Harvey Thorp Engineering

Introductory note to the article below which was sent to us after the publication of the book and adding significantly to our knowledge of engineering in Tickhill – see pages 86 and 87 of the book.

Unlike other businesses, Harvey Thorp was a sole trader so there are no records at Companies’ House or elsewhere. When the book was published, we knew of the existence of a business called Harvey Thorp Engineering but could find no information about it. After publication, Harvey Thorp’s daughter contacted us and the article below results from much interesting correspondence.

Harvey Thorp started work in 1939 as an apprentice with the Sheffield Twist Drill Company. This was a reserved occupation so his apprenticeship continued throughout the war during which time he gained mechanical fitting qualifications and became a skilled fitter. After the war he worked very briefly for Earls Cement at Hope Valley before joining Steel, Peach and Tozer in Rotherham and eventually rising to Shift Charge Hand.

Always interested in metal work he bought some tools including a small lathe, milling machine and welding equipment which he installed in a stable at his home 15, Wilsic Road, Tickhill. Shift work gave him the opportunity to take on small repair jobs, mostly at first for local farmers and as his reputation for high quality workmanship grew so did the volume of his business. Eventually in 1960 he resigned from Steel Peach and Tozer and started working full time for himself. Thus Harvey Thorp Engineering came into being.

The business grew rapidly and by 1962 was getting too big for the Wilsic Road workshop so Harvey Thorp made an offer to Geoff Jackson (son of the then late Mark Jackson, Geoff Haith’s father in law) for some larger premises in Dam Road. His offer was eventually accepted and the Thorp family moved into a flat above one of the workshops. (The photo, above, shows the new premises on Dam Road, looking towards Westgate)

Over the next few years the firm’s customer base expanded to include, amongst others, well known names such as Derbyshire Stone, British Ropes, and Terry’s Chocolates. Whilst some repair work was still undertaken, working with customers such as British Ropes, Terry’s Chocolates and others on the development and manufacture of prototype machinery became an increasingly important part of the business. Over time additional machine tools were purchased including larger lathes, milling machines, shapers and grinders. Up to three skilled staff were employed.

In 1980 Harvey Thorp retired to North Yorkshire, most of the equipment and machine tools (by then 28 in all) was sold at auction and the premises were sold to L & V Clarke in Westgate for housing development. Harvey took some equipment with him to North Yorkshire and set up a small workshop alongside his new home. Today (2015) aged almost 90, he still does the occasional job for local people.

Since retiring, his hobbies have been oil painting, repairing clocks and making new cases. He has made eight wall clocks and two long-case clocks.