M H Watts, Macclesfield

M H Watts, engineers and founders, Regent Iron Works, Catherine Street, Macclesfield. Lamppost on Rodney St.

The business started in 1810 when Messrs Stringer and Green opened a machine shop in Catherine Street. A foundry was added to the works c1816/1820. Martin Watts married Anne Green and in the early 1840s was manager of the works, subsequently buying the business in 1847.

Watts' foundry produced iron castings up to 30cwts from the cupola furnace and a variety of non-ferrous castings in a pit furnace. The business finally stopped production in the 1970's by which time it was in the ownership of Peter Allmand Smith, the son-in-law of Percy Watts. The premises have since been converted to apartments.