Hastings & St .Leonards Cycling Club Archive

William Wingfield was proprietor of the “Rainbow” Engineering Works.

In the 1896 September 5th edition of the Hastings and St Leonards Observer James found an excellent description of William’s Company premises in an article entitled “Local Engineering and Cycle Works. An Interesting Factory”

“Many persons investing in a cycle believing that in order to get a “wheel” of the first quality it is necessary to send to Coventry, or some other centre specially identified with the bicycle and tricycle producing industry. Accordingly, their orders are sent away, and money, which it would be to the advantage of the local weal to retain in the town, is spent elsewhere. It is probable, however that were they aware that they could be as well served in the borough, they would, on the principle of “keeping trade in the town” as far as possible, only be too pleased to place their orders locally. Yet such is the case, as all could prove for themselves by a visit to Mr W Wingfield’s “Rainbow” Engineering and Cycle Works, Seaside, Marina, St Leonards, or a brief conversation with some of our fastest riders who possess “mounts” which have been made at the establishment mentioned. Mr Wingfield only makes machines of one grade, the highest quality, and for lightness of weight, speed, finish, and strength they are hard to beat. His spacious premises are admirably fitted up with machinery embodying all the latest improvements, and a walk through the factory, where on one floor he turns out, for instance, a crushing machine weighing nine tons, for a brick yard, and on another floor a beautifully finished cycle scaling only 20lbs, affords an object lesson full of profit and interest.

The ground floor is devoted to the heavy and engineering work. Here a gas engine by Kerr, which drives all the machinery, is humming merrily away, and another object is an iron-planning machine. There are also a lathe for heavy work, drilling and shearing machines, the latter for cutting off bar iron. The forge is blown by a fan driven by steam, so that none of the workmen’s energy and strengths is expended on the old fashioned bellows. On the same floor there is also a brass furnace, Mr Wingfield doing a great deal of brass work. All the fittings for the Victoria Baths were cast here. On the ground floor steam engines and planning and moulding machines for woodwork for builders and saw benches are constructed. On the occasion of our visit a ten horsepower steam engine was to be seen ready for delivery.

There is plenty of storage room on the premises, from which most of the local builders have been fitted out with plant, engines and machines. Mr Wingfield who started the works in 1880 and has gradually brought them to their present flourishing state, designed and made a pair of pumps for the Victoria Baths drawing the water from the sea at the rate of 8000 gallons an hour. In fact he arranged the whole of Mr Jenkins establishment when it was fitted up, all the machinery being made at “Rainbow” Works. On the first floor are a variety of machines too numerous to mention, used for turning up the bicycles and other light work, such as drilling machines, lathes, a machine which will cut through a bar of cast steel 1 ½ inches in diameter in 10 minutes, machines for making hubs, machines for making cranks, and spindles, brazing stove and others which we have not space to enumerate.

Mr Wingfield makes his own patterns and cycles are built right throughout on the premises, even the hubs being finished on the Works. He constructs mounts to suit all weights and sizes, the finishing and enamelling being done on the top floor, where also the patterns are made. Machines have been turned out here to be sent to purchasers in Ireland, South Africa and America. The 20 lb path racer is not only “a thing of beauty and a joy forever” to its fortunate possessor, but it is one of the fastest mounts in the market. So well appreciated is the “Wingfield” that during the past Summer our energetic townsmen has always had on hand orders for about 25 machines. Recently he made a roadster, which, with gear case complete, only weighed 22 ½ lb. Several leading cyclists ride and have won prizes on “The Wingfield” for the construction of which their designer possess as complete and excellent a plant as could be desired, and that there is a great future for the machine there can be no doubt. But as we have conveyed, Mr Wingfield’s work is not confined to cycle making, his operations embracing branches of heavier engineering construction, for which he has gained a high reputation.”

James wondered if the above information was sound business preparation for the next article he found in the newspapers.

Around about November 21st 1897, there appeared another article in the HSLO entitled “A Local Cycle Company” inviting the public to subscribe to the capital of the Hastings and St Leonards Engineering, Cycle and Motor Car Company Ltd. The share capital was £2500 in pound shares and the directors were Messrs Councillor L O Glenister, Councilor Slade, R H Gabby, J C Miller and Newman Chennells. “All gentlemen whose excellent business qualifications are well known.” The company had been formed to acquire the engineering and cycle manufacturing business carried on for many years past by Mr William Wingfield under the style of the “Rainbow Cycle and Engineering Company” at Seaside Road, St Leonards. It described the plant as perfect, capable of turning out 500 ~ 600 cycles per annum, apart from general engineering work. Mr Wingfield’s machines had a deservedly high reputation, and there can be no doubt that was a great future for them. It was proposed to add the construction and repair of motorcars to the business, which the plant was capable of dealing with. Mr W Wingfield would act as the works manager. As a further incentive to subscribers the article continued to point out how convenient it was to be able to buy a first class machine and have it repaired locally in ones own town. The article finishes off by saying that the company hoped to secure central premises for the display and sale of their machines. Altogether, bearing in mind the current boom in cycles and the probable demand for motorcar, the opportunity must be regarded as very inviting to those seeking for a profitable investment. The list of application closes on November 28th 1897.

During the 1890s William’s brother Walter Wingfield was a member of the Hastings and St Leonards Cycling Club, and his name appears frequently in the early records of these two organisations. Contacting Chris Parker, a present day member of the HCC, I was fortunate to have the book, “Eighty Years Awheel” written by Jack Southerden brought to my attention. Whilst most of the clubs activities revolved around racing both road and field, (some held at the Central Cricket Ground) there were several social events enjoyed by members such as a combined publicity ride from Bexhill to Hastings and back by the St Leonards and Bexhill CC in 1890. Club members also attended out of area sports activities. In 1891 members of HCC and SLCC once again joined forces, in lantern ride raising money for local hospitals. Smoking concerts were a regular feature of the clubs activities, one being held on 30th September 1891. In 1894, it was reported that the clubhouse offered outdoor and indoor games, special teas and evenings of music, singing and dancing. Members of SLCC often joined H&SLCC at the clubhouse for tea and social events. The H&SLCC produced a magazine called the “Record”, from May 1893. In the July 1898 edition of the “Record”, an article entitled “The Glorious 20th July The Meeting at the Clubhouse” Over 200 cycled there and 60 others travelled by wagonette. Tea was provided and then they moved to the sports ground for a first class programme of races. After followed a series of amusing races, including the Obstacle, Slow Race (ladies only, demonstrating great control and won by Miss Lawes) This was followed by the Potato Race and the Needle and Thread Race for ladies and gentlemen, won by Mr Furbank and Miss March. There was also an egg and spoon race. Various games were held afterwards such as cricket, tennis, quoits and an al fresco concert on the lawn. During the return journey there was a stop at the Bo Peep Arch for stragglers to catch up. Then the captain led the party along the seafront to HQ at the Castle Hotel where friends and visitors assembled to witness the homecoming of the club.

From 1894 a W Wingfield begins to appear in the records of the Club. (This is most likely to be Walter, as his photograph in cycling dress appears in the front page of Adrienne’s catalogue) That year he was winner of the one-mile local riders handicap at the Whit Monday meeting in the Central Ground. W Wingfield also came second in the one-mile open handicap. In 8th August annual race meeting held at the Central Ground, Walter came third in the one-mile open handicap. This meeting was blighted by rain, with a low attendance. The weather made the track bad and caused several spills. Apparently a heavy financial loss was incurred.

In 1895 Walter Wingfield, Newman Chennells and J Moren, all members of the club won events at three separate meetings on August Bank Holiday. Later in the year Walter won another 3-mile open cycle handicap at the “Sports at Hastings” which was attended by about 3500 even though the weather was bad. The first prize at the Club Annual race meeting on Thursday 12th September 1895 was a cycle presented by the Rainbow Cycle Works of St Leonards. Offered for the one-mile handicap open to Sussex and the Folkestone CC it was won by N Chennells (H&SLCC) The J Mastin trophy for the club 5-mile handicap was also won by N Chennells (scratch) by 5 yards, in 14 minutes 7 seconds. Walter Wingfield (50 yards) was second. Walter was also the 5th member of the successful team race. In the same year Walter also made a “sensational” time of 2 hours 41 minutes (a time which stood as a local best for many years) in a 50 mile race, “unpaced, over an out and home course from Bo Peep Railway Arch to Ringmer and back” A special medal for the best time of the season was offered by the SLCC and the “honours and record fell to Walter Wingfield”

Walter and J Hide, another member of the H&SLCC, were the only members who took part in the race meeting at Bexhill on August Bank Holiday Monday 1896. Several members were competing elsewhere. Between 7000 and 8000 people attended attesting to the popularity of cycling at this time. The races were held on a specially banked track at the cricket ground attached to the Old Manor House. Earl de la Warr offered prizes valued at £250. Walter gained third place in a one-mile amateur handicap. The clubs annual race meeting was held at the Central Ground on September 16th. With good weather and a fine number of competitors, he gained second place in three different races. He also gained the fastest time of 32 minutes and 42 seconds in a 10 miles out and home handicap road race from Cripps Corner to Udimore and back on Wednesday June 3rd. Walter again won the SLCC 50 miles competition in 2 hours and 54 minutes with Newman Chennells second and E Head third.

In the same year 1896 on November 14th an interesting report appeared in the HSLO November 21st edition entitled “Local Cyclists Amongst the Motors”, “Newman Chennells our local champion and Mr William Wingfield, another clever local cyclist were among the many cyclists who started with the motor car procession from London to Brighton. Mr Chennells was the first cyclist to arrive in Brighton after the first motorcar, driven by Mr Harry J Lawson. He presented a sorry spectacle, his garments bedecked with mud. William Wingfield was not so lucky. His machine was totally wrecked near Thornton Heath, where a horse and cart knocked him down, the wheels actually passing over him and his “bike”. After being picked up unconscious and taken to a nearby house, his injuries were attended to and he was able to continue his journey to Brighton by train.”

Walter again gained top three positions in the races of 1897 throughout the year and at the Annual Road Race organised by the club. A 2-mile open handicap the same year was won by E Stead, with Hughes second and also featured an E Wingfield in third place. This can only have been Walter and William’s brother Edward. Edward also took second in the Open Mile Club Championship at the Annual Race Meeting in a time of 2 minutes 8 seconds. William and Walter did well in the club’s short distance road handicap races. At an 11-mile event in July, Walter did an actual fastest time of 32 minutes 45 seconds and in the August 18 mile event he achieved a wining ride from scratch in 55 minutes. This race included a reference to “Walter fastest of the Wingfield brothers” and the other brother was most likely to have been Edward, as his name had recently started to appear in the Club records this year. For the third consecutive year Walter also won the SLCC 50 mile competition by 6 ½ minutes in 2 h 42 m. I was interested to note in “80 Years Awheel” that road racing was abandoned the following year because of problems from the public, Police and N C U. [3]

Walter appeared in the Whit Monday May 22nd 1899 Club sports meeting in which he rode well being the only local man in the races. He came second in the one-mile open handicap and first in the two-mile open handicap.

From 1900 onwards the Wingfield brothers disappeared from the record books and it is tempting to believe that this was about the time that both William and Walter moved to Willesden, North London. However, several of their children are registered at Hastings. Another late reference in the July 1897 edition of the “Record”, mentions that the club house was formerly opened at Hooe, where a tea and a smoking concert took place at which Mr W Wingfield acted as accompanist. Was this William or Walter? Messrs R T Watkinson, Sorrell, Holloway, Miller, W J Ockenden, Colbran and Hemmings performed songs.

In the May 1900 edition of the “Record” there appeared a photograph of a new convertible tandem, patented locally by Messrs Watts and Wingfield. “The machine has a convertible back seat, and the patent is in the converting parts, which allow the machine to appear either as a perfect model of a gentleman’s tandem or with a very elegant lady’s back seat”

James R Cruttenden January 2005