William Fletcher (1848–1918) was an English writer and steam

traction engine A traction engine is a steam engine, steam-powered tractor used to move heavy loads on roads, plough ground or to provide power at a chosen location. The name derives from the Latin ''tractus'', meaning 'drawn', since the prime function of any t ...

designer. William Fletcher was a leading designer of Victorian and Edwardian steam traction engines. some twenty of his engines survived in preservation, including ''Maynarch'' (Wallis & Steevens, 1883); ''Excelsior'' (Clayton & Shuttleworth No 34980, 1902), ''Peggy'' (Clayton & Shuttleworth, 904) and ''Victoria'' (Davey Paxman - 1907). Many of Fletcher's original build books and drawings are held at the

Museum of English Rural Life The Museum of English Rural Life, also known as The MERL, is a museum, library and archive dedicated to recording the changing face of farming and the countryside in England. The museum is run by the University of Reading, and is situated in Red ...

(MERL),

University of Reading The University of Reading is a public university in Reading, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1892 as University College, Reading, a University of Oxford extension college. The institution received the power to grant its own degrees in 192 ...

, Berkshire, UK.

Chronology

*1848: Fletcher was born on 23 April 1848, at

West Stockwith West Stockwith is a village within the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, England. The population at the 2011 census was 327. it lies on the west bank of the River Trent, north-west of Gainsborough and east of Misterton. West Stockwith ...

Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire (; abbreviated Notts.) is a landlocked county in the East Midlands region of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west. The traditi ...

. *1863: Apprenticeship with Marshall and Sons,

Gainsborough Gainsborough or Gainsboro may refer to: Places * Gainsborough, Ipswich, Suffolk, England ** Gainsborough Ward, Ipswich * Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, a town in England ** Gainsborough (UK Parliament constituency) * Gainsborough, New South Wales, ...

. *1870:

Draughtsman A draughtsman (British spelling) or draftsman (American spelling) may refer to: * An architectural drafter, who produced architectural drawings until the late 20th century * An artist who produces drawings that rival or surpass their other types ...

with Alexander and Sons,

Cirencester Cirencester (, ; see below for more variations) is a market town in Gloucestershire, England, west of London. Cirencester lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the River Thames, and is the largest town in the Cotswolds. It is the home of ...

. *1872: Assistant manager and chief draughtsman with

Wallis & Steevens Wallis & Steevens of Basingstoke, Hampshire, England produced agricultural equipment, traction engines and steam and diesel road rollers. History The company was founded in 1856 by Arthur Wallis and Charles Haslam in newly built premises whic ...

Basingstoke Basingstoke ( ) is the largest town in the county of Hampshire. It is situated in south-central England and lies across a valley at the source of the River Loddon, at the far western edge of The North Downs. It is located north-east of Southa ...

. *1873: Married to Jessie Brown, daughter of a Baptist minister, Cirencester. *1874: Birth of Fletcher's 1st child; a daughter Lilian, at Basingstoke. *1876: Death of Fletcher's younger brother Robert, a gifted engineer, aged 22 years. *1877: Fletcher designed and tested Wallis & Steevens’ first steam traction engine; T250. *1878: Fletcher's 1st book, ''“Abuse of the steam jacket”'' is published. Works manager with

Charles Burrell & Sons Charles Burrell & Sons were builders of steam traction engines, agricultural machinery, steam lorries and steam tram engines. The company were based in Thetford, Norfolk and operated from the St Nicholas works on Minstergate and St Nicholas S ...

Thetford Thetford is a market town and civil parish in the Breckland District of Norfolk, England. It is on the A11 road between Norwich and London, just east of Thetford Forest. The civil parish, covering an area of , in 2015 had a population of 24,340 ...

. Birth of Fletcher's 2nd child; a son Conrad, at St. Nicholas Works, Thetford. *1880: Chief draughtsman with Marshall and Sons, Gainsborough. *1881: Birth of Fletcher's 3rd child; a daughter Hilda, at Gainsborough. *1888: Chief draughtsman with

Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies Limited was a major British agricultural machinery maker also producing a wide range of general engineering products in Ipswich, Suffolk including traction engines, trolleybuses, ploughs, lawn mowers, combine harvest ...

Ipswich Ipswich () is a port town and borough in Suffolk, England, of which it is the county town. The town is located in East Anglia about away from the mouth of the River Orwell and the North Sea. Ipswich is both on the Great Eastern Main Line r ...

. Fletcher re-designs all their steam traction engines and road locomotives. *1891: Fletcher's 2nd book, "''The History and Development of Steam Locomotion on Common Roads”'' is published. *1895: Fletcher's 2nd edition of 1st book is re-printed, ''“The Steam Jacket Practically Considered”.'' *1897: Chief draughtsman with

Clayton & Shuttleworth Clayton & Shuttleworth was an engineering company located at Stamp End Works, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England. The company was established in 1842 when Nathaniel Clayton (1811–1890) formed a partnership with his brother-in ...

Lincoln Lincoln most commonly refers to: * Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865), the sixteenth president of the United States * Lincoln, England, cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England * Lincoln, Nebraska, the capital of Nebraska, U.S. * Lincoln ...

. Fletcher re-designs all their steam traction engines and road locomotives. *1898: Fletcher's 3rd book, ''“A chapter in the history of the traction engine”'' is published. Fletcher becomes a member of the

Institution of Mechanical Engineers The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) is an independent professional association and learned society headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that represents mechanical engineers and the engineering profession. With over 120,000 member ...

. *1900: Fletcher's article on the ''“Evolution of the Portable Engine”'' is published. *1904: Fletcher's 4th book, ''“English and American Steam Carriages and Traction Engines”'' is published. *1906: Chief draughtsman with

Davey Paxman Davey may refer to: People * Davey (given name) * Davey (surname) * Edward Davey Dunkle (1872–1941), American Major League Baseball pitcher * Davey Havok (born 1975), stage name of David Marchand, lead vocalist of the rock band AFI Places Ant ...

Colchester Colchester ( ) is a city in Essex, in the East of England. It had a population of 122,000 in 2011. The demonym is Colcestrian. Colchester occupies the site of Camulodunum, the first major city in Roman Britain and its first capital. Colches ...

. Fletcher designs all their steam traction engines. *1910: Fletcher retires from active traction and road engine design, aged sixty-two. *1911: Fletcher's article on the ''“Evolution of the Geared Locomotive”'' is published. *1918: William Fletcher dies at

Cromer Cromer ( ) is a coastal town and civil parish on the north coast of the English county of Norfolk. It is north of Norwich, north-northeast of London and east of Sheringham on the North Sea coastline. The local government authorities are Nor ...

Norfolk Norfolk () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in East Anglia in England. It borders Lincolnshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the west and south-west, and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the No ...

, on 22 December 1918, aged 70 years.For more information please see

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fletcher, William 1848 births 1918 deaths Fellows of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers English engineers