The company dates from around 1856 when Steven Wilcox invented a boiler arrangement with a large area for thermal transfer. By 1881 the company had expanded on an international basis and a sales office was opened in Glasgow. It also grew, because the boilers were so efficient in comparison to others on the market at the time and by 1883, boilers were being manufactured under licence by subcontractors in Scotland on behalf of the company. The London and Manchester offices were opened between 1884 and 1887. [066]

A catalogue entitled 'Forged Steel Water-Tube Marine Boilers' dated 1914 relating to marine boilers manufactured by Babcock & Wilcox, Limited, London, England indicates that they had a branch office at 129 Bute Street, Cardiff at that date. It also contains an entry which confirms that they supplied : - 'Dock (floating) - 2 boilers of 118 ihp each to the Penarth Dock Company.' [482] [499]