1801 Buckingham arm of Grand Union Canal opened, going through Deanshanger
1820 Foundry established by Richard Roberts
1843 John Roberts takes over from father
1847 Iron Foundry & blacksmith shop employ 10 people
1853 Death of John Roberts
1859 Edwin Roberts, son of John takes over
1861 Purchased 1 acre of land, inc. original Fox & Hounds pub
1866 Row of 7 cottages "Making Row" purchased and added to site
1868 Purchased 5 1/2 acres across the road
1872 Prize won at the Great Exhibition
1875 Edwin invites younger brother Henry to be his partner. Company recorded as Roberts, Edwin & Henry. Engineers and Agricultural Implement Makers
1890 Formation of Limited Company, assets of £37,000
1894 Prize
1896 Trade catalogue
1907 Edwin Roberts died. Son Tom Roberts takes over
1910 150 people employed. Displayed 69 ploughs at Altrincham Agricultural Show.
1912 Fire
1914 Boom period ( due to WW1)
1924 Decline
1926 Steam tram to Stony Stratford and Wolverton closed down
1927 Closure and liquidation of E & H Roberts
1929 Auction of machinery, stock and trademarks. Site 36.000 sq. ft. 3 acres of land vacant
1930s Interest in site from biscuit manufacturer
1935 Abraham Wreschner and sons Hans and Kurt arrive as refugees from Nazi Germany. Started Red Lead / Iron Oxide production with Morris Ashby under company name of Ashby Smeltings
1940s WW2. Abraham Wreschner interned Isle of Man
1961 Rights of navigation on canal abandoned and sections sold off
1979 Billitons division of Shell becomes joint owners of Morris Ashby.
1981 Works renamed Deanox
1982 Harrison & Crosfield bought Deanshanger Oxides from Wreschners and Shell. Works renamed Harcross
1983 Boiler explosion. 1 fatality
1986 Blue shop expansion
1987 Recovered red oxide production ceased
1991 Red lead production ceased
1995 Demolition and decontamination of red lead
1998 Works renamed Elementis
1999 30th March - last order shipped out. Closure and demolition of site. loss of 95 jobs. Hans Wreschner died. Deanshanger Heritage Society formed. Deanshanger CLUTCH group research history of Works
2000 Development of land owned by Harrison & Crosfield. Deanshanger Heritage Society hold first village heritage day. Deanshanger CLUTCH group produce web site on the Works.
