The year 1837 saw the accession of Queen Victoria to the throne, and in that year, Mr Walton Turner with two partners, commenced the business of Bond Turner & Hurwood, as iron founders and general engineers at St. Peters Works in College Street, Ipswich.

During the early days of its existence the firm centred its activities on steam engines and agricultural machinery of all kinds. The first steam engine being built in 1842 which was used to power machinery in the works, followed in 1849 by their own design portable steam engine, which soon became popular. An engine of this type was shown at the Great Exhibition of 1851, gaining Turners a world-wide reputation as engine builders and boiler makers, leading to the introduction of its traction engine in 1865.

In 1847 Mr Walton Turner died and his son Edward Rush Turner took over his father’s interest. Later Mr Bond retired and in 1849 the firm traded as Hurwood and Turner. This partnership terminated in 1851, after which the business was carried on under the title of E.R. Turner & Co.  Edward Rush Turner was later on joined by his brother Frederick Turner, and another partnership was formed under the title of E.R. & F. Turner.