1890 - The National Gas Engine Company founded by Henry M. Bickerton at Wellington Works, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire. manufacturing engines to run on town gas. about 1906 - Bickerton contributed to the Mirrlees-Bickerton & Day company building diesel engines

The National Gas Engine Company became the National Gas and Oil Engine Company in 1932. It was taken over by the successors of Mirrlees-Bickerton & Day and in 1966 the company changed its name to Mirrlees National. In 1977 it became Mirrlees-Blackstone, part of Hawker Siddeley, finally losing the "National" label.