In a cellar near this place, Walter Taylor (died 1758) and his son Walter (1734-1803) developed inventions of great importance to the Royal Navy between the years 1750 and 1758. They were probably the first manufacturers to guarantee workmanship and materials and were important pioneers in the machine tool industry. This tablet was presented to the town of Southampton by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers on the occasion of the Institution Summer Meeting 1955 and unveiled by the President P.L. Jones, M.C., B.Sc., Wh.Ex., M.I.Mech.E. July, 1955
