Fire engine

The origins of the fire engineers Merryweather and Sons lay in the business founded by Nathaniel Hadley in the late seventeenth century. Hadley manufactured pumps and other fire fighting equipment and established an engine factory at Long Acre in 1738. Hadley's son, also called Nathaniel, subsequently took over the business and later formed the partnership Hadley and Simpkin. Henry Lott joined the firm in 1791. In 1836 the company was taken over by Moses Merryweather from Lott, his uncle by marriage. Merryweather, a native of Yorkshire, had been apprenticed to Lott in 1807. Merryweather's son Richard was also apprenticed to his father in 1855 and later became a partner in the firm along with his brother James Compton.

Merryweather and Sons supplied fire engines and fire fighting equipment to the fire insurance companies, local parishes, the London Fire Engine Establishment, government and other public buildings, private businesses, the royal family and other wealthy individuals. The firm also carried out maintenance and servicing and supplied spare parts to its customers. The company exhibited fire engines and equipment at the Great Exhibition in 1851 where it won an award for its carriage fire engine. The firm also exhibited at the 1862 International Exhibition in London.

This portable manual fire engine was used at St James's Palace and is marked with the royal cypher.