Tony, Mark, thanks. It didn’t “feel right” as an aircraft plate but I just don’t have the experience of such parts to know.

So, lets apply a few known facts to this and see if we can confirm the suggestions.

I met and interviewed Mr Gerrish years ago – he was a trained engine fitter but at Shorts he worked on the bomb aimers hatch at the front of the aircraft. In the late war he was one of several who broke up scrapped aircraft. He was also around as the factory stopped production was cleared and became, briefly, a supply depot. Plenty of chance to acquire such a souvenir (most workers have some trinket or other to remember the place by) but no particular guidance as to where he took it from. Sadly he is no longer here to ask.

And to consider the Feb 1942 date on the plate. The first Windermere aircraft was photographed as a bare frame in the jigs during November 1941 and again as a complete fuselage having it wings attached in May 1942. I would suggest the idea of a test item as Mark put forward would fit very well with these dates.

The blank plate could well have multiple uses – the engraved text on the “blank” is filled with black paint, not a one-off

I rather like the fact that it likely to be from an item of equipment in the factory. It has a nice association with the Windermere Works.

Malcolm – we’ll need several hundred tons of steel now please.