The company was originally founded by William Wickham in 1882. It was then that the company first started to brew Ware Pale Ale and Light Bitter. This was supplied to families and Inns in casks & put into cellars. In 1890 Denis Wickham a family member patent machinery for carbonating & bottling beer and other frothing liquids. At that time the company’s workshops were then situated at the Star Brewery, High Street, Ware in Hertfordshire, In 1912 the company had now become D. Wickham & Company Limited. brewery & general engineers with a new premises in Viaduct Road, Ware. The company then started to expand its engineering ability with the production of manhole covers and even car repairs. The company built its first railcar in April 1932 for the 3 ft 6in gauge Taltal Railway in Chile…The company then went on to build many railcars with some even for British Railways. It also built many rail maintenance railway trollies that are still being used today on many preserved railways. The company was at one time one of the largest employers in Ware and had established a worldwide reputation for themselves as suppliers to the railway industry. The company later when on to produce various types of plant equipment… A direct connection with the River Lea was established in 1961 when an order was placed with the company to build a number of barge towing tractors of which some are still preserved today. The company closed in 1991.
