Another Clayton & Shuttleworth portable steam engine is brought back to life

Following a four-year restoration project, the heritage team proudly unveiled the Clayton & Shuttleworth 4NHP single-cylinder portable engine (machines number 39959) at the Bedfordshire Steam & Country Fayre back in September this year.

Originally built in Lincoln and dispatched from the Stamp End Works in 1908 as Works No.39959, the engine was developed as a portable power source for agricultural machinery – a specialism of Clayton & Shuttleworth Ltd. It was purchased by McArthur Eng. Co. Ltd. in Sydney (W & A McArthur was Clayton & Shuttleworth’s agency based in Sydney) and so the engine was shipped across the globe to Australia. The engine spent about nine decades overseas; unfortunately, we know very little about its use during this time, other than that it was sold by McArthur Eng. Co at some stage. In the mid-1990s, the engine returned to the UK where it passed through several collectors' hands. In December 2015, it was acquired by the Shuttleworth Trust.

Six years later, in September 2021, restoration efforts began. Our dedicated heritage team was fully dismantled the machine, thoroughly assessing each component before carefully restoring them. October saw the old boiler and firebox going to a specialist boiler works where they were restored using traditional riveting techniques. Almost three years on, in June 2024, the essential parts had all been returned to Shuttleworth and reassembly could begin.

The team were thrilled when, in September this year, the engine successfully passed its boiler inspections. It was then promptly displayed at 2025’s Bedfordshire Steam & Country Fayre as well as Shuttleworth’s final air show of the season.

The restoration of this Clayton & Shuttleworth engine marks another significant step in preserving the heritage of this vital element of Shuttleworth’s heritage. It joins the Collection’s existing exhibits: the Phoenix, traction engine, living van and thrashing machine, to name a few.

After some finishing touches over the winter months, your next chance to see this fantastic machine will be at the Engineering Open Workshop on 21 and 22 February.

Engineering Open Workshop 2026