ITS HISTORY, PRODUCTS AND
PROCESSES
4: Premises (Farnham)
Major Tugwell began manufacture from a
prefabricated studio/workshop at the bottom of his Bridgefield,
Farnham, garden where it backed onto Darvills Lane,
until he had perfected his techniques. Some work continued at this studio but
main production was moved to a rather dilapidated wooden workshop at 24 Long
Garden Walk where Figg's, a local
undertakers, had once made their coffins. A visit to
the loft revealed parts for coffins and even a completed child's coffin (empty,
fortunately!) which was possibly an apprentice's test piece. The
workshop comprised a range of vernacular buildings which appeared to have their
origins as workshops, stabling and associated outbuildings; partly brick at the
western end, which housed the office and finishing department, but mainly a
wooden structure with unpainted weatherboarding and an external wooden
staircase to access the upper floor. The lower floor housed the Sanding and
Polishing Department; the upper floor the Casting Department. At the eastern
end was a simple lean-to privy to provide the most basic of facilities for the
factory staff. These buildings have since been demolished and replaced. I had
left Shattaline when they moved to Woking, so I cannot comment on the premises
there or later. The move to Scotland was to the Evanton
/ Dingwall area of Ross-shire (now Highland Region)
on the Cromarty Firth.