Embedded Files
This Steam road roller was presented to Dorchester Borough by Eddison Plant Ltd in 1965 ???
Eddison Ltd donated some 16 No rollers to various Towns and Societies throughout the UK.
From Charlie Harris in April 2010 ( Traction ) ..........She was steamed into place and fitted with new tyres and gears some 2 years before retirement. Parts of the motion are welded to prevent turning and catching little Johnie's pudgy little fingers. There has been a huge ingress of sand into the motionwork over the years (some caused by me as a kid I am ashamed to say). All fittings are in storage at the council depot I believe. I have tried to rescue the roller on numerous occasions but to no avail.
It is understand that a lot of the brass work was stolen soon after the roller was positioned.
From the records :
Eddison No 398 - Aveling & Porter No 10317; purchased new by Eddison in July 1922. A 8 ton, single cylinder, piston valve roller
Registration No FX 9412. (a comtemporary of Simon's engine 411- FX9640).
See bottom of this section for 2022 renovation
Above : Mr R. W. Birch (Eddison Chairman - retired 1967) presenting retired roller (398) to the Mayor of Dorchester. Date ??
From : A Century of Service (Eddison 100 years) page 41 published 1968 written by Mr R A Whitehead (photographer not acknowledged)
Above : a monochrome photo by Tudor Barker (2016 from internet).
Above : Photograph sent to Simon Crumbeholme (7/8/2023) by Mr Paul Sandy. Taken by his parents about 1963. Paul is with his younger brother. Judging by the original looking paintwork, it looks as if the roller had not been in the playground very long when this photo was taken.
Above : From Facebook (Dorchester History) Posted by Lee Roberts 15th November 2025
Above : From Traction Talk c 1975
Above : From Traction Talk c 1963
Photos taken (RC) in 2017
An information board was erected near the roller in December 2018 with the history of the Eddison Company in Dorchester etc.
(see below)
We attended the meet the following Sunday in Dorchester - there appear to many differing stories about this roller and how she was towed there !
October 2021 : Dorchester Town Council have started a renovation programme on this roller. Although far too corroded to restore fully, she is having welding carried out and other repairs to safeguard her future.
Renovation 2022
Some photographs by Simon Crumbleholme during William Murgatroyd's (Spitfire Forge of Warmwell / Crossways, Dorset) 2022 renovations
Above : Simon's son William Crumbleholme (age 15 in 2022) took 3D images of the Invicta sign & prancing horse logo & 3D printed them out for the renovated engine.
He also reproduced the Aveling & Porter number plate on his computer and again 3D printed it out.
Hopefully, they will not get vandalised or stolen but at least William can print them again.
August 2022 : The planned unveiling of the completed roller had to be cancelled by the Town Council as there was a high risk of sparks etc during the exceptionally dry and very hot weather precluded Simon C steaming his roller to the event where it had been planned to transport the Mayor in a trailer behind the roller.
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