased castings from Chamberlin & Hill - mainly machined housings for gears which were used on crushing and screening equipment, so for me it was interesting wandering around where they were made, even in its slightly ruinous state.​

 

[Speed]

Good to see you managed the orifices. Makes it look a half decent explore tbh!

 

[MotionlessMike]

Good to see you managed the orifices. Makes it look a half decent explore tbh!

Deserved a more thorough rummage I feel but it was hard to enjoy it when folk were smashing holes in the walls at the same time...

 

[raisinwing]

Office does look good, enjoyed this place.

 

[GRONK]

Pretty decent that, enjoyed the pics

 

[HughieD]

Another cracking place and great report @MotionlessMike

 

[MotionlessMike]

Pretty decent that, enjoyed the pics

Another cracking place and great report @MotionlessMike

Ty ty!

 

[Calamity Jane]

Some really interesting bits there. Shame about idiots who are only there to smash it up