Leys Malleable Casting Company
Click an image for a large framed picture, but please wait for all the pictures to load first

In 1874 Francis Ley established his malleable castings foundry on Colombo St, next to the old BDJR main line. Francis Ley was born at Winshill, Burton on Trent in 1846, at the age of 15 he trained as a draughtsman with Andrew Handyside, but once he reached 28 years old he decided he needed to be independent and start his own business which was to become the Leys Malleable Casting Company.

Factoids

• Francis Ley pioneered Baseball to Derby
• He built a Baseball ground, later to become the home of the rams
• Leys became the largest iron malleable iron foundry in Europe
• He used to look out from the tower to see if anyone was late
• He provided hot buns for the workforce in the morning if you were early you could have the ones with currants in!

He eventually obtained the rights to manufacture Ewarts chain belts under licence, and he further cemented relationships with Rolls Royce to supply the motor car industry, and eventually in 1905 he was awarded a Baronetcy.

During the Leys era they were in fact the largest malleable iron foundry in Europe.

The tower where Francis Ley used to stand and watch his workforce arrive to work, heaven forbid anyone who was late!

Another incentive Francis Ley adopted was to make available hot buns and coffee for the men in the morning, the ones who were early enough got buns with currants and the late arrivals got plain ones

Ewarts and Rolls Royce were neighbours of Leys, Ewarts next door and Rolls Royce across the train tracks

Sometime in the 1980's Leys was taken over by Williams Holdings but unfortunately closed down in 1986, when it was gradually demolished and factory units built on the site.