A HISTORIAN and author has written a book detailing the history of a family who rose to global success from their village base just outside Halstead.

Adrian Corder-Birch, of Halstead, is set to launch his newly published book, Whitlock Brothers, with a signing on Sunday.

The Whitlock family initially farmed on an extensive scale around Great Yeldham, but rose to national and international recognition when they began to produce the Dinkum Digger, the earliest form of the JCB.

With a host of books already to his name, including A Pictoral History of Sible Hedingham, the patron of Halstead History Society set his sights on the Whitlock Brothers, spending three years putting the book together.

He said: “I have always had an interest in local history and industrial archaeology. And I do believe it is important to record local history before it is lost, and we have a wealth in this area.

“The company employed up to 600 people, so they were a huge local employer who were in business for 75 years, but the family were also hugely influential in the village.

“A lot of the book focusses on the Dinkum Diggers they manufactured.

“They were pioneers in many ways, producing these for two years before JCB began.”

The book details the history of the Whitlock family, their farms and industrial interests in Great Yeldham.

They initially farmed on an extensive scale and later owned a brick-works, chaff works, and an agricultural engineering works.

This was established in 1899 as Whitlock Brothers gradually expanded to include a foundry and carpentry shops.

All types of agricultural machinery, wagons, carts and trailers, together with a variety of wooden buildings were supplied.

In 1941 Whitlock Bros. Limited was incorporated and the company gradually diversified into earthmoving machinery.

The name of Whitlock grew to be synonymous with earthmoving equipment and became well known around the world.

A book signing and launch will be held from 1.30pm to 3.30pm on Sunday, at the Reading Room, Great Yeldham.