Aveling Steam Rollers.

Thomas Aveling was born at Elm, Cambridgeshire in 1824.  He started work as an apprentice farmer and became familiar with the new farm machinery such as the portable engine and threshing machine.

His intrest in engineering leed him to set up business with his father-in-law producing and repairing agricultural plant.  In 1856, he introduced the steam plough.   In appreciation the farmers of Kent presented him with three hundred guineas for his achievements.

In 1862, he entered partnership with Richard Thomas Porter.  The partners developed a steam road roller in 1865.  This was trialled in Hyde Park; Military Road, Chatham and at Star Hill, Rochester.  After the latter trial, it was said that the surface of the road was rolled completely smooth.  The rollers were exported to many countries, such as the USA, France and India.  The company manafactured more steam rollers than all other maker's combined output during their production period.

Thomas Aveling continued to develop his designs taking account of the new ideas of his time.  He was given many honors, such as the Knighthood of the Order of Saint Francis & Joseph, by the Emperor of Austria in 1873, and the Order of Chevalier of the Legion of Honour from the French Government in 1878.  Examples of his engines may be seen in the Science Museum at South Kensington, London and at the Covent Garden Museum of London Transport.

Aveling & Porter combined in 1934/5 with Barford & Perkins to form Aveling-Barford and continued to make steam and motor rollers.  After WW2, they made construction equipment and still make dump trucks, etc on the same site at Grantham. Now USA owned, trading as Wordsworth Holdings.