Open/Close Toolbox
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 New Zealand License
Format: Image
Linked To
CollectionImage
Map
Copyright
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 New Zealand LicenseThis licence lets you remix, tweak, and build upon our work noncommercially and although your new works must also acknowledge us and be noncommercial, you do not have to license the derivative works on the same terms.
Menu
Roy Batt and Doyleston Engineering Works
Description
TitleRoy Batt and Doyleston Engineering Works
DescriptionRoyden Batt (29 May 1907- 22 June 2005), started a five-year apprenticeship in 1922 with Adam Werner at the Ellesmere Engineering Works.
He was taught all aspects of the engineering trade by twelve qualified men, but concentrated on becoming a fitter and turner.
A motorbike accident in 1927 left Roy in Christchurch Hospital for eleven months.
Returning to work he continued his training from John Fussell, George Cook, and Mark Kelly.
He also worked with them on traction engines in the district and gained his Traction-Engine Steam Ticket in 1928.
When Adam Werner died in 1929, Roy, his last apprentice, lost his job. He and Agnes Goulden had just married. He took any kind of work until 1933 when he went on the dole.
Roy did a good repair job on Sid Wright’s (County Engineer) car and was offered regular maintenance of the complete Council plant.
He also made a lot of their road-making machinery most notably a bitumen spray plant, road compactor, snow plough, and best of all, a stone crusher.
With this income he started the Doyleston Engineering Works, on the corner of Drain Road and Queen Street, Doyleston late in 1933.
With financial help, Roy was able to buy some of the machines from Ellesmere Engineering.
He bought welding plant, a lathe, and an international oil engine to drive the lathe. He already had a forge.
Together with Jack Giltrap, Roy was taught how to gas weld.
With components hard to find in that era, Roy used his skills to make all manner of parts. The shed on the property was his workshop.
He added a bigger shed with a concrete floor by 1940. He installed a petrol bowser and became the agent for Allis-Chalmers in 1943 through Gough, Gough and Hamer.
He and Agnes and their growing family, lived next door. Agnes kept the books and made the morning and afternoon teas for staff and visitors.
Roy was a great Doyleston Community man, preacher, speaker at functions, and prankster!
Through the years from 1933, Doug Goulden came as a helper while Bruce Green, Keith Bisman, Bill Pearce, Ross Bray and his son Jack all became Roy’s apprentices.
Jimmy and Murray Batt learned their trade with other firms.
Selwyn Burt, Sid Glasson, Kevin Burt, Gordon Rattray, and others joined the team.
Roy’s sons, Jack and Murray, ran the business until Roy died in 2005 and then it was continued by Jack, Murray, and Gary. Jack died in 2010.
Murray then retired leaving Gary and new partners Kevin Burt and Gordon Rattray to run the business.
Murray died at Little River in 2018.
Jimmy and his family settled in Australia. Roy’s daughter Rosalie married Lawton Riches and lives close by.
While DEW, or Batts, (as they are known) still provide general engineering and servicing of outdoor power equipment and farm machinery, that Roy would have known, the company has built on the skills that Roy learned from Adam Werner and others, and the business has continued to innovate over the nearly 90 years they have been in operation. They now see more ride-on mowers, irrigation equipment, hydraulics and stainless steel than Roy could have imagined.
Gary, Gordon Rattray, John McCormick, and Gary’s son, Bryce, are now the friendly knowledgeable staff, still providing a service Roy Batt would be very proud of.
Sources: Gary Batt and ‘The Way It Used to be: The Life and Times of Roy Batt’ by Stephen Wright
Shona McCartin,
Doyleston Community Committee & Ellesmere Historical Society
Date15 October 2020SourceThe Ellesmere EchoLocationDoyleston
DescriptionRoyden Batt (29 May 1907- 22 June 2005), started a five-year apprenticeship in 1922 with Adam Werner at the Ellesmere Engineering Works. He was taught all aspects of the engineering trade by twelve qualified men, but concentrated on becoming a fitter and turner.
A motorbike accident in 1927 left Roy in Christchurch Hospital for eleven months.
Returning to work he continued his training from John Fussell, George Cook, and Mark Kelly.
He also worked with them on traction engines in the district and gained his Traction-Engine Steam Ticket in 1928.
When Adam Werner died in 1929, Roy, his last apprentice, lost his job. He and Agnes Goulden had just married. He took any kind of work until 1933 when he went on the dole.
Roy did a good repair job on Sid Wright’s (County Engineer) car and was offered regular maintenance of the complete Council plant.
He also made a lot of their road-making machinery most notably a bitumen spray plant, road compactor, snow plough, and best of all, a stone crusher.
With this income he started the Doyleston Engineering Works, on the corner of Drain Road and Queen Street, Doyleston late in 1933.
With financial help, Roy was able to buy some of the machines from Ellesmere Engineering.
He bought welding plant, a lathe, and an international oil engine to drive the lathe. He already had a forge.
Together with Jack Giltrap, Roy was taught how to gas weld.
With components hard to find in that era, Roy used his skills to make all manner of parts. The shed on the property was his workshop.
He added a bigger shed with a concrete floor by 1940. He installed a petrol bowser and became the agent for Allis-Chalmers in 1943 through Gough, Gough and Hamer.
He and Agnes and their growing family, lived next door. Agnes kept the books and made the morning and afternoon teas for staff and visitors.
Roy was a great Doyleston Community man, preacher, speaker at functions, and prankster!
Through the years from 1933, Doug Goulden came as a helper while Bruce Green, Keith Bisman, Bill Pearce, Ross Bray and his son Jack all became Roy’s apprentices.
Jimmy and Murray Batt learned their trade with other firms.
Selwyn Burt, Sid Glasson, Kevin Burt, Gordon Rattray, and others joined the team.
Roy’s sons, Jack and Murray, ran the business until Roy died in 2005 and then it was continued by Jack, Murray, and Gary. Jack died in 2010.
Murray then retired leaving Gary and new partners Kevin Burt and Gordon Rattray to run the business.
Murray died at Little River in 2018.
Jimmy and his family settled in Australia. Roy’s daughter Rosalie married Lawton Riches and lives close by.
While DEW, or Batts, (as they are known) still provide general engineering and servicing of outdoor power equipment and farm machinery, that Roy would have known, the company has built on the skills that Roy learned from Adam Werner and others, and the business has continued to innovate over the nearly 90 years they have been in operation. They now see more ride-on mowers, irrigation equipment, hydraulics and stainless steel than Roy could have imagined.
Gary, Gordon Rattray, John McCormick, and Gary’s son, Bryce, are now the friendly knowledgeable staff, still providing a service Roy Batt would be very proud of.
Sources: Gary Batt and ‘The Way It Used to be: The Life and Times of Roy Batt’ by Stephen Wright
Shona McCartin,
Doyleston Community Committee & Ellesmere Historical Society
Date15 October 2020SourceThe Ellesmere EchoLocationDoylestonImage
Connections
CollectionHistory of DoylestonOrganisationEllesmere Historical SocietyDoyleston Community CommitteeImageDoyleston Engineering Works
OrganisationEllesmere Historical SocietyDoyleston Community CommitteeImageDoyleston Engineering WorksAttribution
Researched ByShona McCartinWritten ByShona McCartin
Written ByShona McCartinClick on the image to add
a tag or press ESC to cancel
a tag or press ESC to cancel
loading google map....
Roy Batt and Doyleston Engineering Works (15 October 2020). Selwyn Stories, accessed 15/06/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5306