Foden
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Foden Trucks' date back to 1856 when Edwin Richard Foden began his career with Plant & Hancock. An engineering company in Cheshire. Later it would become Edwin Foden Sons & Co. Ltd. and in later years shortened to Foden Trucks.
In the 1930s Foden was removed from the board of directors for seeing that the future lay in diesel engines rather than steam. Foden along with his son and two friends, also ex Foden employees. Decided to set up their own company to produce diesel engined trucks. Foden came out of retirement to head the new company and named it ERF, his initials.
The first production truck was given the chasis number 63 which was Fodens age at the time. In 1933 ERF made its debut at the Commercial Motor Show.
The Foden name became synonymous with a reputation for quality engineering and played a key role in the evolution of commercial road transport both in the U.K. and around the world. Through out the steam era, into the diesel age and present day.
In 1980 Foden became a divison of PACCAR Inc. One of the world's largest and most financially stable heavy truck manufacturers.
ERF was based virtually next door to Foden until 2000 when it moved its operations to nearby Middlewich. Sadly the original Foden plant closed down sometime in 2006 and has remained empty ever since.
Foden have produced some of the finest and most reliable trucks in the world and have occupied Sandbach for over 150 years. Not only was it a blow to the local community but a blow to British engineering and the automotive industry.
Although Foden has gone its parts and service dealers still provide a network of support to there remaining fleets still in use.
When Foden closed the entire plant was stripped, the only thing that was left in situ was the intricate over head conveyor systems that used to feed the production line.
In a way Fodens was a huge disappointment to explore. It was worth exploring because of its impressive history and legendary reputation. But in another way we felt cheated.
Its amazing how some sites you can explore have no historical significance what so ever and yet are left completely intact. Then sites such as Foden that are of historical importance and are completely erased without a trace. Sickening.
