Peto and Betts

Peto and Betts was a civil engineering partnership formed in 1848 between Morton Peto and Edward Ladd Betts that was mainly involved with the construction of railways in the UK and abroad.

At times, for particular projects, they joined in partnership with Thomas Brassey and Thomas Crampton.

In 1834, Peto and his cousin Thomas Grissell went into partnership as railway contractors. However, Grissell became increasingly nervous of the risks taken by Peto, and in 1846 dissolved the partnership.

Betts' father, William Betts, was a successful contractor's agent and railway contractor. On William's retirement, Betts assumed full responsibility for the business.

Peto and Betts had known each other for some time and, indeed, Betts was married to Peto's sister, Ann. They had also worked together on part of the Great Northern Railway.

In 1848, they established a formal Partnership and together they were to work on a large number of railway contracts.

For particular projects, Peto and Betts frequently joined in partnership with Thomas Brassey as Peto, Brassey and Betts.

For extensive work on the London, Chatham and Dover Railway, Peto and Betts joined in partnership with Thomas Crampton, the LCDR engineer.

Between 1846 and 1855 the Partnership carried out many large railway contracts both at home and abroad, including the South Eastern Line.

Either on their own account, or in partnership with Thomas Crampton, they carried out most of the construction of the London, Chatham and Dover lines.

Other railways were built by the Partnership in Denmark, Russia, Algeria, South America and Australia.

In the late 1850s the Partnership helped to build the first railway in Algeria. Peto accompanied Napoleon III of France to the official opening of the line.

In partnership with Thomas Brassey they built the following:

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