Steelway History | Steel Fabrication Company

1928

Steelway was founded in 1928 at the Queensgate Works site in Wolverhampton by C.W. Goodyear. The original products that the company produced don’t much differ from today with the exception of weed burners and domestic household products. The weed burners were manufactured on Steelway’s behalf by T.E. Bladon & Sons Ltd, Birmingham.

1931

In 1931 Steelway merged with F Hammond & Co who were established manufacturers of handrail standards. Mr Hammond joined the board of directors. On the board of directors were Mr. F.H. Clark (Chairman), Mr. J.E. Bettles (Director) and Miss E.K. Holbrook (Secretary). The company was associated with J Brockhouse & Co Ltd of West Bromwich. Steelway were the sole selling agents of drop forged handrail standards manufactured by J Brockhouse & Co and in turn Mr. J.V.H. Brockhouse was the selling agent in London for all Steelway products.

1934

1934 saw the launch of the Steelway pedestrian guard rail. After a long and careful experiment with the co-operation and assistance of the Chief Constable of Wolverhampton and Wolverhampton’s Borough Engineer & Surveyor, the first pedestrian safety barrier was successfully installed at a busy junction in Wolverhampton. This was due to an accident involving a boy and the barriers were installed to prevent pedestrians walking off a blind corner into the path of motorists. Following on from this success, Steelway manufactured London’s first safety barriers at Britannia Crossing, Camden Town. These were inaugurated on 19th March 1935 by Mr Hore-Belisha, Minster of Transport. A second installation was carried out at Whitechapel Crossing for the Metropolitan Borough of Stepney on 22nd March 1935.

1937

We manufactured the sockets and detachable uprights to form crowd control barriers for the 1937 coronation of King George VI – parts of which were used again for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. A letter of appreciation received after the 1937 coronation from New Scotland Yard reads ”Now that the coronation is a matter of history, I should like to express my thanks to your firm for the efficient way in which you met the demand for barrier material. As you know the barriers were of unusual design, which required special attention by you in manufacture. They proved most satisfactory, and I have not had any complaints regarding them. This is a matter of satisfaction to all concerned.”

WWII

During the Second World War, Steelway were involved in the manufacture of stretchers for injured personnel and were members of the National Scheme for Disabled Men. Many of our workforce who left to fight in the war effort returned to fill their original positions.

1953

In 1953 Steelway was bought by Fred Willetts of Hipkiss Bros. Glynwed Tubes bought both Hipkiss Bros. and ourselves in 1954.

1969

We provided open mesh flooring to the Z Cars Series stages sets and grating to the James Bond films “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” in 1969 and “Diamonds Are Forever” in 1971.

1983

In 1983 we expanded to form the present company, Steelway Fensecure Ltd, when Fensecure Ltd was aquired by Steelway.

1999

The company was acquired in 1999 by Tyco International Ltd and then became privately owned in 2000.

2005

In 2005 the company’s private ownership changed and it became part of the Brigam group of companies which included Steelway Fensecure Ltd, Oleo International and Savery Hydraulics.

2007

In 2007 the company acquired the business of Brickhouse Access Covers, who operate from their offices and works based in West Bromwich and subsequently named Steelway Brickhouse (Steelway Fensecure Ltd).

2010

We are now under the private ownership of Dan Houghton after he acquired Steelway Fensecure Ltd and Steelway Fensecure Ltd trading as Steelway Brickhouse on 1st July 2010.

2020

Steelway acquired by Northern Industries

Today

We presently have three operating divisions Steelway (incorporating Rail), Steelway Fensecure and Steelway Brickhouse (incorporating Protect) operating from two manufacturing plants based in Wolverhampton and West Bromwich and employ over 150 people.

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