Established in 1860 Watkins Engineering Limited began life as a supplier of iron ore which was extracted from the family owned mine at Sling, Coleford.

During the 20's and 30's the business developed away from mining to supplying steam boilers, tubing, railway equipment, steam loco cranes and the like. The mine closed in 1939 but was re-opened by the War Ministry during the war and eventually closed in 1945.

The company, which still operates from the original 18 acre site, were the originators of steam boiler hire with the first units hired out as early as 1930.
http://www.watkinshire.co.uk/

This photograph shows a typical unit being despatched via rail which was the main means of transport for the period. Since then the company, has developed into the largest supplier of steam boiler hire in the UK.
http://forest-of-dean.net/gallery/coleford/

I have no connections with this Watkins family, just happen to have the same surname.

New Dunn Iron Mine

connects into the Old Sling Pit.

Iron Ore output amounted to about 150,000 tons between 1845 and 1925

In 1912/14 Fred Watkins was running the mine
in 1928 - 1934 his son F B Watkins was in charge.

Interesting that the business has stayed with the Watkins family through many generations spanning approximately 150 years.

The following is from information I was given a few years back.

---------

Philip Watkins is the current owner of Watkins Engineering Ltd.

Philip's great grandfather's name was Fredrick Baden Watkins, his grandfather
was also called Fredrick Baden Watkins, his father is Roderick Watkins.

By the way Phil's grandfather wrote a book about Flaxley Abbey where the family
now reside.

Year: 1836
Month: Aug
Day: 8
Grooms_Surname: WATKINS
Grooms_Forenames: Thomas
Grooms_Age:
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation:
Grooms_Residence: Newland
Grooms_Fathers_Surname:
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames:
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation:
Brides_Surname: JAMES
Brides_Forenames: Sarah
Brides_Age:
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation:
Brides_Residence: Newland
Brides_Fathers_Surname:
Brides_Fathers_Forenames:
Brides_Fathers_Occupation:
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both sign
Witness_1: George Charles
Witness_2: Susan Charles
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: George Ridout Vicar
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P227 IN 1/11
Page_Number: 297
Parish_Chapel: Newland

1841 Bream
Thomas Watkins abt 1811 Gloucestershire, England Newland, Gloucestershire
Sarah Watkins abt 1816 Gloucestershire, England Newland, Gloucestershire
William Watkins abt 1821 Gloucestershire, England Newland, Gloucestershire
Caroline Watkins abt 1835 Gloucestershire, England Newland, Gloucestershire
Mary Watkins abt 1837 Gloucestershire, England Newland, Gloucestershire
Thomas Watkins abt 1840 Gloucestershire, England Newland, Gloucestershire

1851 Mill Hill
Thomas Watkins abt 1809 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Head West Dean Gloucestershire
Sarah Watkins abt 1817 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Wife West Dean Gloucestershire
Frances Watkins abt 1846 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter West Dean Gloucestershire
Mary Watkins abt 1839 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter West Dean Gloucestershire
Richard Watkins abt 1842 Newland, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean Gloucestershire
Robert Watkins abt 1850 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean Gloucestershire
Thomas Watkins abt 1840 Newland, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean Gloucestershire

1861 Saunders Green
Thomas Watkins abt 1809 Bream, Gloucestershire, England Head West Dean
Sarah Watkins abt 1814 Bream, Gloucestershire, England Wife West Dean
Fanny Watkins abt 1846 Bream, Gloucestershire, England Daughter West Dean
Henry Watkins abt 1845 Bream, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean
Mary Watkins abt 1838 Bream, Gloucestershire, England Daughter West Dean
Rickard Watkins abt 1843 Bream, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean
Robert Watkins abt 1852 Bream, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean

Name: Richard Watkins
name: Ellizabeth Jones
Year of Registration: 1865
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
District: Monmouth (1837-1939)
County: Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Monmouthshire
Volume: 11a
Page: 29

1871 Oakwood Mill Hill
Richard Watkins abt 1844 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Head West Dean Gloucestershire
Elizabeth Watkins abt 1845 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Wife West Dean Gloucestershire
Abert Watkins abt 1868 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean Gloucestershire
Fred Watkins abt 1870 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean Gloucestershire
Martina P Watkins abt 1870 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter West Dean Gloucestershire
Warren Watkins abt 1867 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean Gloucestershire

1881
Richard Watkins abt 1844 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Head West Dean Gloucestershire
Elizabeth Watkins abt 1844 Yorkshireley, Gloucestershire, England Wife Bream, Newland, Gloucestershire, England
Albert Watkins abt 1868 Bream, Gloucestershire, England Son Bream, Newland, Gloucestershire, England
Fred Watkins abt 1870 Bream, Gloucestershire, England Son Bream, Newland, Gloucestershire, England
Martina P. Watkins abt 1871 Bream, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Bream, Newland, Gloucestershire, England
Minnie A. Watkins abt 1874 Bream, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Bream, Newland, Gloucestershire, England
Orland Watkins abt 1876 Bream, Gloucestershire, England Son Bream, Newland, Gloucestershire, England
Richard Watkins abt 1843 Bream, Gloucestershire, England Head Bream, Newland, Gloucestershire, England
Thea Kate Watkins abt 1878 Bream, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Bream, Newland, Gloucestershire, England
Minnie J. Morgan abt 1875 Can Frostburg Allaghany (BS), America, Can Visitor Bream, Newland, Gloucestershire, England
Susan Morgan abt 1846 Yorkshireley, Gloucestershire, England Visitor Bream, Newland, Gloucestershire, England

1891
Watkins, Richard abt 1843 Bream, Gloucestershire, England Head West Dean Gloucestershire
Watkins, Elizabeth abt 1844 Bream, Gloucestershire, England Wife West Dean Gloucestershire
Watkins, Martena abt 1871 Bream, Gloucestershire, England Daughter West Dean Gloucestershire
Watkins, Fredrick abt 1870 Bream, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean Gloucestershire
Watkins, Garnet abt 1883 Bream, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean Gloucestershire
Watkins, Minnie abt 1874 Bream, Gloucestershire, England Daughter West Dean Gloucestershire
Watkins, Orland abt 1875 Bream, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean Gloucestershire
Watkins, Thea abt 1878 Bream, Gloucestershire, England Daughter West Dean Gloucestershire

1901 Park Villa Bream Eaves
Fred Watkins abt 1870 Bream, Gloucestershire, England Head West Dean Monmouthshire
Mabel C Watkins abt 1874 Maintee Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales Wife West Dean Monmouthshire
Fredrick Baden Watkins abt 1900 Bream, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean Monmouthshire
Richard M Watkins abt 1896 Bream, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean Monmouthshire

Watkins, Frederick Baden
Born 10 Jun 1900
Quarter: September
Year: 1900
District: Monmouth (1837-1939)
County: Gloucestershire Herefordshire Monmouthshire
Volume: 11a
Page: 19

1911
WATKINS FRED M 1870 41 Monmouth Monmouthshire
WATKINS MABEL KATHERINE F 1873 38 Monmouth Monmouthshire
WATKINS BADEN FREDERICK M 1901 10 Monmouth Monmouthshire
WATKINS CLEOPATRA KATHLEEN F 1906 5 Monmouth Monmouthshire
WATKINS DOROTHY ELIZABETH F 1903 8 Monmouth Monmouthshire
WATKINS MOSTYN RICHARD M 1896 15 Monmouth Monmouthshire

Death Baden Frederick Watkins May 1994

I am eldest son of Alban, eldest son of Garnet, 5th son of Richard and Elizabeth (nee Jones) married Bream. Children in order - Warren, Albert, Fred, Orland, Garnet, Minnie, Theodora, Martina. Seek info from a Dr. Ron Watkins of Buckinghamshire (Alberts grandson) Could I get his correct Email please!

Garnet Sydney Watkins

Perth, WA Australia
Wednesday, October 30, 2002 at 17:07:48

We must never forget Baden's brother Mostyn (Richard). He was in charge of all the underground operations at the New Dunn Iron Mine, Sling. There was nothing that he didn't know about mining. After retirement he became a farmer at Perrygrove Farm, near Coleford and kept Puzzle Wood maintained and open to visitors. They had to put some cash into a box for Clearwell Church. He also sold bloomery iron and slag and bits of iron ore for church funds. I used to visit him with my father-in-law Mr Reuben Nash (who worked at the engineering works all his working life, ending up as Managing Director) and Mostyn would tell us the history of New Dunn and the surrounding iron mines. Fascinating.
Baden was the clever pen-pusher, but Mostyn was a true Forest miner like his father. The Salt of the Earth. He doesn't deserve to be overlooked.
John Belcher