David Kirkaldy and Son

David Kirkaldy and Son, testing and experimenting works

The establishement of David Kirkaldy and Son began when David Kirkaldy decided to develop a testing-machine to assess the mechanical properties of materials used in construction. After considerable study and development, his design of testing machine was built for him by Greenwood and Batley in Leeds, and completed in September 1865. The machine was erected in premises in The Grove, off Southwark Street, London, and public testing operations began on the 1st January, 1866.

By 1874 larger premises were needed, which were built at 99 Southwark Street; testing operations began there on the 1st January, 1874. In 1897 Kirkaldy senior died. His son, William George Kirkaldy (1862–1914) carried on the works. From 1914, William's widow Annie ran the works with Dr Gulliver as manager and tests for H. M. Government (most departments) and the principal railways were carried out. In 1923 Kirkaldy’s supervised the construction of the original Empire Stadium at Wembley.

In 1935 David's grandson, David W. H. Kirkaldy (1910–1992), joined the business after study at Cambridge and ran the works until his retirement in 1965. The works closed in April 1965 . It has now become a museum of materials testing; Kirkaldy's motto: "Facts not opinion" was carved above the main entrance.