Our next event is our Motorcycle Day! Bring your coveted ride to the show, and get free entry to the museum. Just minutes from Snape, Aldeburgh and RSPB Minsmere The Long Shop Museum offers fun for families, inspiring stories and feats of engineering, gorgeous designs and the Long Shop itself - a true icon of industrial revolution Britain. You can spend a super half-day visit here. Add to this one of the many other great local attractions, and make up a really lovely day out in Suffolk.
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The first of the Leiston Garretts, Richard (1755-1839) founded the works in 1778. He saw the importance of agricultural machinery and began to manufacture chaff cutters in addition to scythes and sickles. His son, Richard, (1779-1837) took over the business at the age of 26. He saw the potential of the newly-invented horse-powered threshing machine and under his leadership the Works grew to employ 60 men.
Portable engines provided belt-driven power for farm machinery. They were commonly used to power threshing machines. At first, portables were hauled into place by the horses whose energy they were to improve upon and replace. Later portables had the capacity to move into place 'under their own steam' and became increasingly powerful.
Garretts completed tests for their 5CD steam tractor in 1917 and marketed it as the 'Suffolk Punch'. The company highlighted the steam tractor's robust construction, ease of handling and its versatility. It was to be used for ploughing, hauling farming machines and providing power with its belt drive.
1919 was a year of thanksgiving and remembrance as people in Leiston returned to life in peacetime. The service of thanksgiving after the Works Brass Band headed a procession to the Recreation Ground, Leiston. For 'The Boys' - nearly 400 demobilised men, including Colonel Garrett - a special tea was held in a marquee, with entertainment from Mr Gunthorpe's Concert Party - a mix of song and dance.
Leiston had a good range of shops and amenities, including the International Stores and Gunthorpe's Stores, as well as Titlows, which in 1919 was a wine merchant's. You could purchase fire crackers from Gunthorpe's for the celebrations. The Picture House had opened five years previously. Big stars of the silent film era included Lilian Gish, Douglas Fairbanks and Charlie Chaplin.
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