Introduction

Subsequent to the formation of Marconi Radar Systems Limited there were many more locations associated with Radar and these are summarised in this sub-section - additional details are added as individual input is received.

Major organisational milestones in the evolution of Marconi’s Wireless Telegraph Company 

In 1945 Marconi became part of English Electric, and both became part of GEC in 1969.

The Marconi headquarters were at New Street and the company name was Marconi’s Wireless Telegraph Company. Circa 1970 the name was changed to The Marconi Company, and the various divisions of the original MWT (e.g. Research, Radar, Communications) became separately accountable businesses (Research was partly funded by the trading companies and also took external research contracts in its own right)

English Electric Valve Company (Waterhouse Lane, Chelmsford and Lincoln) was never part of the Marconi group but supplied specialist components for some of the other company's products. They also directly supplied BAe Systems in the same way. EEV Company still occupy the same site (most recently renamed Teledyne E2V) at Waterhouse Lane today.

BTH/AEI became part of GEC circa 1968. Their sites, in Leicester (New Parks, Blackbird Road), became part of Marconi Radar Systems circa 1970. Marconi Radar Systems also had a manufacturing site at Gateshead.

Elliott Bros. EASAMS, ESWAL  had sites at Frimley and Stanmore (The Grove). They became Marconi Space and Defence Systems circa 1970. They had particular interests in airborne radar systems.  

Both Plessey and Ferranti were acquired by GEC circa 1989 and 1990 respectively. They had development sites at Cowes and Bracknell, and their own manufacturing sites elsewhere. They were never part of GEC-Marconi.

In 1970 the Marconi Company (New Street) comprised the following  component companies:- 

Marconi Radar Systems, (Baddow, Writtle Road, Leicester, Gateshead); 

Marconi Communications Systems (New Street,Writtle); 

Marconi International Marine Company (Elettra House, Chelmsford). 

Marconi Research Division (Baddow) provided research and development support to the main trading companies. 

Until 1966 there was a Closed Circuit Television Division at Waterhouse Lane. This relocated to Basildon and became part of Marconi Avionics. For a time the site was used by Marconi Communications.

In 1981 the parent company name changed again and a new grouping was formed with its Head Office at Stanmore. (GEC Marconi). This incorporated Marconi Radar Systems and Marconi Space and Defence Systems. The latter was now split into GEC Marconi Command and Control Systems (Frimley) and GEC Marconi Defence Systems (Stanmore). Other members of the GEC Marconi grouping (e.g GEC Marconi Underwater Systems) also  reported in to Stanmore. The original Marconi Radar Systems continued to evolve.

The next change in the late 1980’s/early 1990’s took place when GEC Marconi Radar Systems closed its manufacturing facilities at Gateshead and Chelmsford. Manufacturing transferred to Leicester (Blackbird Road). GEC Marconi Command and Control Systems (Frimley) were merged with GEC Marconi Radar Systems (Chelmsford, Leicester) to form a new group GEC Marconi Radar and Control Systems. (MRCS)  with its headquarters at Frimley. During this era it was decided to close manufacturing at Leicester  and transfer all manufacturing operations to Portsmouth. In 1995  GEC Marconi Radar and Control Systems vacated Writtle Road and moved to the newly-built Eastwood House (Glebe Road, Chelmsford) There were about 1000 employees at that time, and Eastwood House could only accommodate 750. The Customer Support Division (about 250 in number) relocated to Elettra House (vacated by the original Marconi International Marine Company.)

The final stage of reorganisation was the formation of another group to supersede MRCS. This now included the Stanmore operation of Marconi Defence Systems. It was decided to use the new Eastwood House as its headquarters, while GEC-Marconi head office continued at Stanmore.  The new grouping was named GEC Marconi Radar and Defence Systems. 

Individual Inputs

Gateshead

Address:                Felling Works, Bill Quay, Gateshead

Location:              

Links:                    Site Photos: http://www.dunn247.co.uk/east%20gateshead/Page%20006/Page%20006.htm

History:                  http://www.g0mwt.org.uk/sandfordmill/smithchart/smithchart.htm

The article "Scanners" from the house magazine "Marconi Companies and their People" for March 1953 describes the site history from its beginnings in 1944 up to and including the acquisition by Marconi in 1951. An article in "Marconi Companies and their People" for February 1963 describes the manufacture of the supporting spine at Felling Works for the back-to-back surveillance radar antennas. April 1955 covers Scanners men erecting an aerial at Great Baddow laboratories. November 1957's issue has a description of the construction of an S232 antenna at Gateshead. April 1958 mentions the construction of an S232 antenna together with a "Stormwatcher" (weather?) radar. Note that this article mentions the area of Bill Quay called "Wood Skinner's Yard". June 1963 covers the construction of a pivot mount for "an ATC antenna".

Site Type:             Precision Mechanical Manufacture

Dates:                  Not Known

Current State:       Not Known

Divisions:              Marconi Mechanical Products, MRSL

Details:

 The site was originally known as Wood Skinner's Yard. In 1944 part of the yard was taken over by Messrs. Parolle Electrical Plant Co. Ltd., who took over the compressor house in the old buildings, together with one acre of land and started building aerial frameworks and turning gears for ground radars. Soon after this they branched out into drive units and reflectors for shipborne radar, but when hostilities ended in 1945 their interests reverted to their original business as heavy electrical and mechanical consultants. However the Parolle Chief Engineer J K Harlow proposed a new company to concentrate on radar antennas, resulting in the company Scanners Ltd. being registered in 1946. They made gimballed mounts for the Radar Division of Marconi as well as Smith Chart calculators (see link above). Marconi bought the site and it became known as Marconi Mechanical Products. Eventually it was taken over by MRSL. It continued to make radar mounts but added to its portfolio by building satellite dishes for Marconi Comms and adding the Isolator electronics shelter.

Leicester

This paragraph is a holding place for further input on the New Parks, Leicester site.

There is a page on CMM etc which can be found under David Thomas's Cottage Industry.