Ferrabee Improved No 8043

Ferrabee Improved No 8043 was manufactured in 1863 by the Phoenix Iron Works Company, Stroud. It is the youngest of the lawnmowers made in Stroud known to survive. It is on display at the Museum in the Park, Stroud, along with machine No 7508.

The Phoenix Ironworks Company only produced lawnmowers for one year, in 1863, This allows us to date the machine. Production of lawnmowers at Thrupp then ceased after 33 years.

The mower includes James Ferrabee's 1857/8 improvements and a wooden "modern style" roller, as used on the very last of the mowers produced at The Phoenix Ironworks. It is the only known lawnmower to carry the Phoenix Iron Works Company name. The Ferrabee name is nowhere to be found on the machine.

By this time James Ferrabee was no longer in control of the business. From 1862, he concentrated on textiles and moved his main business interests up the Frome Valley from the Phoenix Ironworks to Brimscombe Port Mill.

View more photographs of this mower.