Clayton and Shuttleworth Ltd was established in 1842 to produce agricultural equipment, specialising in threshing machines. The Company continued to progress and expanded its business to manufacture railway rolling stock, goods wagons and aeroplanes. During this time new sites were also acquired in Lincoln and at the Government's request the Abbey Works was built. This site produced Handley Page bombers and Vickers Vimys during World War 1.
After the war the Company continued to produce railway carriages and wagons and diversified into crankshafts, axles and other general engineering forgings. In the late 1920’s the Company faced difficulties and parts of the business were either sold or closed. In 1929 Smith – Clayton Forge Ltd was formed in conjunction with the parent Company, Smiths of Coventry. It was not until 1935 that the Lincoln site saw an upturn and at this time it started to produce forgings for the motor car and aircraft industries, with customers such as Rolls Royce.
Prior to, and during World War 2, the forge was producing airscrew shafts and crankshafts for Rolls Royce engines, which powered the Hurricanes, Spitfires and Mosquito aeroplanes, which played a major part in the war effort.
After the war a lot of money was invested in development and updating the equipment and consequently the Company prospered. In 1951, after the introduction of new machinery, the Company started to produce crankshafts for heavy commercial vehicles and connecting rods for diesel locomotives. During the late 1950’s, due to the skills of its employees, the Company played a part in the development of the modern gas turbine (jet engine).
During the next 40 years there were a number of new owners and changes to the business. In 1963 the Company was sold to GKN forgings and shortly after was amalgamated with British Steel Special Steels Division to form UES. During the 1970’s and 1980’s developments of the site continued and the Company was split into 2 divisions, UEF Automotive, producing crankshafts, and UEF Aerospace. In 1995 GKN Holdings was sold entirely to British Steel and the Company became part of the British Steels Forgings Group.