Moulding Plane Maker - Norman Bayliss (1962)

Norman Bayliss was the last beechwood moulding plane maker at William Marples. Born in 1921, after leaving school, he went to go and work with his father, Jesse, at William Marples. In the early years of Norman’s career at Marples, he was called up into the Royal Engineers during World War 2. He later returned back to Marples after the war ended. He retired at the age of 65, after which he moved to St Ives, Cambridgeshire where he died in 2005. To find out more about the Hawley Collection and to donate, visit our website: See also our sister website at