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Beginnings of Perkins Engineering

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1858: William Proctor Stanley died on this day. In his will, he left the Queen Street Stanley Iron Works in the trusteeship of his brother-in-law George Maples and John Warren. They leased the property to Thomas Amies and William Barford. In March 1865, one Thomas Perkins became part of the company in a deed of co-partnership. The seeds of what would become Perkins Engineering were thus sown. (Hillier, Richard, Northamptonshire Past & Present Vol. VI, Northamptonshire Record Society, 1983)

Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.

World War 2

Did Hitler Want to Live Near Thorney?

1939-45

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Many places in the UK state that they were the preferred home for Hitler and his friends after they invaded the country. One of those suggested homes was Willow Hall near Thorney.

Willow Hall is a delightful house with some lovely features, but even compared to other local houses such as Burghley House, Milton Hall and Thorpe Hall, it falls very short as a residence for a dictator.

Nazi papers suggest instead that Adolf Hitler preferred Shropshire and was particularly interested in Bridgnorth.